The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-11-20
Another 90 Destructive Fire
seai .. in AbbeviIle.

Another, a. Destructive Fire
3s....,,. 'E'.i .. in Abbeville.
Four Fine Brick Stores and Portion
ofthsir Stock Observation-Disclosures
Loss. $780, 600 Amount Of In.
4.'' suranos, a1Sooo. i.
PUBLIC RECORDS BURNT.
Again we are called upon to
chronicle another Of those disas-
trous confagrations, to which our
town has more than once before
been unfertunstely subjected, and
which breaking out at about one
O'Clock on the morning Of Sunday
last, consigned four stores of one
of its finest business ranges, with a
large portion of their stocks. to
shapeless and unsightly ruin! One
such calamity in the history Of a
town would seem to be too much
for prosperous life, but Abbeville,
propdly lifts its head from the ashes
of the two great fires which the
single year of 1872 has brought
upon her, and points still to her
stately Business blocks, and tasteful
reaidences, and commodious public,
edifees as proof that she is not
dead yet. The last fire has infict-
ed serious loss, but scarcely one
third Of that which consigned the
Marshall House, and the Court
House and the, intervening stores
tornin on the 18th January last.
That FIRE involved d loss of about
$4,000, and. this will scarcely
reach $4,000, or about the same
which was inflicted byathe great
fire,aof iJaly; 1858, which swept
away the Posey Range, Mr.. R. H.
Wasdlawts Store, and Mrs. Aliens
Hotel. Fonr stores have been de-
stroyed, hut with the exception of
Barnwell,& Co.'s, and the personal
effects of A. M. Hill, the stocks
were principally saved, and the
losses were all covered by insurance
except in the case Of Mr., Hill, and
excepting the stores themselves,
twa Sfwhich we're uninsured. We
have ne desire to conceal or under
estimate the loss inflicted by the
lassifre, but to correct the impress
sion, if such exists, that our town
is nearly ruined. It is poor town
that could not easily bear loss
like that of last Sunday, and the
shoulders of Abbeville are broad
e9ough to sustain a much heavier
inAiction, whichiswe indeed pray
that "a good Providence may in
mercy avert. - .iauga. -. .
The most serious loss, and. one
which NO money can replace, is that
ofsthe public, records In the Offices
of Clerk and Sheriff, and County
Commissioners They were par
tally destroyed in the January fire
and now are totally consumed, ne
leaving a ,yestige behind. It is i'm
possible II estimate the amount o
traHhleu and Inconvenience which
this loss will occasion in long years
teaaome, not merely to business
aida professional men, but to on,
cftasehs generally. % ,.s..i,.,, ~. i.
The four stores burnt arc on the
Western sids Of the Public Square
extending from thea3 McIiwaine
bnilding, owned by Mr.. Hugh vii
seasaenp the North, ITO the New Pos
Office, owned by MIR. II. W. Law
sSh,, On the South. The first store
on the North was that of Mr.. Thos
RyBlhso1,g occupied By Barnwen 8
Gop inItthhe lower story for q, gener'
al merchandise and grocery bust
nesssand .thesfrontroem above by
Meow. T. Branch. as an Insurance
oRye, and the rear ear room above b
Mr.. A. M. Hill, as a kitchen. ,,:,it
sThednext store was owned. by
MreNhomas Eakin, and occupied
By A. NE Hill 4 Co., in the groce.
u and commssion business the
upper rooms being occupied by Mr.
A:4M Han and family. - 81
-s'Ihs aIext two stores were the
Property Of qthe estate Of Adolphus
: WNiaInss deceased, and the lower
story of the first was used as q
4sSitfse ssors y. y. >. D. chal,
lPrss& q. Ges, and TINT of the second
asa dfbg, stofe BY. Lee & Parker.
fwds sof the rooms above these
stores we're used respectively as