The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1889-07-10
FIRE FOLLOWS FLOOD.
The Remnant of JOhnst0Hn
Almost Wiped Out.
Thirty Buildings, Spared by the
Waters, Burned.

At one o'clock in the afternoon the upper
end of the First Ward schoolhouse, on Stony
Creek, Johnstown, the scene of the recent
floods, caught fire from huge pile Of debris
that was burning. The flames enveloped
twenty-five or more houses, and in a
few moments were beyond control.
The four Philadelphia fire engines were put
to work, but could do nothing TO stay the
spread Of the fire, as a high wind was blow
ing. The militia was ordered from the camp
to assist the citizens and f1remen.
It was only due to the direction Of the wind
that the remains of Johnstown were not en-
tirely wiped out. Close by the school build
ings. where the fire started, there
we're all jumbled up together about
thirty buildings some of them in
good state Of preservation and
inhabited Next to thesehouses was street,
the only one not yet cleared of debris; and
on the opposite side was wide stretch of
ground tightly packed with frame buildings
In all manner Of decrepit attitudes.
Still further above were some Of the best
preserved buildings in the city. Had the
wind carried the fame in the opposite direc-
ton fire would have destroyed what the flood
had left. As it was the fire caused a veritable
panic in the immediate neighborhood, as it
enveloped one house after another in rapid
succession.
All the engines in the plnce were called out
and the most intense excitement prevailed
for time. The wind was blowing strongly,
and it was feared the fire might spread to
Kernville. After desperate work on the part
of the firemen, militia and citizens it was fin
ally controlled. All but three Of the build.
ings in the district bounded by Market and
Walnut streets, and by Main street and the
1o1 'TEa fT-Hr
houses were totally destroyed, includ-
ing the large brick schoolhouse. Many of
the buildings destroyed had been washed
from their foundations, though many of
them contained household goods which had
been saved from the food. But small
amount of these goods were saved.
One Of the abandoned houses had been a
hardware store and the explosion Of keg of
powder in it sent the burning roof flying in
fragments, thus increasing the danger.
Men were put to work smothering the
bonfres that stretched across the open space
with earth, and in this manner cut off the
fires line of communication to the threatened
buildings, whose occupants were already
moving the remnants Of their furniture.
The militia and gang of laborers worked
hard at clearing the street and then tore
down number of houses on the opposite
side. The fire was under control after burn
ing for two hours, and twenty-five or thirty
houses were in ashes.
The whole population of the valley turned
out to watch the conHagration, and so gen
eral became the belief that everything would
60 up in smoke that in all directions people
were preparing to fee to the hills. The
money loss will be about s35, 1000. The fire
was caused by three small boys setting fire to
pile of rubbish.
The Burgess was instructed by the City
Council of Cambria to address letter to the
State Relief Commission, asking that S12, 900
be appropriated for the purpose of erecting
frame buildings.