The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-03-13
TERRIBLE OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES ON
. FIRE

TERRIBLE CONFLAGRATfON--w WOODS OF
FIRE.
On Friday last the Inhabitants of Charleston, S
C.. were surprised By strange appearance in ID,
atmosphere. The sun could easily be stared Il
the tace and the darknesss was ~ great a. f Their
had been an eclipse. The phenomena arose from
the burning of the weeds from place called Goos,
Greek Bridgeto within few miles of the city :
The Charleston Standsr has the following accoun
of the confagra,ion:
Our reporter, whc visited the locality, says III.
scene was grand nearly to sublimhy. About eiah
or ten miles from the city the road was frnqed OF
each side by line OF fire, while an occasional pine
tree was seen standing like pillar of blaze, with
the flames dancing aud rushing out to its extremes
limbs. Few of these valuable trees were burned
down. however; but the fire continued to increast
and spread itself over the surface of the ground
Fences. barns and negro huts, were quickly sur
rounded, and In some instances wholly or partially
consumed. Roads were crossed, nor was the iron
track invincbe against It; and ia this connection
we would mention the narrow escape of large
freight train OF cotton-indeed, 1t was not entirely
an escape. Eleven platforms composed the train
which careered down the road towards the city,
Before they were hardly aware of the danger. they
were directly in the midst of the blaze. 1t was
with the EXTREMIST difficulty that either cars or
cotton could be saved from burning Some Of
those persons employed on the train were badly
injured by the fire in their exertions to save the
property under their charges but all was finally
brought into safety, with the exception of two
platforms containing about eighty bales of cotton
These were destroyed. After getting extricated
from this difficulty the train continued slowly and
carefully on It's wayto within about five miles oi
the city, where the conductor, considering it un-
safe TO proceed further it to be arrested
the night. The cotton which was burned waa
from Kingsvile
The fire is supposed to have originated from the
indiscretion of some person, who, being too re-
gardful OF fine crop OF grass in the Spring. had
curing that desirable end.
The Columbia Times hiss the following letter from
Lexington Court House, South Carolina, dated
March9
DEAR SIRs Il have just time to inform you that a
DISASTROUS fire has been raging in the neighbor-
hood of our village all day. The destruction to
renee: and houses has been great The mills and
machine shops about miles from the village, be.
longing to Mr.. F. w. Green, of Columbia, and ma.
naged oy 5. J. Stewart and the houses, barns, &c.
OF Mr. boozer, the houses, fences and barns of Mr
VIM Shealy, and the saw.mill of Mr.. John Lown
with corn, fodder, and other provisions, has been
destroyed. How many more, 1t is impossible to
tell, as the IRE completely encrcles our village.
and was with great difficulty kept from destroying
our little town.
?. SIS 1-a OcLocK-While write, the fire ID
still raging, and threatens our village. God only
knows but we may all be burnt out to night, az the
wind continues very high, and we are completely
surrounded by fire.
O'cLocK-I have just understood that DR.. E. ].
Hays house, barns and stables, about six miles
from this place. together with all the houses and
barns In his neighborhood, say six, or ten miles
around, have been destroyed.
From another account In the same paper, we
copy the following:
From friend and physician, who was yesterday
on professional visit to the settlement near the
steam mill OF Messrs. E. II. Able g. Co, located
near the Charlotte and South Carolina Railroad we
learn that very destructive fire was found enci-.
cling that place, and extendir9 to the locality of
Messrs. hillian & Fry's steam mill, where large
let OF lumber was consumed. The railroad track
was also on fire at that point. 1t was on fire at
another point, half mile this side of the MILL and at
several points within distance of FIVE miles COM
ing towards Columbia.
In consequence, the passenger train due here at
O'Clock did not reach its destination nor could the
express train, which left at o'clock, P NJ, go up
1t Is probable that the travel the road Ill be in.
terrupted for several days. 1t is impossible, how.
ever, at this time to ascertain the full extent of
damage which the road has suffered
The country around, including circuit of at
least i've miles In extent, s involved In the confa-
grafton. Much timber and fencing has been con-
sumed. ltwas somewhat dangerous to pass through
the burning section, because OF the flames and fall
Ing timbers. The wind was blowing furious gale,
and we are apprehensive that it will be difficult to
arrest the progress of the fire.