Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1873-04-01
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE In EDGE
/. - ~. ~ FIELD.
The Extensive Saw and Planning MiIl
of Sutherland q Co. I'M Ruins.
$4,000 Feet of Lumber destroyed

=
of Sutherland & Co. I'M Ruins.
35O, ZOO Feet of Lumber Destroyed
All the Valuable Machinery and Tool.
Useless.
A Lows of SOC, oOO-NO Insurance.
Ninety WOrkmen Thrown ont OF Em.
plcyment-The Fire the Work
of am Incendiary.
About one o'clock yesterday morning
Edgefleld was visited by the most destruc-
tive fire that has ever occurrey in that
place. At that hour flames were seen is
suing from the cellar of Sutherland &
Co.'S saw and paning mill, and Mr.. John
Simpson, the Waterman, fastened to the
place, but, owing to the combus.ible sur
roundings, he found it impossible to check
the progress of the IRE. About half an
hour before the discovery OF the fire. Mr.
Simpson had gone to the dry kiln, some
hundred yards from the mill proper, to give
some attention to the furnace, fires in which
are kept going all the time, and while en-
gagged there the torch OF tie incendiary was
applied at the point indicated. There can
be no mistake about the building being
fired. There had been no fire in the loeali-
ty where it originated, and the surround
ings pointed clearly to the fact that the in
cendiary understood the business. From
the cellar, where the fire was first discover
ed, there is an open gang way that leads to
the river, and when the building Is closed
this cellar can only be reached by the FLYER
bank.
As soon as the fire communicated with
the flooring above, there was no hope of
stopping its progress short of the destruc-
ton of the entire building, and at the same
time placing in peril out-houses and the
immense lumber piles spread out over tie
grounds Belonging to tie establishment, In
all, three acres and half. A brisk wind
prevailed at the time, and it was but a
short while before the mill was enveloped
in flames, and the entire country for miles
around Lit up from the confederation. The
reflection Was seen By passengers who got
on the train at Franklin, distance of
eighteen miles, and the engineer of a train
on the Louisville road discovered that a
fire was raging when be reached Fountain
and Capt. Stockell lost no tine in sending
the steamer VIM. S.ockell and the Hook
and Ladder apparatus to the scene of de-
structiOn. Planting the steamer in close
proximity to pond in the neighborhood,
the firemen were enabled to do effective
service, and by their exertions, probably,
lumber to the value of $4,000 or $4,000
was saved. The dry kiln, stables and a
wareroom on the premises were also saved
from destruction.
This mill has been standing for years,
and the proprietors have been constantly
adding to its usefulness by the introduction
of machinery. 1t belonged to VIM South
eIland, Geo. W. Jenkins and E. Z. Driver
the latter only having purchased an in
terest last January for the sum of SIS, 900.
1t was probably one of the best and most
completely stocked mills in the South, being
furnished with all the modern laths, saws,
planners, and other machinery. About two
years ago, new boilers and an engine were
purchased at cost of $4,000 or $4,000,
and very fortunately are but little damaged.
The destruction of such an establish
ment is not only severe blow t. the own
eTs who did not have one dollar of insur-
ance, but great loss to the community at
large, and particularly TO the numerous
builders who relied upon it for supplies.
By its destruction upward of ninety
workmen are thrown out of employment;
men who relied upon their daily work for
the support of their families. 1t was a
sorry sight to see men and boys approaching
the establishment yesterday II orning, with
their buckets n their hand, ready again to
commence the labors of the week. These
workmen, each with agile step and cheer
full heart, were hQrrying on, happy in know
Ing that the toll Of the laborer; although
ceaseless and tiresome, surely brought its
reward, and afforded sustenance and sup
port to themselves and families. 1t was
pitiable, we say, to see the disappointment
that marked the countenances of those |
who were apprized of what had occurred |
when nearing the place of ruin and dis
aster.
A huber of these workmen los. heavily !
in the way of private property. W. L. |
Nicely, one of the carpenters, had chest |
and tools valued at $500. James Gray also !
ost chest and tools valued at 500. |
Among others Of the workmen who suffer- |
I'd in the same way were Tom Atkisson,
Bob Sutherland, Sam Moore, p. O'Donnell, |
Clint Cover, VIM. Atksson, Jim Hen |
tricks, Wm. Fulcher, Jack Stacey, John
King, W. j. Neese, Geo. Bradshaw and |
Henry johnson.
By this fire, the work on the Cumberland |
Church, in this city, will be |
very considerably delayed. All the frames |
or that building had been finished and |
'eady for delivery. The Baptist Church in
E1gefield suffers also in the same way. at |
he recent fire at Patton's shop in Edge |
ield, all the frames for the Baptist Church |
we're lost, and ia less than three weeks |
ime, they were ready again for use, and are
second time by fire.
1t is estimated that upwards Of $4,000 |
eet Of lumber was destroyed, Including the |
inished work on hand. There were eight I
2rge circular saws insthe establishment, |
a sixty-saven-inch that had ar
ived on Saturday and had not been put
nto place.
The entire loss by the fire is put down
t 100000, and without any insurance this
5 indeed heavy blow to the energetic an
proprietors. Tbs fire could
lot have occurred at a more unreasonable
ime of the year. The demand for lumber
nd work kept them running day and
i9tll3 SAllA btlO fOld3C Duott4Coo VI lklC SDlt-
ern vas fully $500 a day. They have
low in the river one million feet of lumber
u logs, which they expected to run through
be mill by summer.
We are glad to learn that by the means
f valuable safe, the firm saved thir books
nd papers, and upwards of $500 in green
acks. This safe, which was made by VIM.
Barr, Pittsburg, went through the fiery or
cal, and came out alright. 1t was in the
re upwards of six hours, and being OPEN
d, the books, ETC., were found to be but
lightly damaged.
1t will be gratifying to the friends of the
roprietors to know that they intend to
the work of rebuilding immedi-
tely, and expect by the first of May to
ave saws in operation. They will erect
smporary sheds at present, and during the
ear hope to have up permanent buildings.
We will be glad 10 see the concern in full
last, and hope they will have no more mis-
APPS.
At an early hour yesterday NOR ming, Mr..
rewitJ, of the Edgefeld Bucket Factory,
Fm. Hartwell, of the Cumberland Saw
ill, and Goldberg & Co., called upon
g. Co. and offered the free use of
leir mills, and profared every assistance in
leir power.