Orangeburg news and times. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1875-1877, 1876-10-07
From Safety Into Death The
Result of q Joke.

L. AouI IAo <1uBuSLa So"SL"%tso"ttof.J
Merritt, Jones & Co.'S oil works at
Canton burned yesterday. Two men
were burned to death.
Doubtless mono of our readers who
read the above paragraph, which ar
peared in our telegraphic columns of
last Friday, thought tllat one of the
unfortunates was 30 lately in our city,
and vas caused 10 leave in consc-
qucncc of praticnl joke. But from
letter received yesterday from Bal
timorc, from the President of the Pa
tapsco Guano Company, dated Sop
tembcr Is, We learn TINT such is the
flct.
1t seems that on the 5th Of Septcm-
Der Mr. Il. Shirls, who, had come
hers to do some difficult work con
nccted Will, the acid chamber of the
Patapsco Guano Company's Works
in this city, anil which but few men
in this country can do, owing to the
Peculiarity of the work, registered at
the Globe Hotel. Having heard ru-
mors of the yellow fever being here, lie
anxiously inquired of the book keep
er about it, who assured him that
the rumors were unfeunded, rs there
had not been II single case in the
city.
Some parti,s who were standing
near, seeing that Nlr. Shiels was
stranger, and that lie was somewhat
excited about the fever, concluded
that he was countryman, aud that
they would have some fun out of him
by making him get up and dust out
Of town. These parties at once, in a
tone intended for him to hear, com
menced to talk with. each other about
the number Of yellow fever cases in
town, and how it would soon bo all
over the city.
One Of them called the other Doc
tor, and asked him how many cases
he had had up to this time? Mr..
Shiels, who heard all this, and sup
posing these men, being wholly dis
interested, were telling the truth,
while the hotel man, having an inter
est in keeping him here, might be
making the best representation poss
ible, decided to return to Baltimore
by the afternoon train, nolwithstun,l-
ing the most positive assurances upon
the part Of his employers that there
was no fever here.
Mr. Shicls thinking h. he had
.;e,tr .!!;ee,,tra4 iA-: truth frnln-disinierc.terl
parties, determined to keep his first
resolve, and returned to baltimore
on the train Of the same day of his
arrival, promising to return in IL few
weeks. Upon his arrival in Dalti-
more nc WAS engaged to do some
work nt the oiI works cf Merritt,
Jones & Co, Mt Canton, and was one
of the unfortunate men who WIS bur.
ned to death in the explosion ofthese
works OH last Thursday, the l4th
instant. Who can doubt but for the
unfortunate remarks Of the parties
above, that Mr.. Shiels would now bo
among us n living man? We have
boon told that he was all unusually
fine looking speciman Of physical
manhood and was in the enjoyment
ofthe most robust health.
Pra ctical joking is we'll enough in
its way, but upon such serious sub.
jects az tho presence Of an epidemic il,
a city no one has any right to Joke
particularly to make rs ,rtions sucl,
Us these parties made, and not correct
them in time to prevent SO decided al
action as removal from the CITY.
These gentlemen may have enjoyed
their joke, but it hns resulted in the
loss of n valuable man, who from nj
appearances had many years of use
fulness before him.
About five years ago London po
liccmel. we're condemned to protect
t1,n;r 1,no,l. ,,,;,l, l.s.I. I