Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1871-09-21
Marvellous Escape of This Old Town
from Complete Destruction.


from Complete Destruction.
On Saturday night last, little befor'
ten o'clock, our community was surpris
ed and alarmed by cries of "Fire? Th'
ichurch-bells rang out wildly, and in
few minutes the whole male population
white and black, was gathered arount
the burning building. This was thu
long and roomy Stable belonging to the
Hotel, the property and residence of S
s. ToMPK1Ns, Esq, and standing imme,
diately in rear (about As feet from it) O.
the large two-story wooden building
owned. by Capt. T. L. SMITH, but occu-
pied by Mr.. NJ. A. MARKERT as a Work
Shop and Undertakers Rooms. The Sta
BILE was rented by Mr.. WALLS, who runs
hack between this and Pine House
Depot. When the fire broke out there
were in the stable four horses and three
or four y shicles belonging to Mr.. WALLS,
also a considerable quantity OF fodder.
The horses and vehicles were promptly
rescued, though not without considera-
BILE peril to the rescuers, 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.. MARKERr's shop. The said build
iny stands on the back street, almost in
rear of, and extremely near, the long
row of stores commonly known as Park
Row.
Had it caught fire, the whole public
square of Edgefeld would have been
inevitably doomed to destruction. The
wind blew the flames directly against it,
while showers of huge cinders were
borne alcft, falling, as thick as hail, upon
the roofs of Park Row, upon the Ad0er-
tiser Office, and upon the Drug Store OF
MARKERT e. CL1sBY. Every merchant
in town expected to see his store-room
and his goods consumed in few hours.
The tremendous rains of Friday night
had so thoroughly saturated the shln-
giles, however, that they withstood it all.
And tothis fact, no less than the brave
work of our citizens, white and black,
must be attributed the saving of our
public square.
: The scene was wild and startling one
for Edgeield. The contents OF Mr.,
MARKERT's shop, consisting for the most
part of coffins of various sizes and styles,
and also hearse, had been hastily NOV
ed out, and these lying about the square,
or leaning against the chains of the Park
fence, gave to the occasion, as the flames
glarcd upon them, very weird and
tragic character.
But many people worked wisely and
unremittingly, and the building was
saved-and with it all the business part
of Edgefeld. And most of these people
whoworkedso llwerefreedmen. Ithas
become rather the custom of the present
day to publicly praise the efforts of the
colored people on such occasions as the
one we describe. But in this case we
mean no conventionality and no stuff.
The conduct of the colored people was
simply as brave, as noble, and as unset
fish as it could be. They worked with
a vim and cheerfulness which was alto
gether spontaneous, and which had no
motive but that Of doing right. And
pleasant fact to note, was that number
of colored men who may be called lead
ers hereabouts, were not the least promi-
nent in setting u good example. And
even a few coloredywomen rushed lnand
made themselves conspicuously useful.
One-Eliza Simkins by name-luggcd
such quantities of water, and so unre-
mittinglv, that she may well be called
hereafter "the Fire Engine
And now the other side of the picture.
After the danger and suspense were
over. came the fun. The blacks who
had behaved so well-and had so foreibly
called to mind their old time taithfulncss;
during the war-were almost literally
bathed in whiskcy. In fact both white
and black needed it strongly. The
Messrs DURIsoE and MARkERT d CLIsBi
sent forth the fluid in buckets and tubs,
and for once in our life we saw whiskey
90 begging. Andaiter the whiskey came
he'dance, the song and the general Jol-
LITIGATION. Upon thewhole, twas an ex-
tremeIy. rousing night in this dull town.
As to the origin of the fire, the gene
raj opinion is that it was caused by the
carelessness and inattention of those who
freouented the stable. Theloss of Major
TosrpK1Ns is estimated at $500 or $1,000.
That of Mr.. MARKERr, from damage to
furniture and lumber, about $500.
And now is the time to organize Fire
Company and buy Fire Engine. When
a fire breaks out in Edgefield, we arc
hopelessly and pitifully atits mercy. We
escaped on Saturday night, but in man.
ner almost miraculous. God takes care
of us, as has lately been strikingly IL
lustrated, but lie also, in affairs tempo