The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1884-04-17
The Forests in Flames.

The Forests in Flames.
The forest fires last week were wide.
spread and the most destructive ever
known in this Stale. In Barnwell Coun-
ty Mr.. William Aver, who lives on
Three. mile Greek, had his barn and all
other outbuildings, together with his
corn, fodder, &C., burned. lie also lost
horse and a mule, which persisted in
the flames. Scipio Williams, colored, of
Red Oak Township, had several pigs
burned up in his pasture. Asmall house
at Elko Barnwell County, belonging to-
the South Carolina Railway Company,
was burned down last week. Near BAL
doc the barns of John Furguson were
burned, together with all bis corn and
fodder; H. B. Cave had all of his fencing
destroyed: Henry Wroton lost a building
and all his fencing; Charles Smith lost
two buildings and greater portion OF
his fencing. On.the Boiling Springs side
| Mr.. John Fowke lost heavily in fencing,
while in other sections there was consid-
erable damage donei in small way.
In Kershaw County the fires burned
over a large territory. Nearly all the
fencing and several negro houses we're
burned in the Hico neighborhood, East
of Camden. On Mr.. j. d. McCaskill's
place, near Pine Tree, large quantity
of fencing was destroyed. Several crops
of turpentine boxes were burned on the
| lands formerly worked by Shaw & Be.
thune. At Haltown the fire vas stop.
ped by the energy of over a hundred men
before much damage was done. Large
fires ragged in the Beaver Dam section
near Lynches River. Three dwelling
houses occupied by negroes on lsbmal
Cato's place near .Alberl's Mill were
burned also two corn houses on same
place. A large quantity of pasture
| fencing on the Parker place, West Wa
leree, was destroyed. Fire swept the
country froih knights Hill, few miles
Northwest of Camden, destroying forests,
fencing and houses. Its course was
East, passing over the thickly settled
territory just above town, and then max
ing its course in Sou,heasterly direction.
Several houses occupied by colored peo-
pie were consumed. Mr.. Wesley Ham
mond, living near Lynchwood, lost all
the houses on his place, and very few
fences were left anywhere in the track OF
the fire. a gentleman from near Lynch
es Greek informed the Camden journal
that quite q number of cattle that were
grazing in the woods were badly burned,
and many hogs were roasted alive, being
unable to escape from the flames. Near
ly three quarters of the pine forests in
the county were swept over by the flames,
thus almost breaking up the entire tur.
pentine business in this section. The
forests in all the upper portion of the
county were also burned over, aud pas
| ture fences were destroyed in every di.
rection. Three churches in the county
escaped destruction in miraculous way.
Antioch Church is surrounded by heavy
pine forests, and just before the fire
reached the immediate vicinity of the
church it divided and went round it,
joining together on the opposite side and
sweeping on with its former fury, leaving
the church untouched. AT Mount Zion,
above Camden, the flames acted in almost
similar manner, passing close around
the church, but harming nothing. At
Pine Tree Church the fires passed under
and around the building, burning straw,
| wood and lumber around it, but doing no
injury to the church. At Sandy Grove
the fire went through the churcbyard,
burning all the fencing, railing aud sheds
| around it and the cemetery adjoining the
church, but doing nc injury to the church
itself.
In Chester County the old Stroud house
on the A. j. Cloud plantation was burned,
and fences were burned on the premises
of Messrs. w. G. GLADDEN., John Sinp
son, j. w. Wiks, R. A Love, r. w.
Lipsey and others.
In Lancaster County miles of fencing
and hundreds of trees we're destroyed,
but no houses were burned or lives lost.
A fire which broke out on w. Il. Roberts
place burned for distance of two miles
before it could be put out. A fire which
originated on the Gay place burned over
seven or eight square miles of timber
land. Messrs. Aaron Adams, Faulken-
berry and everybody in the line of the
fire had all their fences burned.
In Darlington Couaty the fire extend.
ed for six miles on the South side of
Boggy Swamp, and on the North side
about ten miles, widening out to where
it was stopped, to an extent of five miles.
The destruction 10 timber was immense,
large amount of fencing was destroyed
and several thousand acres Of turpen,ne
timber burnt. Mr.. James CuIpepper
lost his dwelling house and outhouses.
Mr.. VIM. Coker lost his dwellings. Mr..
Jno. w. Coker lost his oulbuildings.
Mr.. S. Barefoot lost his buildings, and
the houses and possessions Of three color
ed men were burnt. All of the parties
are reported to have lost all their provis-
ions and nearly everything they had.
There was no insurance Oh any of the
property.
In Clarendon County the timber tor
miles was destroyed and miles of fencing
burned, with an occasional house, mill,
&c. The damage done to the turpentine
farms is irreparable, aud the lowest CAL
culations put the damage to property at
ten thousand dollars, and quite possibly
it may double that amount.
In Williamsburg County considerable
fencing was destroyed on the North side
of Black Liver. On the South side of
the river Mr.. Sam Mcconnell lost his
dwelling house and all his out buildings,
containing his provisions. William
Mcconnell saved his dwelling, but lost
everything else including his provisions.
John Barrineau and Press Miller lost all
their fencing but saved their dwellings.
DR.. r. F. Maurice lost his ginhousr,
press and provisions. Several other per-
sous lost their fencing and good many
negroes were burned out. Snme of these
people were left in utter dcstitution.
In Marlboro County Mr.. w. 3. Drake,
Of Red Hill Town: nip, lost mule, d
barn containing fifty bushels of corn and
two stacks of fodder. In the Deighbor,
hood of Pearson's the destruction of
fencing aud timber va. fearful. The