The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1873-01-29
Our Agents in Charleston
Another Destructive Fire in
Abbeville.

| Abbeville.
Again it is our sad duty to chronicle
another destructive fire, being the third
in space of a little over twelve months
which has consigned to ashes another OF
our finest business ranges. On the 18th
January, 1872, the Marshall House and
the Court House with the Intervening
buildings were swept off by the flames
of the destroyer; on the 18th November
last the Granite Range shared the same
fate and now again on last Monday
evening, the 9th inst, Cothran d VIII
sons New Range. on Washington Street,
with the exception Of the fine store oc-
cupied by Trowbridge & Co., which had
arisen Phoenix-like from the ruins OF
the first fire, was consigned to dust and
ashes.
A little before eight o'clock in the
evening the alarm was given, and the
ominous cry of Are fell upon the start
led ears of our townsmen. Soon the
bells were all ringing, and these with
the swiftly repeated and widely eXtenI-
eded cry as it was borne from point to
point, brought together our people from
far and near. The flames had been dis
covered by Mr.. Henry Burns, in rear OF
the store of Messrs. Marse & Miller, be-
ing the second store from the Eastern
end of the building, and when first seen
were confined to barrel of kerosene,
and the floor adjacent, the back door OF
the store being open. Active and spec
DIV aid rendered at this moment, in roll
ing out the barrel Of kerosene would
likely have stayed the contlagration,
but when help came, the whole interior
was on fire, counters, shelves and floors
being envelopcd, and the flames were
rapidly extending to the adjacent stores
and the rooms above. Tho store next
below, was occupied by Mrs. Frances
Lomax as q confectionery; the next
store above was fitted as retail grocery
and quantity of liquor was stored here,
the property of Messrs. Christian d
Wilson; the store next above was occu-
pied rs a grocery store by Mr.. a. Be-
quest, and the two next adjoining as a
general dry goods store, occupied by
Messrs. Kaphan & Sklarz, the fine gro
Gerry store, occupied by Trowbridge &
Co., closing the list; the rooms above
had with tho exception of the Barber
Shop of Governor Crawford, been re,
Gently vacated and were unoccupicd.
The thinness of the walls separating
the stores, and the open passage between
the rooms above, soon precluded any
hope of saving the first six stores, and
the efforts were directed to saving goods,
and also the store of Trowbridge & Co.,
on the one hand, which was protected
by thick wall, and also to staying the
flames from the wooden building OF
Seal, Sign & Robertson, which was ad-
iacent OH the other side. All worked
manfully; ladders were hoisted, and
buckets and fire extingushers brought
into requisition, and whilst the more
daring battled the flames on the roof OF
the building, the steady array of buck
ct carriers, supplied the sinews of war.
A line was formed extending to the
spring, and up and down went the
buckets in rapid succession, and for
hours, until the battle was ended and
the victory won. Whites and blacks
We'd with each other, and stood shoul-
der to shoulder, and lawyers, doctors,
merchants, and everybody, fought it
out on that line, until about II O'clock.
An alarm that fire had broken out in
Law Range created a temporary diver
sion, and broke the ranks for awhile,
but the report being without foundation,
the work went on. Seal, Sign & Ro-
bertson's was flooded with water, and
passed the ordeal safely; Trowbridge
L. Co.'s was exposed to intense heat
from the adjacent building, but was
saved by persistent effort.
Cothran & Wilson estimate the value
of their burnt building at from $4,000
to $l5, 600, covered by an insurance of
$4,000 in the following companies-S2,-
600 in the Continental; $4,000 in the
Hartford; and $4,000 in the Georgia
Home. Marse & Miller lost stock of
s$220OO-total loss; no insurance. Be-
quest lost 81 500, covered by insuran &C
in the Richmond Banking Co. Kaphan
& Sklarz estimate their loss ut from 81,
600 to 81, 500, covered by S., 900 insurance;
Mrs. LonaX, lost from $500 to S5OO
no insurance; J. D. Chalmers d. Co.,
in goods stored, SIS; Governor Craw-
ford, effects in the barbershop to the
amount OF $75 Mr.. A. Hainblin some
effects in the House, and Messrs. Chris
tian d. Wilson, some liquors.
Mr.. Dodson, Photographer, was dam
aged by removal to the amount of $50
Messrs. Brazeale, merchant tailor, and
$. b. Norrell, harness-maker, also sus-
tanned losses by removal.
The fire was clearly the work of an
iucendiary, prompted doubtless by the
love of plunder. Our citiZeus should
spare no pains to arrest the evil, and
uerhaps one of the most effective would
be the offer of liberal reward for proof
to convict the ielon. If the hope of
piunder incitcs OH the one hand, the
risk of detection should deter ON the