The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1873-02-01
THE ABBEVILLE FIRE.
STRONG HOPES OF CATCHING THE
INCENDIARIES.
The Investigation Goes Bravely On
Excitement OF tho Black Sheep
Twelve Thieves Arrested and Conn
mItted TO Jail.

Twelve Thieves Arrested and Conn
mItted TO Jail.
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE NEWS.
ABBEv1LLE G. a., January 81.
The investigation of the cause OF the late
destructive fire is progressing, under the d..
rection of the Town Council of Abbeville.
The evidence accumulates rapidly, and there
is great excitement amongst those suspected
OF being the guilty persons. The plans of the
conspirators and their purposes are upon the
verge Of discovery.
Twelve persons have been arrested for
stealing goods during the fire, and have been
committed to jail.
From the Abbevllle Medium.l
About eight o'clock on last Monday night,
the shrll cry of fire was given, the alarm
our little village, 80 often OF late visited with
heavy calamLies, were soon filled with an
excited, heavipg thropg hurrylng to the scene
OF the fire; some breathing prayers lor dellv-
erance; others with the courage OF despair
Fastening to save tie property. The fire was
soon discovered to be In the new brick range
of stores recently erected by Messr5. Cothrsn
u
rushed.
WORK OF DESTRUCTION
had again commenced. Clouds of smoke
hung low and dark In the clear blue sky, and
In short time the whole of the northeastern
end OF the block of buildings was wrapped In
one wild, surging ocean of lame-presentiDg
one of the grandest mest terrific slgnts We
ever beheld. On sped the desolation, thicker
grew the smoke, higher mounted the flames,
ho
ored men and white men, youth and age,
with burning fragments falling around, and
blazing cinders showerlng upon them, toiled
on, almost blinded and sufocated oy the heat
and smoke. The fire originated 10 the store Of
Marse & Miller, and Is ssurmised to be
THE WORK OF AN ISoENDIARY.
It was discovered by some boys who saw
the back door of the store open, and on eX-
animation found that the floor was on fire
around barrel OF kerosene. They gave the
alarm, but before sufficient help could arrive
the fire had gained, such headway as 10 pre-,
vent extinction. Strong efforts were made 10
get The barrel out, but II BURST and the flames
rapidly spread. The wind was light, blowing
north and soulh, or The loss OF property would
have been greater. The store occupied by
Frances Lomax, colored, next tell prey
to the devouring element, and then the
wind veerlng round to the west, the gro
C6Ey blOEo Va a. oe4uoos ieA sh e"oy
Violin. In quick succession follows the two
stores of Theodore Kaphan, containing dry
goods, &c. There, BY almost snperhuman
efforts, the progress of the fire was checked.
Upon the wall Of Trowbrldge d Co.'s store a
number Of men had collected, and gallantly
fought the flames. Under the supervision ci
VIM. Il. Parker, Eeq., and his assistants, the
fire department nobly did lts duty. A line OF
men was formed to the public spring, and
bucket after bucket oil water was passed along Q
the line and dashed upon the threatened
points. Every man In the line did gallant
service, and deserves special mention Tor the
part he performed.
THE LOSSES
will probably reach 10000, the greater part
covered by insurance. The portion OF the
brick range destroyed s valued by Mr.. Wilson
at $l6, 600, upon which there Ia $8, 600 insur-
auce, distributed among the companies as fol.
lows: Continental $4,000, Hartford $4,000,
Georgia Home $4,000. Marse & Miller put their
loss at $500 clear loss. Bequest's loss Ia
partly covered by Insurance in the Richmond
Banking Company to the amount OF $780, He
saved q small portion of his stock OF goous.
Theodore Ksphan is Insured for $4,000 In the
Continental, saved part OF his stock and Will
probably not lose any great amount. TroW-
bridge Co. suffered no loss whatever by fire,
and 1t Is generally estimated that the entire
clear losses will not exceed $4,000. AT times
THE SCENE oE THE CONFEDERATION
was grand In Its sublimity. When the roofs
of the different buildings fell In a shower oil
sparks rose aud seemed suspended for mo-
ment In the canopy OF smoke forming q
second heaven.