The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1872-11-20
surgical and dental instruments.

surgical and dental instruments.
and the furniture in these were .des.
troyed.
As to how or where the fire orig.
mated there is IA difference of opin.
ion, some'supposing- tito be in the
kitchen of A. M. Hill, above Barn
we'll & Co. 8 store, and others in
the store itself. 1t is difficult to
account for its origin in either
place, as it is said that the fire in
the stove was extinguished at a late
hour by one of Mr.. Hills family,
and that the same was done in the
store below at the time of closing.
It seems to be agreed that at least
it's it's origin was accidental, and that
no apparent blame attaches to any
one. When discovered about one
O'Clock on Sunday morning, it had
seized both Hill's and Barnwell's
stores in it's grasp, and sending up
its bright, lurid flame and sulphu-
rous smoke heavenward, was in-
volving floors and joists and raft
ers in one common ruin. Opening
the door of his chamber Mr.. Hill
was almost stihcd by the hot fame
and binding smoke, and with his
sick wife and children, halt-clad,
and bare-1ooted, fed in haste, and
with difficulty made his escape
from the burning building to the
nearest place of refuge. Soon the
bells rung out their doleful peal,
aud the ofninous, cry of "Fire," 7"
sounding through the streets, arous-
ed the sleeping inhabitants, and
called them to the work of attempt
ing to stay the flames. The four
stores above named were however
too securely in the grasp of the de-
vouriag flend to afford any hope of
rescue, and the flames progressed
80 rapidly that the stocks of goods
were only partially secured, and
those only by the most earnest and
persistent efforts.
The intense heat Of the burning
stores threatened at one time to
ignite the McIlwaine Building,
which adjoins them on the North,
and nothing but a thick fre-wall,
and high parapet, with a favoring
wind enabled it to escape. The
first store adjacent, in the base
ment of this building is occupied
by Wardlaw & Edwards as a dry
goods and grocery store; the next
byiJ. B. & w. j. Rogers, dealers in
dry goods, groceries and confec-
and the store at the corner
by Nelson & Cannon, as a dry
goods and grocery store. The
Office of the Press and Banner is To-
Gated above, aud the remaining
rooms are occupied, one by Mr..
Wilson as a sleeping apartment,
and the others are rented by the
Misses Cater for boarding The
peril seemed so imminent that the
below all moved their
stocks, and a portion of the print
ing material, and the furniture of
the rooms were also removed.
The alarm extended to the Alston
House, on the corner opposite, and
the inmatesall had their furniture
ready packed for speedy removal.
,Lawson's New Post Office was
subjected to even a fiercer ordeal,
on the South, as tie flames beat
even more intensely upon thinner
wall. Everything that human ef
fort could do with the means at dis
posai was done. The ladders and
The buckets of the Hook and Lad.
der Company were called into re-
QUESTION, copious streams Of water
were poured upon the heated roof
and walls, and wet blankets were
freely used. Whites and blacks,
ministers, lawyers, and merchants
We'd with each other in giving aid
where it was most needed. Con.
spicuous among those who distin'
guished themselves at this point
were Messrs. Lawson, Sign, Cater
assisted by Kennedy, Ellison, and
host of, colored men. And here lei
JUS do full justice to those who were
present both white and colored
Of course there may have been ex
ceptions, but the great majority
worked vigorously both in the ef
fort to save stores and buildings
There was no great deal to d.
which could be done, but this wa
we'll done. Such is the testimony
Of those who were most interested
and who are the most competen
judges. g.
Lawson removed his stock o
goods, and cut away hie woode1
work shop adjacent to the bricl
store. The goods of the adjacen
Estore occupied by .Messrs. Melon
aid 81 Haddon were also removed
and also the furniture of the room.
above occupied by Mrs. Lythgoe
and the proprietor of the building
Mr.. J. ". Robertson. The mer
chants and other occupants of th'
stores below, made no removals
but White, Hill & Cunningham, i.
the store next adjacent, and Mrs
Cain and Mrs. White. in the Banl