The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1879-11-11

firo, standing out in bold relief against
the clear sky. At this timo the wind
yccrcd somewhat to the west, and
bore the heat across the street to the
residences Of Rev. j. S. Connor and
Roy. Willard Richardson. a crowd of
men with blankets and buckets of
wafer fought manlully and protected
these buildings until the wind again
changed and blew straight up street,
threatening to sweep the whole town.
Mr.. Comor's house was badly blister
ed, the palinys were warped and twist
cd with the heat, while Mr.. Richard
sons fence caught fire, and had 10 be
cut away. In the meantime, Messrs.
Romedy's wood shop and March Ross
blacksmith shop, with all their tools
and materials, had fallen II prey to the
dcvouring element. Next tho row Of
small cottages north Of the church
were attacked, tho two nearest the
church being quickly destroyed. The
third was cut to the ground, and the
fourth was torn half down. This
fourth one alone escaped, the debris of
the third being destroyed in close
proximity, and requiring caro- to pre-
vent Il further spread Of the fire. The
residences of Mr.. james B. McCants
and of Mr.. T. r.. Robertson were scri-
ously threatened, but the distance and
the cXcttions Of squads of men on The
Il >lo i -,Jc
cd the danger. Fears were cntcrtail-
cd that the old building belonging 10
Mrs. Osborn Woodward, Oh the corner
opposite Mr.. Robcrtson's, would be
iguitcd; in which case the fire would
have spread down street. But tho
small cottages did not develop sutli-
cicnt heat, and fortunately the wind
lullcd so that this was saved. Every
housctop in the vicinity Of the fire was
manned, to prevent danger from
sparks. These were borne over large
part Of the town, and at one time
actually to set fire to an out ho use
in the yard OF the Presbyterian par
sonagc, three squares of. The engine
was attached to the cistern i'll front of
MI. Whites residence, but the two
sections of hose that had been scorchcd
bu, s., and the attempt to throw water
on Mr.. McCants' house failed. The
engine was then used for filing bar
rels of water to he carried to tho diff
iGrcnt houses in buckets.
BY Byhalf-past three o'clock the fire
HAD EXPENDED IT'S FURY,
and only q burning mass Of rubbish
marked the place SO lately occupied
by buildings. Two thousand bushels
Of cotton seed and several bales Of cot
ton in one pile, slowly smouldcring
away. were a standing menace to the
safety Of the town, and dctachmcnts
of the fire department kept watch all
night.
Had the wind continued to blow as
if had begun, the loss would have been
much more serious. But after the
church was consumed, the large lot
with only the small cottages Oh il gave
immunity to Other property.
a serious difficulty was the want of
water. The cistcrns were too lar from
the fire, and the wells were partly dry,
owing to the long drought. For the
same reason The railroad tank had a
very small supply.
The fire originated not thirty steps
from the trci ght depot, and behind The
depot, Oh the platform, were at least
two hundred bales Of cotton. But
the wind blew strong away from the
depot, and not spark fell in that di-
rection.
At one time the heat was ovcrpow-
cring. A gentleman in running along
the sidewalk by Mr.. Connor's had his
neck and hand blistcrcd, and two 9th
crs who tried to pass subsequently
wee compelled to turn back. Sever
al tircmcn snccumbcd from cThaus-
ton, and one or two camc near slip
ping from the roofs Of houses, but no
serious accidents occurred.
INCIDENTS OF TIE FIRE.
The Hose reel, with extra hose, was
cut offirom the engine by the fire,
and had to be brought round the
square behind Mr.. McCants'.
David Crawford mounted all old
blind horse that was hitchcd in the
street, and brought up section of
hose, running the gantlct Of tho heat.
Workmen were engaged in walling
MI. ConnO"S well, ana on hearing the
alarm of fire, came out and left the
scaflolding over the water. N1r. Nc
Bride Smith went down by tho rope
and filled tho buckets with water, at
the risk Of his neck. The we'll had
just been dcepcncd. A few. days be-
fore it was perfect ly dry, and had tho
fire come then, the house would ..sha We
been lost.
A child got separated from its nurse
! in the crowd, and caused lively search
ing before it turned rp safe.
A gentleman had just gone to Mr..
Law and insured his property about
an hour or SO before the alarm sound
ed. 1t must have been quito source
of congratulation while the sparks
were flying around loose.
All the nurses and babies in town
were off at q safe distance Watching