The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1869-11-01


THE FIRE AT THE CITADEL. SATURDAY
Observation-Disclosures OF CAnTRJDGEs-A C l.
DESTs-LETTER OF COLONEL EDIE.-At quarter
past six O'Clock on Saturday morning last smoke
was seen issuing from the lower portion OF The
west wing OF the CITADEL and the alarm was
given. About half Of an hour aftcrward The
alarm was sounded from the bell. The frcmen
with the apparatus OF that district were promptly
on the ground, and worked manfuy to cytn-
guish the flames.
There was strong casterly wind blowing at
the time, and while 1t prevented any damage from
the 1rc to the main portion OF the Citadel, vel
carried showers OF sparks in q westerly direction
Several times the roofs OF the row OF houses on
King street, opposite the Citadel, were set anrc
by sparks, but were Immediately extnguslcd
by O'Clock, the flames were sub,lucd, but only
! after the whole Of the west wing, excepting the
walls, was consumed. Had the fire occurred at
| night the damage to property would have been
| much greater, rs It Is more than probable that
| several OF tho houses on King street would have
been destroyed.
The amount OF damage Is not known The fire
| Is supposed by some to have been caused by the
sparks from soldiers pipe falling into the hay.
In the storeroOm where the fire originated were
stored several hundred pounds OF hay ana straw,
and about two thousand tube cartridges. The
rooms over the storc-r0Om were used as quarters
| for the soldiers During the fire these tube car.
trldges commenced to explode The spectators
| not Knowing exactly what caused these eynlo
siOns, rapidly moved out OF range. Fortunately
| no one was hurt The cap OF one OF the spccta.
! tors was pierced by q fragment OF the exploding
missiles.
There were several accidents during the fire hut
none, we are gratiieI 10 state, were OF q serious
nptn
cgress from their sleeping quarters was cnt or BIZ
the ilames, jumped from the windows, anu re.
| ceivcd severe bruises. Mr.. White, member OF
Truck Company, No. I, was slightly Injured
| by the capsiZing OF a truck.
As usual there Is much complaint about the
sounding OF the alarm bell. II is stated that the
ringer sounded for the sixth district when bc
should have sounded for the nth; that he did not
sound the bell until half an hour after the alarm
was given; that when ordered TO call out the fire.
men or the first district he sounded the general
alarm AMI brought ont the entire department.
The following Is copy Of q letter sent to Chief
| Engineer Nathan by Colonel EdIe commanding
| at the Citadel:
HEADQUARTERS Post OF CHARLESTON,
! - CHAHIRSTON, s. c., October, 80 1850
| ar ~ Nathan, ESQ.,, Chic) Fire Deparin,eni.
Sh@rermit me to tender through you to tho
members nnt OF the different fire companies OF the
| ciny my thanks for their pr0mpincss energy and
efficiency In arrestng the fire mt the Ctadsl this
morning. But for their efforts the whole buiid.
| ing must nave been destroyed. Their conduct ia
| deserving OF the highest commentator, and il is
g. atifylng to me to so declare. "
l am, with great respect
Your obedcnt servant,
JOHN r, EDIg,
Brevet Colonel e. g. A., Commanding.
The Citadel belongs to the State of South Caro-.
INA, and was taken possession Of by the United
States authorities when tho "unon came in.n
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