Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1864-01-27
Extensive Fire.

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A most disastrous fire occurred in Columbia
yesterday, by which property%to the amount.
of several millions of dollars vas speedily de.
stroyed:s Hsscause remains unknown. 1t
broke odt5aboutEW IS a. MI in the central
cotton shed of thesquare-on Lady.street next
to Alexander,s foundry-and machine shopa,.
and apidlYsspread1o:th the two other sheds on
the.sarae square and almost as rapldlyleaped
1.-THE space ofthestreet separating it from the
square next above TO the east, On the square
Fist named, all the buildings containing cot.
ton and one containing two steam engines,
eight or ten sugar mills, a'gfist mill and cast
i1gs were destroyed. The cotton was stored
by j. NJ. Blakely & Co, thelnills, Be- be-
longedto John Alexander. One building
fronting the south ON this square was saved
by great exertions and by sthe:energetic and,
prompt assistance of'Capt. Sem and his.eom-
pany o feighty men. Their conduct has been
the theme of much praise. 1t was a difficult
feat to save this building enyeloped as 1t was
by others in full confag ration on the west,
snorth nnd east of it, and near oit. Acct
ton shed. onathe square above and several res:
idencas were consumed. Fbis cottonwas also
stored by. Blakely & Co. Two of the dwell
ings belonged to T. D. Fesster. Capt. Casson-
was % heavy suffcrer-losing his dwelling and
out houses, furniture, and valuable stores OF
.provisions,a considerable quantity OF rice,
picked beef, pork end eight killing hogs.
Later in the day, about 3,30p. M. the flames
extended to the cotton. shed owned by JIG.
,Gibbes, o the western corner cfthe gas works
lot. The building and 500 bales upland cot
ton were soon past recovery. Surprise has
been expressed at the loss Of this building.
1t is thought, that, ut least, the cotton might
have been saved.
tits estimated that $3.50 bales of upland
and 500 bales of sea island, in the hands OF
Blakely & Co.. and 500 bales of upland, be-
longing to Mr. Gibbes, is aBout:the amount
of the loss of cotton. We have not learned
the extent of insurance, except that there
was none on the cotton Of Mr.. Gibbes, and
that Mr.. Hit is o loser (haying 10 Insurance.
to the amount Of $4,000, on q lot of cotton
stored with Blakely &Co. MIR. Alexander's
loss will probably equal $4,000. We have
no Doubt many persons have lost con-
siderably, and that the greatest loss, though
it may be nominally less thant those mention
ed, has fallen upon persons who have been
dispossessed O fhomc and its comforts.
Different conjectures have been expressed
as to the cause of the FIRE. A rigid scrutiny
ought to be Instituted into it. We have heard
casually that an attempt was made by en- in
cendiary to fire the work shop and mill of
Mr.. Tozer, during the height and fury of
the confagration. Our people cannot be too
watchful.
We should haye mentioned before that'our
fremen were promptly on the spot, and did
all that zeal. energy and skill could effect to
e~xtinguish the hames-The fire was peculiar
ly angry and uncomfortable in its character,
owing to the high wind prevailing, and the
combustibIe material it fed upon.-Columbia
Gpor5;on