The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1855-03-15
RIC 4 0HD, VA,
THURSDAY MORNING, MARCH Is
THE RECENT FIRES IN THE CAROLINA
WOODS

We gave, on Tuesday last, full account of the
fire that was raging 10 the woods of South Caroli-
ma, on the Friday previous. The mail yesterday
morning brought our South Carolina, North Caro-
lima, and Georgia exchanges of Mondays date,
from which we are enabled to compile the follow.
Ing summary.
The Columbia Times says
From all sources continue to hear of the erea,
devastation and havoc committed by the couhs-
grafton on Friday last For miles around nothing
save scene OF desoistion and waste is presented
Dwelling houses, ein.houses cotton screws and
sheds have all in turn been swept away by the ruth
less invader.
la some instances horses were burnt In their
stables, and we were informed by gentleman that
he saw two noble s.eeds taken out Of their stables
ana tied 10 the woods some distance off, but the
roar ing OF the wind and the cracking ofihe flames
frightened them $50 that they broke their haters
madly rushed into the flames and there stood until
burned to a crisp.
We also hear a rumor that the fine country resi-
dence OF Mr.. Clarkson. near Clarkson Turn Out,
was burnt to the ground on Friday night
We are glad to learn that the loss Sustained bv
Dr. l. w Green, is not SO great as was reported. -
his dwelling, together with his ont. buildings were
saved, nuS his machine shop and works were de-
stroyed
The Columbia South Carolinian learns that COLI
j. Chappel lost negro woman who was battling
with the fiery element. She was burned TO badly
as to cause her DEATH Mr Wright Denley had a
negro child burned. Tho postmaster at Sandy
Run, s. c, writes that every building and most OF
the fences on Lewis Culer's plantation in Lexing-
ton district were destroyed, the family saving no
thing but three trunks of triAng value Mira Sea-
wright was also burnt out, and Mr. Rucker lost
heavily by the same coniagration. The Caroliuian
adds
From all directions We hear of an extensive de-
sruction In the way OF houses and iences We
doubt II this section OF the country has ever been
visited by gQch destructive cont1agratiol. The
fencing over wide track of country must be So
rious losS to the planters and farmers
The postmaster ct Holly Hill, S. c., writes to the
Charleston Standard, as follows, under date Il
March 10
The most distressing time ever witnessed, with
regard to fire, has been In the last twenty four
hours. Yesterday, about two o'clock, the whole
country, from Holly Hill, south and south west,
was In one soiid flame of FIRE. The damage to
fencing Is beyond my calculation great many
persons have had nearly all their fencing burned ;
thousands OF panels are now in ashes Mrs Mas
sey had all of her provisions burnt Mr.. L. Kiger
had some cotton and all OF his fodder also destroy
ed How far will burn before is stopped Is hard
to tell, as ali our water courses are dry.
Our Holly Hill school-house with another school
house. is burnt down. We had ears for our church,
camp-ground has been burnt: for, at the same
time they had large fire in that section, and sent
out for help to save the camp ground. have lost
quantity OF fencing and rails in the woods, but
feel thankful it Is no worse. The wind blew hard
it was impossible to fight against it; with all the
force we could muster, its march could not be STOP
ped
The damage to the South Carolina and Charlotte
Railroad was considerable; which, however, was
speedily repaired. Several car loads of cotton
were burned on the South Carolina Railroad and
aportion of the track on the Hamburg branch was
burned. Along the line from Charleston to Branch.
vile, the fire ragged with great violence, but it has
been entirely subdued.
The Barnwel South Carolina, Sentinel of Sat
urday says:
"We regret to learn that fire broke out yester.
day about IL O'Clock, A.. NJ, on the plantation of
Mr. Wood, near this place II extended with ir-
resisibe fury over his large plantation, and it was
with great difficulty that his dwelling was saved
from the devouring flames. In it's rapid flight, 1t
reached the plantation of Hon. ]. Duncan Allan,
and his residence together with his magnificent fur
nitnre, was entirely destroyed. He also lost a
spendid carriage and large quantity of provisions.
1t 10 seldom that called upon to record such
fearful destruction"
We learn from our Augusta exchanges, that the
steam saw and grist mill of Belts & Miller, In
Edgefeld district were burned on Friday AFTER
noon, and the fire at that time was advancing upon
Aiken, near which place another saw mill was
burned The steam saw mill, about eight miles
from the mills of Belts e. Miller, was only saved
with great exertion. The track at the twenty. nine
mile station, on the Georgia Railroad, was burned
about the same time.
It is feared that an immense amount of propertv
has been destroyed in Georgia. The Savannah
Courier says:
"For several days fires have been raging exten
sivey through the pine land between this city and
Macon, and our. city has been unusually filled with
smoke We learn that the greatest caution is ne
cessary on the Central Railroad to preserve the
track. On yesterday the hre was 30 high near
Macon, that the downward Cotton Trains could
not risk the passage and the Augusta Cotton Train
also were detained at Millen in consequence of the
quantity OF fire in the vicinity of Psromaries Hill.
No damage whatever has been yet sustained,
aud we trust that all danger this account will
soon pass away. The country generally never
required rain more than at the present time The
Passenger Trains have all passed regularly
through"
In North Carolina also, the combined power OF
the gale and the fire was very destructive. The
woods around Fayetteville were on fire for many
miles on Friday, the wind carrying the flame
with terrible rapidity from plantation to plantation
from neighborhood to neighborhood. The fire
spread through the combustble matter SO speedily.
that in one case negro man. with load of wood
In his wagon, was SO hotly pressed that he had TO
take out his horses and fly for life, leaving the
gon and wood to be consumed. The Fayetteville
Observer says:
The large summer residence of Mrs. Huske sr
and negro house, and large quantity of forage,
about four miles from town were entirely destroyed
The commodious summer residence of ]. W. Sand.
ford, Esq, in the same neighborhood, with all the
outhouses, fences, sc were destroyed. There are
reports OF the destruction of other houses but none
that we can rely on. The residence of John D,
Eceles, Efq, of DR.. VIM. P. Mslett, of VIM. g.
Mallett, Esq, were saved with great difficulty.
We understand that the fire extended from
Moore county to and beyond this place. say thirty
or forty miles and about thirty miles down the river
The loss of wood OF fences, and of turpentine box.
es 10 very heavy.
Mrs Huske and Mr. Sapdiord were insured for
81 900 in the North Carolina Mutual. This will not
nsar cover their loss.
The carriage house of David A. Ray, Esq, was
blown down, and carriage crushed to pieces.
Trees were blown across the roads, and on the
Warsaw road the stage did not get here on Satur-
day till IL hours after due. The telegraph posts
and wires Of course suffered by both wind and
fire.
later account states that the dwelling of Abso.