The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1871-09-22

MARVELLOUS ESCAPE OF THIS OLD Town
FROM COMPLETE INSTRUMENTATION Ha-
turday night last. little before 10
O'Clock. our community was surprised
and alarmed by cries of "Firel" TIE
few minutes the whole male population,
white and black, was gathered around
the burning building. This was tho long
and roomy stable belonging to tho hotel,
the property and residence of 8. s.
Tompkins, Esq, and standing imme-
diately in rear (about forty five feet from
it) of the large two.story wooden build
ing owned by Capt T. L. Smith, but oc-
cupied by Mr.. NJ. A. Markert as work
chop aud undertakers rooms. The sta
BILE was rented by Mr.. Walls, who runs
o hack between this and Pine House De-
pot. When tho fire broke out there
wero in tho stable four horses and three
or four vehicles belonging to Mr.. Walls,
also n considerable quantity Of fodder.
Tho horses and vehicles were promptly
rescued, though not without considera-
bio peril to tho rescucrs. the fire having
spread almost throughout the entire
building. BY the time the crowd assem-
bled the stable was totally past redemp-
ton, and the only thought was to save
Mr.. Markert's shop. The said building
stands on tho back street, nlmost4i in rear
of, aud extremely near, the long row Of
stores commonly known M Pnrk Row.
Had it caught fire, tho whole public
square of Edgefield would havo been in
evitably doomed To destruction. Tho
wind blow tho flames directly against it,
while showers of huge cinders were
borne aloft, falling, rs thick rs hail, upon
tho roofs of Park Row, upon tho Aduer-
user Office, aud upon tho drug store Of
Markert & Clisby. Every merchant in
town expected to see lis storeroom aud
tremendous ruins of Friday night had
SO thoroughly saturated the shingles.
however, that they withstood it all.
Aud to this fnct, no less than tho brave
| work of our citizens, white and black,
must be attributed the saving Of our
public square. The sccne was wild
and startling one for Edge6eId. The
contents Of Mr.. Markert's shop, consist
ing for the most part of coffins Of various
sizes aud styles, and also hearse. Ind
been hastily moved out, and these lying
about tho square. or leaning against tho
| chains OF the Park fence. gave to the oo-
caslon, as the flames glared upon them,
o very weird and tragic character. But
many people worked wisely and unre-
mittingly, and tho building wns saved
and with it all tho business part OF Edge
field. And most OF these people who
worked SO we'll wore freedmen It hne
become rather the custom of tho present
day to publicly praise tho efforts OF the
colored people on such occasions as the
one we describe. But in this case We
mean no conyentionality and no stuff.
The conduct of the colored people was
simply as brave, as noble, and az unself-
ish as it could be. They worked with o
vim and chcerfulness which was alto.
gcther spontaneous, md which had no
motive but that Of doing right. And q
pleasant fact to note, was that number
of colored men who may bo called lead.
ers herenbouts, were not tho least promi-
nent i'll setting good example, Aud
even few colored women rushed in and
made themselves conspicuously useful.
One-Eliza Simkins by namo-luggcd
such quantities of water. and 30 unrc
mittingly, that she may we'll be called
hereafter ''the fire engine
And now the other side OF tho picture
After tho danger and suspense were
| IL
had behaved so woll-and had so forcibly
called to mind their old time faithfnlnoss
during the war-were almost literally
bathed in whisiey. In fact, both white
and black needed it strongly. The
Messrs. Durisoe mud Markort & Clisby
sent forth the fluid in buckets and tubs
and for once i'll our life we saw whiskey
60 begging. And after the whiskey
camo tho dance tho sono nn1 fIa pcn %
raj jollificntion. Upou the whole, it was
an extremely rousing night in this dul
town.
AS to the origin of the fire, the gene.
ral opinion is tia. it was caused by the
carolcssncss and inattention of those
who frequentcd the stable. Tho loss oi
Major Tompkins is estimated at $500 or
81, 1000; that Of Mr.. Markcrt, from la
mage to furniture und lumber, about
$500. - Etigedsh Advertiser.
DEATHS. -Wo regret to chronicle the
death of General John w. Guyton,