The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-03-04
THE MARION CONFEDERATION.
Full Particulars-Heroic Death of MIR
I, Iscman.

THE MAhION CONrNA
Fuu observation-disclosures Death of MIR.
I. Iscmnn.
We get from the Marion Star the following
account of the destructive fire at Marion
Courthouse, of which we had brief state
ment by telegraph in our last issue:
On Monday night last, a conhagration befell
some of our good citizens, oy which many who
were an hour before this iamentaole mislor-
tune in prosperous circumstances, have been
left in almost pennless condition. Sad In
deed at any time is destructive fire, but more
espccally in this case, as happy family have
been deprived of a kind ana aflectionate pro-
tector. But it Is some consolat0n at least TO
the bereaved to know that this kind husband
and affectionate father lost MS lille IN his man.
y efforts to save his niece apa m e iemale iI,end
with an infant In her arms lie dld save tnem,
but lost his own life.
About IL o'clock on Monday night this fire,
which has rendered so many homeless and
penniless, was discovered in the store OF Mr.
Henry Clarke, who was occupying the second
story of the building Us q aresldence at the time,
and had retired with his family and was wrap
ped in sleep, little dreaming OF the devouring
flames that were threatening with destruction
the very pillows on which he and his wife and
infant were reclining. But at q sacrifice OF
life this family was saved.
From the most reliable information that we
can obtain, the fire broke out in the tenement
building owned by Messrs. Knox & Gill, OF
Baltimore, and occupied as residences and
stores by Mr.. Henry Clarke and Mr.. ,Gersonl
Richard, in two places simultaneously, and
before the nearest neighoors could be notlhed
the whole building was wrapped In flames.
This building was insured for $500, and the
stock of Messrs. Clarke and Richard for $500
each. of which the insurance will not cover
more than half the loss. Next was the large
two story building of Mr.. Baum, of George
town, recently built and occupied by MT. w.
H. Crawford as a grocery store, and Mr. d.
Steel as q jewelry store. The entire stock OF Mr.
Crawford was consumed, but was covered by
insurance to the amount of $500. With the
exception of showcase and Its contents, Mr..
Steel lost his entire stock, and unfortunately
has no insurance. The insurance on this
building, we learn, was cancelled about Two
weeks ago, and the owner is loser of at least
s3OOO The next building was the law ofice OF
General Graham, insured Tor $500. HIS library
was saved in damaged condition. His safe
contained s34Oo in greenbacks and .,D. valuable
PAPERS subjected to the destructive element,
could moi be easily moved, and proved, on
opening, almost total loss We should also
have stated that many important papers
and some valuable jewelry were preserved In
damaged condition in safe belonging to
Mr.. Richard. Next was the large two-story
build}eg of Mr.. :. E. Mcmillan, occupied oy
Mr.. 4 MCLAUGHLIN as grocery, Messrs.
Evans g. Evans as law Office the county
treasurer and the Crescent Office. Save the
tax books of the county treasurer and the law
library Of Messrs Evans & Evans, the build
ing together with the goods Of Mr. McLaucl-
lin and the material of the Crescent Office
were entirely consumed. Mr.. MCLAUGHLIN
had no insurance. Mr.. Mcmillan. we learn.
was insured for $4,000, which will not cover
more than the loss of his building. Just
here we beg to tender Cur sympathy
| TO the Crescent, and also the use OF our press
es and material until the proprietor can re-
place his Office. Next was o small tenement
building belonging to the estate Of GodbUld,
and in close proximity to the drug store oi
Mr.. w. G. Mcmillan, both of which were al
most simultaneously wrappeA In flames. Mr..
Mcmillan had probably one of the most com.
pete drug establishments in the State. a
large portion of his stock was removed In
damaged condition, and it will take time to re-
pienish and make his stock as complete as il
was. This was large two story building, and
besides being used as drug store, was occupied
by Mr.. NJ. NJ Ferguson as a jewelry establish
ment and Photographic gallery. Mr.. McMil
Ian, we learn, was insured for $1,000. The
next and last fuel of the devouring flame was
the Office occupied by Dr.. D. S. Price, which
A. Durham g. Co., which caught on fire twice.
BY prompt and manly action this was saved
and tile threatening flames stayed, and !
larger portion of our town than has beer
burnt preserved from the destructive ele
ment The loss of this firm Is at least $500.
All present at the fire, both white and col
ored, deserve the highest praise for the ser
| oil 4
behalf of all who occupied residences on the
public square, Of returning sincere thanks t.
those VIII so promptly rendered assistance ir
saving their property.
With the exception of the store OF Mr. Man
uel Iseman and small house used rs post
! office the whole square west ofthe courthouse
decidedly the handsomesl and having the besl
buildings in town, Is, at the time OF this writ
ing, in ashes, and presents O dolelul spectacle
The Courthouse, near by, caught several times
from the flames, but was eXtinglished through
the cyertions OF the citizens. The fire Is sup
poscd to have been the work of an inccndiary
and has caused q loss of about 10000. TIL:
was covered by insurance to the amount o.
about s25. 900.
But this loss is nothing compared with sac
occurrence during the progress OF the fire. by
which Mr.. Iseman lseman, one Oh our oldcs
and most respected merchants, lost his life In
his hrmane eXertions to rescue lady from
the flames. Believing that female wai
asleep in the upper story OF one OF the build
ings then on fire, he rushed up the stairs t.
save her In reaching the third story ht
found that the lady was not there; then, OF
tempting TO return, he found escape impcssi,
BILE from the smoke and flames which rendered
| the whole stairway impossible. Rushing to a
window. he was seen by the crowd below,
who cried out to him to jump to tho
| ground and he in return begged them to in
terpose something to break the violence of his
fall. Just at that moment o keg of powder in
the lower floor of the building, occupied as
store, exploded and shiyered the whole struc
ture, and the unfortunate man was lost In the
burning ruins. The next morning only his
bones were found among the smoulderina
embers where the house had been. The sad
event has naturally cast gloom over the
whole community Of Marion, aud coupled will
the pecuniary loss, causes great distress.