The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1878-03-20
The Press and Banner
Wednesday, March 20, 1878,
THE ACADEMY BUILDING on
FIRE.
Hard and Successful WOrk-Llttle Da-
mase-Cause of Fire.

Last Thursday. 18th Of March. about noon
while Miss Whites school was in session
the .Abbeville Academy some sparks of fire
were blown il y the SchoOl-rOOm and before
the establishment caused could express itself
n little boy, one Of the pupils. rushed in Will
the startling announcement thai the Scnooi
house was allrc. This announcement was al
the more startling because on that mild and
pleasant morning there was no need for fre
in the stove. Instantly the School-room was
vacated and all rushed out into the open air
II was discovered that the bclfry-a wooden
structure-waS OIL fire. Smoke was issuing
from II, and Jets Of tame were bursting Out
here and there. The alarm or fire was soon
spread through the town oS ringing OF nGliS
ut that hour sitting In the Court House, heard
the alarm, and forthwith and informally ad.
iourneI and rushed en- nlassc to the scene Oh
danger. Abbeville possesses no hrc engine.
for the good and sufficient reason that she has
no system OF cisterns and pumps. The only
means possessed by our town for conIuerinS
!. fire isa Babcock's Extinguisher. the little
~rxtenguisher was promptly brought To
the burning Academy, and undo able anu
experienced management IT did most excel.
lent service. hanks to the brick walls and
the roof t Of ti woa sss hf bel naS not Jews vs. f fst Spr e"i.
ored. to whom for his hard and daring work
all praise Is due, had used his head as a batter
Ing ram and forced n way through ceiling,
smoke. and flame and made his appearance
on the roof, which is comparatively fiat.
For II little while his position seemed TO be Il
very dangerous one; for the Academy is a
high, two-story building. and the only means
OF descent was in flames. BY the help OF IL
long ladder the hose OF the eNtingulsner was
handed to the negro. and he played II well
and successfully. BY pouring its gas-charSed
water on the flaming bclfry he Kept the hre
in check and within n limited area; Mean
while still longer ladder had been brought.
and several men white ana coiorcG c'Iuioeu
I'D OH the roof and formed a cnaln on inc
ladder to hand up pals Of water. Little puffS
Of smoke with occasional tongues of flame
were seen squirting out around the caves IRON
under the tin roof on the southern sue. AZ
sight Of these many gave up t hiar mEpY, wo VI
blowing, and despite the unweftrled cXertlonS
OF those on the ground the suppl! o! water
was not very abundant. The brave niue cA-
and axes and levers were being piled assidu-
ouSly TO send the burning berry GOVT. by
sheer pluck. hard work., ana perseverance,
which were displayed by colored men rs Wen
IN by white men, the fire was at last brought
thoroughly under control, and the building
saved from destruction. The belfry was com
pletely destroyed, but its destruction does
not materially affect the value OF the :aca .h.
damage caused by the fire did not exceed Two
hundred dollars. TIL building Is not IN
sured. ~
II seems that the policeman had been super
Intending b squad OF workmen VINO were
repairing the roads, and he had set nre 10 an
old stump At n lLtle dlStiilCS ohi ~ 1900"
NV The walls al brick and roof OF tin would
seem TO be a good projection at any time even
when a high wind Is blowing. But u tree
nearer the building caught fire. and the WIND
blew some burning embers In the direction OF
the b.lfry. Though covered with tin. its
eorniees and supports were OF wood. anu a
spark of fire lodging In a decayed Deam was
soon famed into flame.
The Academy Is the property OF Thomas =.
Perrin, Esq. whose magnificent mansion on
the same lot was destroyed by fire just thlr-
teen months ago. For come time it was fear
ed that the strong wind would carry burning
embers far enough to endanger houses IN the
n~asbborhood and precautions were taken, es-
pec}aIly at Mrs. Norwood's, to prevent any
extension OF fire. Fortunately the ilameS
were confined 10 the limited area or me Acad-
envy belfry. Had the whole building been
destroyed. the danger toother property would
have been very great
Our townsmen work willingly and well ats
nre: and our colored citizens nre not hchlna
the whites In engaging in the hard, unpaid,
and often dangerous Work.