Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1878-06-13

widest fury, licking up the doomed stores like
tinder boxes. A slight rain accompanied the
storm of wind, but of so drizzly character
that it proved of no assistance in subduing the
force of the fiery demon. Sharpes store was
situated on the extreme southwest corner OF
the block, so the wind moving from the
south west drove the flames diagonally across,
inclining them at first in an easterly course,
but soon changing to the northwest. The
fremen and citizens for long time battled
without effect, but succeeded finally, however,
in con6ning the conAagration to the block
itself, not vestige Of which remains. Fears
were for some time entertained that the dwell
lings would ignite, the wind bearing glowing
embers a great distance, many falling on the
roof of DR.. Robertsons house, causing the re-.
moval of all household effects but an exten.
sion of the fire was prevented by the energet-
ic efforts of the citizens. The Little Giant," +"
a chemical engine, was efectually used, the
fire department claiming better work on Its
part than could have been done by any one
engine of different pattern under similar
circumstances.
GALLANTRY OF THE NEGROES
The behavior of the colored people was
commendable in the extreme. They rushed
bravely into the burning buildings, regardless
of danger, in ther efforts to save their con.
tents. A locker on says they literally dash
ed through the flames as though they were
water ; and to their untirng efforts the subjec-
tion of the conAagration is largely DUE
CAUSE OF THE FIRE.
The omnipresent kerosine lamp Of all such
occasions, seems to have been the prime NOV
er in this it having been subsequently ascer-
taiued that the young man occupying room
in J. G. Sharpe's store, left his lamp sitting
on one of the bed posts, (they being sawed
fat, the jar produced by the slamming of the
door upon his leaving the room, causing the
lamp to fall over on the bed and ignite the
bed clothes. 1t is not at all probable that
the lamp exploded, being metallic one OF
kind generally used in Rock Hill, which
have been known to fall from height Of
FIVE feet time and again, with no result save
slight dents. The progress of the flames was
very rapid, and the building became complete
ly euveloped in ten minutes after the slam
ming of the door.
INCIDENTS OF THE FIRE.
The stores of Messrs Roddy and Friedheim
narrowly escaped burning. Situated on the
opposite side of Main street from the fire,
only some thirty.6ve feet distant, the intense
heat drew the rosin from the weather board
ing, and the blowing of the wind in opposite
direction was the sole caused OF their preser-
walton. Wet blankets and sheets were spread
upon the roofs to prevent ignition from SPARKS
and flying embers, in the prosecution of which
work negro man fell, rolling from the roof
twenty-five feet high, striking the ground bod
iy, and instead of being carried away corpse,
quickly bounded upon his feet apparently un-
injured, and once more actively engaged in
fighting the flames. Fifteen minutes later,
another colored man fell from the same roof,
receiving no injury save bruised face, fall
ing more luckily than his fellow-adventurer,
the shock of the fall being perceptibly expe-
rieuced, but not painfully, on his front caput.
No one was injured, though several narrow
escapes were made a white man having bare,
ly passed from under burning beam when
down it came with crash. Joe Houser (col-
ored), was struck on the arm by a falling
door.f facing while carrying goods from one of
the stores, and several other negroes tell tales
of narrow escapes, naturally somewhat exag-
gerated.
LOSSES AND INSURANCE.
We are indebted to j. M. Ivy, Esq, for
the following revised and corrected list of
losses and insurance:
DR.. T. G. Robertson, drugs, $2,700, insu.
race 81 800; j. NJ. Ivy & Co., building, $4,000
insurance 81 500; Ivy & Fewell. stock mer
chandise, $4,000, insurance $4,000; }. K.
London, building and stock, $500, insurance,
$4,75O; w. L. Roddy, building, $4,000, in
surance, $500; j. G. Sharpe, stock, $500,
insurance S4OO; H. V. Desportes, liquors,
$1,000, insurance $1,000; W. l.. Roach,
building, $4,000. insurance $1,000 r. j. & J.
j. Hagins, building $4,000, insurance 81 900;
j. j. Hagins, stock 81 ,2OO insurance $1,000;
j. P. CASTOR, stock 81 800, insurance, 81, 900;
R. Morrison, building, $4,000, insurance
$4,000. Friedman & Bro, and W. l.. Rod
dy sustained loss by removal ofgoods-amount
not ascertained The following losses were
uninsured; Miss Owens, 500; Smith & Roach,
$4,000; R. j. Hagins & Bro, $4,000; j. NJ.
Howe & Co., $500; w. M. Mitchell & Co.,
5000; j. A. Williford. 81 500; Herald office,
$500; Fire Engine Co., $500; Mr. Won Witt.
Ike, $500; w. B. Weaterland, $500; j. N. Nc