The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1867-05-08
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE !
old Mount ESioK
I'm RUI.NS II

I'm RUINS ! !
With O sorrowful heart we an
nouncc the destruction by fire of this
venerable old Institution.
About d O'Clock on Sunday after
noon, just rs the several congrcga-
tions had assembled for worship, the
alarm was given, and a dense volume
of smoke told too plainly that the
College building was the cause Of the
cry of fire.
Of course all tho town turned out.
White and colorcd worked nobly to
save whatever could be gathered from
tho ruins.
Tears flowed, and eyes glistcncd
with that which mclts SORROW, from
and Of those who in tho shock of war
faced booming cannon with nerves Of
steel.
"Grcat God !" was the cxclama-
tion VIC heard from the lips of
those who arc not accustomed to use
that phrase in al irrcvcrcnt manner.
1t would be impossible to give the
names of all who aided in the rescue
of private property belonging to Mr.
Woodward, the Principal,- to Mrs.
and Miss Brittingham, tenants of the
last Wing, and to tho students), as
The personal effects of Mrs. and
Miss Brittingham were saved, at n
great risk, by w. A. Morrison, our
postmaster, and Thomas Jacobs, a col
orcd man. The excitement was tro-
mcndous, when these two, ono after
tho other, asccndcd the ladder to the
second story window, and entered the
room above which tho raging flames
and falling timber hung, awfully
threatening. AS for omsclf, VIC turn
cd away from the scene with an cxcla-
nation wc had never used before.
The huge building roarcd with un-
quenchablc flame until late after dark.
The fourgrcat columns that supported
tho portico, each had at nine O'Clock at
night, lcaping, brilliant fame cap
ping its top, which added to the dole
ful darkness that cnvironcd the old
classic walls.
The grand old oak, which thousands
of the alumni of old Mount Zion will
remember, crispcd and crngcd in To-
liago before tho dreadful flames.
From tho Pcdoc section of South
Carolina to tho mountain-looked coun-
try of the great Southwest and Wost,
there arc those who will remember
with pleasure tho grateful shade of
that grand old tree.
TO Mr.. Woodward, both as a citi-
zen and rs the presiding officer of
Mount Zion, in behalf of this whole
community, we tender our deepest
sympathy.
The friends of tho Institution who
arc at present patrons, may rest assur-
cd that tho exercises of the school will
still bo continued. Every effort will
DO used to socuro proper building
for the exercises of tho school,.
Old Mount Zion College has an ar
ray Of names of those who first organ
lied it, which history will not lot die
Tho names of tho most distinguished
mon of South Carolina who figured
in the Revolution of l776, arc found
among those who first organized the
Society, or united themselves with it
very soon after its organization.
Thoro wore tho Pinckneys, the Rut-
lodges, tho Vandorhorsts, the Hugcrs, !
the Pinckensies, the Wins, tho Bu-
chanans, tho Grays, and a host of 9th
crs.
But wo arc reminded that this is no
timo to exhaust tho patience of tho
reader with n history of dear old
Mount Zion.
Those old classic walls stand to-
day, or at least part of thom, a sad
monument of tho mastery Of ono
tho most useful Of all tho elements
fire. Towards night-fall tho walls of
the eastern wing fell with crash to
which the quivcring earth around
gave responsive signs.