The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1889-02-28
APPLYING THE TORCH.
Incendiaries Fire the Town Of Granitevil1e
in Three Different Places Witkia tho
Same Hour---Thirteen Thousand
Dollars Loss.
Augusta Chronicle. ]

Augusta Chronicle
GRAN1TEvI1IE, 8. c., Feb. 2l.-A
partially successful attempt to burn
Grani:eville was made last night.
Three distinct attempts to wipe out the
town wece made. When Tie second
blaze was discovered the Augusta fire
department was telegraphed for help in
fighting the flames. When the truth
dawned upon the people that incendi-
aries were working a concerted war Of
determination upon the place the in
dignation knew no bounds, but did not
check the heTculean efforts put forth
by men, women, boys and girls to ar
rest the flames.
The first blaze; was seen at DR.. J. A.
Stothart's drug store, on Canal street,
just minute after midnight. About
the time the crowd had gathered an
other blaze in another part Of the town
was seen and quickly subdued. A short
while later another fire appeared on
Montgomery street, in the store occu-
pied by;J Joseph Togneri. There was con-
elusive proof in each case. It is averred
that the places wee fred by some par
ties, at present unknown-traces being
left to justify the assertion.
The town was thoroughly demoral-
lied for time. The fre-fghting ap-
paratus was entirely out of gear, hay
ing been used almost necessarily since
the cotton fire. The fire carriages were
all out at the factory, and the hose had
been strung out en hedges to dry. The
men Of the regular fire department. did
gallant work, and it Is owing to the
unceasing work Of willing and brave
hands that 40 little OF the place is in
ashes this morning. ,.-
Mr.. Togneri seems TO have enlisted
the special hatred Of the torch handlers.
A month ago his bar was burnt, the
fire having been incendiary, and At the
time he lost everything he had. Sus-
picion was aroused at the time, but ef-
forts to place the criminal failed. His
second misfortune will fall heavilyupon
him. He has no idea who his enemies
are. -.-.
J. A. Stothart, drugs, loses his store
and entire stock, $4,000; insurance,
$780,.
NJ. B. Zimmerman, stock, to whose
store the fire communicated from the
drug store, loses 500; no insurance.
J. P. Lorenz, adjoining, loses on stock
| 81 900; no insurance.
Beardon & Jones, on same block,
building partially saved but the stock
is wrecked, loses $1,000; no insurance.
Mrs. J. B. McMllin, loss on build
ing 81, 900; no insurance.
Geo. W. Platt, Oh residence, $1,000;
no insurance.
J. P. Lorenz, store, owned by the
Graniteville Manufacturing Company,
loss $1,000; no insurance.
J. Togneri, loss on stock 500; no in
surance.
It is impossible to learn ether losses
tonight. The total loss is $4,000.
Every effort will be put forth to cap
ture and punish the person responsible
for the fires. It is the opinion of some
that the incendiary is resident here;
that the fire at the drug store was
caused accidentally, and that when the
guilty party saw the people going to
assist to subdue the flames at the drug
store, be accepted the opportunity to
| ply the torch, and did 80 at the bar
| room.
Chief Young received the request
from Graniteville for aid, and he was
making preparations to. give some re-
sponse to the appeal, when an alarm
| was sounded in this city. After the
local fire was subdued, he ascertained
that he csuld be Of mo servicein Gran
iteyille, and sent no apparatus or men
there.