The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1868-06-22

DESTRUCTIVE F1RE.-About II O'Clock on sat-
urday night the alarm of fire was sounded,
but from some unexplained cause the alarm
bell rang both Wards and4. This, however.
retarded the engines but q few minutes, and
they were soon upon the ground and at work.
Tho Gre originated in the centre of Messrs,
Holmes d Calder's paint and oil store, and the
draft caused by the narrow passage carried ths
flames above the neighboring buildings and
caught the adjoining store, occupied by MIR.
w. L. Webb as wholesale crockery establish
ment. The fire was first communicated to the
upper story and thence spread through the en-
tire building. The front and loEor story of
Holmes & Calder's store was completely des-
troyed, and the rear was only saved by the fall
ing Of the roof, the tin OF which covered and
protected the stock in the back part Of the
store. For some time the flames ragged
fiercely, and the inaammable material which
comprised the stock Of paint store lent such
fuel to the fire, that not only the two build
iDgs mentioned, but others in the neighbor-
hood were threatened with destruction. Mean
time the streams from the different engines
were necessarily poured upon the burning
building with visible good effect The houses
OF Edwin Bates & Co., Strauss, Vances & Co.,
and Campbell Knox & Go. were for some
time in great danger, but excepting the break
age Of tho front glasses in the lower story es-
capped material damage. Holmes & Calder's
store was completely destroyed and the
building occupied by Mr.. W. L. Webb
was almost gutted by the flames. v After
the fire had reached the second building large
portion of the south wall fell, carrying with it
the rafters and stock that was upon the back
floors. The firemen succeeded in extinguish-
ing the flames about two o'clock, but the stores
of Holmes & Calder and W. L. Webb were COM
pletely rained, and the stocks destroyed.
Messrs. Holmes & Calder had full stock,
which was. insured in Tupper's agency for
$4,000 on oils and paints, and $4,000 on belt
ing. Mr.. Webb WAS insured for SIS, 900 on his
stock in the agencies of Colburn & Howell, and
Tobias and Hon our. The buildings were each 4
insured for $4,000. That occupied by Webb
belonged to the estate Of T. A. P. Horton, and
was insured for $1,000 in the London and Liv-
erpool Globe Company, and for $4,000 in Mr..
Oskes' agency. The building occupied by
Holmes & Calder belonged to the estate of Bell,
and was insured for $40 600 in Northern sgen-
cies. The stock in the back part of the store,
amounting to nearly $4,000, was saved in a par
TALLY damaged condition. A large portion of
the crockeryware was also saved, but the sets
have been broken, and the stock thus rendered
comparatively valueless. The oils and other
inhammable material caused the heat to be 80
intense that many supposed another large fire
was inaugurated. The bOarders of the Charles
ton Hotel, and the inmates Of the adjoining
houses, collected their household goods and
prepared for sudden exodus, but their ap-
prehensions, fortunately, were not realized.
Ropes were stretched in front Of the building
yesterday, and passengers prevented from
passing along the east pavement, as the front
walls were in dangerous condition.