The Easley messenger. (Easley, S.C.) 1883-1891, 1883-11-23
from the I4aurensville Hcrald.l
GREAT CONFEDERATION.
The Old Continental Hotel and 1'rayn-
ham e. DiaPs Block in Ashes.

18th inst, the alarm of fire was heard
by our citizens, and intuitivcly almost
everybody made in the direction of the
old Continental Hotel building, which,
for some time past, has an ominOls tin
darbox. The fire ragged fcarfully, it
being completely past control when
discovered. 1t appears that the fire
originated in the store-room of DR.. B.
f.. Martin, as the explosions oi cart
ridges were heard in that direction be-
fore the flames were discovered in any
other portion Of the building. Mr..
Easterby, a cotton buyer at this place.
was the first to discover the presence
Of fire. Waking up and finding the
room full of smoke, he awokc Mr..
Bale Crisp, who was sleeping with
him, and Mr.. Crisp, remembering that
there had been little fire left in the
adjoining room, hurried thther. think
ing that possibly a coal might have
popped out on the carpet and set it on
fire. Mr.. Crisp says that when he
reached the adjoining room he found
that the fire had all died out. and the
room was completely filed with smoke.
He ran all through the building, how
ever. in his night-clothes, awakening
his family and the guests omc of
whom barely escaped with the lives.
All the furniture Of the Hotel, togeth-
erwith property and clothing Of some
of the boarders, was totally consumed.
Chief Of Police Langston, who was
the first person at the fire, assisted by
Mr.. j. w. Fowler, was attempting to
enter the stOrc-room Of Dr. Martin
when a keg of powder exploded and
blowed them some distance from the
burning building. They are not
thought to be seriously hurt. but Mr.
FoWlcr's injuries are troubling him a
great deal just now. The entire stock
Of goods of DR.. B. E. Martin was en-
tirely consumed. The flames from the
Hotel building soon communicated to
Messrs. Trainham e. Dial's block of
brick buildings, and made short work
Of the same. a part Of their stock,
however, was saved; and it was by
dint Of the hardest work that the
buildings Of Mr.. 5. II. Todd and
Messrs. Mills & Robertson were saved
When we consider the fact that we are
but poorly prepared III case Of fire, it
would seem almost impossible to have
saved these buildings.
DR.. B. E. Martins stock was insured
in the New York Underwater and
Continental Insurance companies to
the amount of $1,000 in each company.
DR.. j. a. Barksdalc, and Leakc &
Patton, Agents. Nothing saved.
The Hotel furniture of Mr.. Crisp
was insured in the Home Insurance CO.
to the amount Of only $3.50. Nothing
saved.
McGhce & Gilkerson's stock was in
sured in different Companies to the
amount Of $500. Part of stock saved.
Reidy & Bleakcly's stock was cover
ed by $4,000 insurance in the Virginia
Home, and North British Mercantile
Companies. Traynham e Dial, Agents
Part of stock saved.
The stock Of goods Of Messrs. Trayn-
ham s. Dial was covered by insurance
in the following Companies:
81, 800 in Factors and Traders Com
pany $1,000 in Virginia Home Com
pany, SO, 200 in German American Com
pany $4,000 in North British and
Mercantile Company; s2.400 III the
City. Of London Company.
While everybody did their full duty,
we must say that our Policemen and
Town Council worked like TrOianS