The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1858-07-23
Destructive Fire in our Village.

|
was discovered about 10 o'clock A. NJ, issuing
from one of the upper rooms Of the wooden
building formerly known as the Clancy Ho.
tel, and now owned ty Dr. Samuel Marshall,
of our District, and occupied as n Hotel by
Mr.. Philip Eutledge
Upon the discovery of the fire, the alarm
was Immediately given, and large crowd rs
sem6led at once. and every effort made to
extinguish the fame, but without success. The
house was old. and as combustiLlc rs t;ndcr,
and the fire had been burning too long and
soon the whole roof was envcloped in flames.
The fire next extended rapidly to tie adjoin.
ing store of Messrs. II. ii. Wardlnw L. Son {;
then to the store Of Air. J. A. AEen and then
to the dwelling house, owned by Mrs Jane AL
len. and occupied by Mr. j. Ramey as II Ho-
tel the corner room in the basement of which
was also occupied by Mr. Edward Westtied,
rs n carriage and harness shop.-IIerc the pro.
gress OF the flame was checked by an alley
which separated this building from the store of
Messrs. j. d. X. j. White. and the dwelling
house of Mr.. j. White The store and dwelling
were both for sometime in great danger and the
r"of OF the store took fire but by the liberal
application of water and wet blankets, the
lire was extinguishe1, aud the buildings saved
10 the well directed efforts and steady perse-
yerance of several ofnur citizens at this point,
it was in n great measure owing. that the fur.
ther progress Of the fire was here checked. Had
| it extended to the Corner Store ofthc Messrs
White, it would have swept the lower portion
of the Nillngc, infiicting immense loss All
81, H.,
but for the absence fwind. AS it was, the
progress ofthe flame was very rapid; and in
less than two hours, after the discovery of the
fire, the long wooden range. comprising the
hotels and stores above named, (and with the
| adjacent outbuildings) was a mass of smoking
ruins.
The progress of the fire at the upper end Of
the wooden range was stayed by the thick
brick wall land the tin roof Of the Granite
Range, and by the active efforts Of several pub.
lie spirited men, who manfully stood upon the
r"o'' anu orarcd aging flame. SO intense
| here was the heat that the tin roof melted and
Tie r. ers took fire. But th- ccri"us applica-
OF wat, finally cxtingu ished the flame, and
quoted all apprehension inrthis quarter.
| as soon as it was discovered to be impossible
to save the wooden range, every effort was
made to preserve the movablcs-the beds and
bedding and furniture in the h"tcls, and the
merchandise in the stores. And here our citi-
zens generally, and many from the country.
came up manfuly to the rescue. Old and
young. master and servant worked long nnd
faithfully. In the excitement of the moment
here was of course much mis-directc.l effort.
and unnecessary damage done to furniture, and
goods, yet in short time the most Va luablc of
the movables were deposited safely upon the
Opposite side of the public square.
The removal ofgoods and merchandise was
not confined to the burning range but the &C.
cupants of the Granite Range adjoining to wit
alessrs Branch & Allen lis. Kerr; Israel 4
Brnssel Jordan & McLauchlin NJ. I. Owen ::
and Gray d Robertson were compelled by n
proper regard for the preservation oftheir vn-
rlous stocks, to transfer them to place of safe
ty ; and hence each suffered considerable dam.
age by the removal.-So did also Dr.. Marshall
who thought Il best to remove the most valua
b!e of his furniture from his DIV, ling. ut the
Corner Of Granite Range. The apprehension
of fire was also felt ct the Marshall House. al
the opposite corner, where the precaution was
taken of protecting the wooden railuys, by
suspending wet blankets.
SO great was the heat, even on the opposite
side of the square, as to draw the ros;n, and
almost infame the windows of the store Of Mes
srs Wier & Lythgoe. who removed their most
valuable books and papers. Upon the Court.
house, which stood opposite the burning range.
and projects, beyond the line of adjacent bull.
dinge, the effect Of the heat was 80 great as to
melt the tin roof; End the officers took the
precaution of removing a portion of the re-
cords.
AS yet it is almost impossible to ascertain
with accuracy the extent of the loss, but it is
supposed that it will exceed S25.OOO The
following statement exhibits the estimated
value of the losses and the names of the suf
ferers:
Messrs II. II. Wardlaw & Son, lost their
store valued at $4,000. and sustained injury to
their goods, to the amount of 81 500, or IS, 600.
They had no insurance.-Mr J. A. Allen, lost
his store, valued at 1890, and which was in
sured to the amount of $1,000; and received
loss OF goods to the amount of 81, 900, which
is covered by policy of 81 900. Mrs. Jane
Allen lost her dwelling house valued at So 600
and upon which there was no insurance DR..
S. Marshall lost the wo' den hotel valued ot
sS5oo, and covered bya polcy-Mr. Rut-
ledge sustained n loss of provisions. beds and
furniture to tile amount of $1,000. Mr.. John.
son Ramey sustained loss of about $1,000 in
the furniture and provisions of his hotel. In
addition to these, the boarders in these hotels
sustained serious losses. These with the loss
Of Mr.. Edward Westfeld estimated at 5000
comprise the extent Of the damage in the
wooden range.
The loss Of Messrs. J. d r. j. White, is esti-
mated nt $1,000; of Branch d Allen, $7oo:
of Ii. s. Kerr 500 of Israel Drussel $500
Of Jordan d MCLAUGHLIN $1,000; MT. Owen
800; Gray & Robertson $3oa; DR.. j. W.
Marshall $780, Messrs. Kerr, Jordan & Nc.
Lauchlin, and Gray d Robertson were insured.
There was no loss Of life on the occasiop hit