Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1885-01-01
Correspondence of the YOrkville Enqairer
LETTER FROM CHESTER.

CHESTER, December 80, 1S84.-Since my
last correspondence Chester has been visited
with another fire. At an early hour We'd
nesday morning, 18th instant, the Planters
Hotel was discovered to be on fire. The
town bell was sounded, but before the fire.
men could arrive on the ground and get to
work, they realized their impossibility to
save the building, an old frame structure on
Main street, and one of the landmarks of
the place. They then directed their efforts
towards saving the handsome brick build
ing of Cross & Hafner on the opposite side
of the street. After great damage to the
building their efforts were crowned with
success. The brick building of j. X. Cole
man also caught, but the fire was eXtin-
guished before much damage was done.
The Planters Hotel, which was total loss,
was covered with insurance to the amount
of 1000, which does not cover the entire
loss. The furniture of the building was
covered with insurance to the amount OF
5000. Mr.. l.. M. Watts, who was keeping
the Hotel, narrowly escaped with his life,
together with many of the boarders. The
amount of insurance on the Cross e. Hafner
building was 81 900, which will probably
cover the damage. The origin Of the fire is
unknown.
Since my last, two prominent citizens of
this county have passed aWay-Mr. II. Z.
Worthy and Col. Richard Woods. The lat
ter was member of the Convention of 1850.
that passed the ordinance of secession. He
had been an invalid for three years. Dur.
ing that period he had several strokes of
paralysis. Mr.. Worthy was in Columbia
the week before his death, where he con-
tracted bad cold which led to pneumonia.
, y He was the possessor of many good quail
ties, and was one of the most influential cit
liens on the western side Of the county.
Mr.. w. IT. D. COuSar, Jr., who fell from
the train between this place and Richburg,
died on the Goth instant from the effects of
injuries received at the time. The friends
of the family deeply sympathize with them
in their atfliction. Mr. Cousar, who has
been so suddenly taken away in the prime
of manhood, was to have been married in
short time.
The holidays passed off pleasantly at this
place. Shopping was quite lively day or
so before Christmas. Confectionery stores
especially did flourishing business. Heads
of families and young men with matrimo-
nial intentions seemed bent on doing all in
their power tomake the children and sweet
hearts happy. On Christmas day our streets
were monOpolized by the colored people,
while the whites were enjoying the good
GnlISS VI tlle 'SeSSOIl aG tHeli leoPcCliFS
homes. The Fantasies appeared on the
streets, and greatly delighted the children
and colored population with their ridicu-
lous antics. The closing of bar-rooms caused
the sale of less quantity of intoxicating
liquors, and consequently less drunkenness.
"Hard times" have in no way taken Christ
mas out of the homes of the people.
Henry McLure, coored, while driving
along the public road two miles from town
on last Friday, fell from the buggy, and
was killed. He was in state Of intoxica-
tion at the time.
The colored population and considerable
number of white people are highly pleased
with the failure on the part of many of our
lawmakers to repeal the lien law. In their
opinion the times are too hard to pass bill
that would take away from the poor man
his only credit.
At a late meeting of the new Board Of
County Commissioners Mr.. Butler Estes
was reelected manager of the county poor
House for the ensuing year. There were
seven applicants for the position.
Mrs. Nancy Clack, of this county, died
last week.
DIR. w. B. Cross, father of Mr.. I. n.
Cross, of our town, died recently in Ala
bama. NJ.