The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-03
FIRE-CURSED LAURENS.
Another Big Hole Burned in the Public
Square-Two Buildings Destroyed
with Heavy Loss.
rSnecial 10 Greenyille News.

LAuRENs, S. G., Jan. 30.-Again
| Laurens suffers by fire. Atl.4O O'Clock
| this morning flames were discovered III
the Minter 4 Jameson two story brick
| building on the north side of the pub
| lie square, containing their furniture
store, one Of the largest stocks OF the
kind in the State, and their immense
| dry goods establishment.
The firemen promptly responded and
commenced a stubborn fight which
lasted for hours. The flames were kept
confined to the basement and ground
| floor for nearly an hour and it WAS
| hoped that the danger was over when
they suddenly burst from every por-
ton of the building. In few mo-
ments the whole house was fiery
mass from which great volumes of
smoke arose. This, with the heat, made
successful resistance impossible. Then
Colonel B. w. Balps handsome three
story building: standing a few feet east
of the burning house, and separated
from it by narrow alley, caught under
the roof in front. The tiremen climbed
to the roof and cutting through, fought
the fire from above until, from the
danger of their position, they were
forced to descend. Then they kept up
the struggle until the water i'll the
cistern failed and it was necessary to
stop until water could be pumped from
the branch by the stationary engine at
Hudgen's mili. But for this delay the
Ball house might have been saved.
When the water was again turned on
81 hn tn nj
the flames for the protection OF other
property. After about half an hour the
water failed for the second time, and at
5 a. m. the ruins were abandoned until
the water supply could again be re-
newed. The house was already ruin.
1t contained J. L. Mimnaugh's cloth
ing store on the ground floor AID the
law offices of Balh Simk:nS & Ball and
w. w. Kennedy, and the sleeping
room of Charles Myers on the second.
The clothing stock and the law libraries,
including that Of R. G.. Watts, besides
those of the firms already named, were
removed.
The Minter & Jameson loss on the
building will amount to about $1,000
and on stocks S25,0O0; insurance on
building $1,000; on stocks SIS 600.
Colonel Balls loss on building will
amount to from $500 to $1,000, ac-
cording to the condition of the walls.
The building was insured for 5000.
Mimnaugh's loss and the loss on the
law libraries are probably covered. \
large part of the furniture of the offices
was destroyed, on which there was no
insurance.
The surrounding buildings were at
times greatly endangered and one or
two caught.
The general opinion is that the fire
was incepdiary. w. 4. Jameson, the
Junior partner of Minter & Jameson,
slept in a room in t second story Of
hiS building last night, and was the
only occupant. About II o'clock he
heard a noise and went down stairs,
but saw nothing suspicious. Au hour
and a half later he was awak-
ened by the roar and crackle of the
flames. Throwing only his overcoat
on he rushed down the stairway to the
business Office, cut off in The rear, and
tried too Il the safe but could not.
Then, blinded, stitied and almost faint
ing, he succeeded in making his way
out. It was just then that the alarm
was being given without. Post Master
J. NJ. Robertson, one of the first per-
sons to arrive, says that the back doors
of the house were standing open, and
that on the wooden platform which
one door opened upon be observed some
traces of liquid. Whether or not it was
oil, he could not say.
The firemen as usual worked splen-
didly.
The total loss will approximate $685.
900 or $4,000.
Such is the brief narrative ofanother
Of the series of terrible misfortunes that
have recently visited our town. On
three sides Of the public square yawn-
ing gaps with bare walls and piles of
brick and mortar where two months
ago stood handsome business -fuctures
only partially tell the tale of more than
a dozen fires by which 100000 worth
of fproperty has been lost. TO say that
the feeling here is one of universal dis
tress and dependency can give nojust
idea of the situation. So often has the
midnight alarm sounded that it has
ceased to occasion surprise. The police
force has been doubled and extra men,
have been on duy for weeks. 1t seems
that the time has come when every man
must stand sentry over his home. 3.
a