The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1872-11-19

Deen oc6trOyed. AT 81 O'Clock, this
morning, theSlarm rang out, Ahbeville
never cav a,Ebrighter1faiFe end more
sorrowfuE Sabbath than that OF to-day.
Property and wealth which had been
accumulatipgl for years has suddenly
tbeen swept away; fne works Of art which
once delighted The eye OF the artist now
lie in ashes; the costly and stately build.
fiugs which composed the Granite Range
are orumbling heaps, or, ohnrred and
bleokened, rear their naked walls heaven.
ward-a gaping. ghastly pile. = Men
worked ed,amidst=the-s scorofiug hent of the
burning mass, and the binding, suffo-
eating clouds OF smoke with the courage
of Spartans; but all in vain. The fumes
spread; Che overheated walls cracked
and trembled, and many of them fell
with thuhderous rumble. The night
was very calm, and a kind Providence
kept the wind in abeyanco.
1t is supposed that the ire originated
in the kitchen Of Mr.. A. M. Hill, bnt il
was far beyond control before it was dis.
covered. Mr. Hill was awakened by his
wife about l o'clock. aud, on opening
his chamber door to ASCERTAIN what was
the matter. was met by binding cloud
Of smoke and heat. Mrs. Hill-sick in
| bed-was. with the greatest difficulty.
saved. One of his children, pursued by
the fierce flames, leaped from the second
story of the building and sought safety
in fight. Mr.. Hill lost about $4OO in
money, and succeeded in saving nothing
MISUNDERSTANDING, furniture, bedding
and everything was destroyed, und
nothing was covered by insurance.
Barnweli & Co. had their store burned,
and succeeded in saving nothing. Their
books aud abont $4OO in money were
lost. The losses of-this firm are par
TALLY covered by insurance for $4,000
The store of A. NJ. Hill g. Go. was gutted
by the devouring element. A part of
their stock was saved, aud they we're in-
surcd for So. 500, in the Continental
Their warehouse WAS fire. proof, and the
groceries, cotton, &C., which we're stored
III it, suffered no injury.
The furniture store of j. d. Chalmers
Il Go. next fell prey to the flames. A
ct..: of their stock was saved, aud they
were Insured for Sl,G00-SsG0 in. the
London. Liverpool aud Globe, and $500
III the Georgia Home.
The Clerks, SherifTrs and County
Com missioners' Offices wore totnlly con-
snmed, with all their hooka, papers nnd
records. The loss of these papers to the
County cannot be estimated. These
Offices met with heavy losses at our fire
IN January last, and now nothing is left
The destruction of the books, pnpers
aud records in these Offices will cause
great embarrassment in our financial and
business circles. It seems that Abhe
vile, between robbery, wrong and fire, is
destined to be destroyed.
The drug store of Lee & Parker ended
the progress of the fire in Sonther.y
direction. This store was filed with
drugs, which added fuel to the flames.
a part Of the stock was saved, aud in
surance to the amount of 1000 held
i'll the London, Liverpool and Globe
1t was thought at one time that the
whole Of the Western side Of onr public
square would be burned. but the fire.
proof wall Of Lawson's Hall and the
almost superhuman efforts Of portion
OF our citizens, stopped its further pro.
gress. On the wall of Lawson's Hall Il
few men gallantly fought tho flames.
Colorcd men and Whitc men stood breast
to breast, cheered each other and worked
like heroes.
While in the conduct Of number ol
onr people there was much to commend,
ws have nothing Of praise or commendn.
ton to give to the greater class-that
| Si"SH "hiSd 5tOou uolucs uuuiOScu ny tut
losses which their neighbors were suffer.
ing, and grimly smiled. Many would
not move an inch to assist in checking
the flames until they were promised u
reward. The Hook and Ladder Com
pany wero not out in full force. The
progress Of the fire in Northerly dircc.
lion was checked by the fre-proof wall
of Wnrdlaw & Edwards store.
Many losses of minor Importance to
those enumerated above were occusioncd
by the fire, aud the calamity which has
befallen us is most grievous. The busi.
ness interests Of our town have been pa
ralyzcd; portion OF our best and most
beautiful range Of buildings destroyed
tho legal documents of our County are
i'll ashes. 1t will be years before the in
juries occasioned by tho fire will be over
omo.-AbberMs Metlinm.
MURDER on THE PoEr RoYAL RAIL.
ROAD. "A difficulty occurred on tho line
Of tho Port Royal Railroad, thirteen
miles from Augusta, few days ago,
which resulted in the death of ono of the
parties to the affray. On last Wcdnes.
day morning two colored laborers,
| unmpI ANaarson Rornnft on1 larry