The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1894-04-25
A DISASTROUS FIRE.


Last night few minutes past 2o'clock
fire vas discovered bursting from the
c ,urt hARse side of Drafts store, 0ccu
pied BY S. Goldstein with stock of dry
goods, clothing, shoes, hats, underwear
and notion, and in The rear by }. Brooks
Wingard as Il law Office. In a few min
nteI the entire building was euvelOped
in flames, whicl shot high in he air
and quickly communicated TO the Drafts
Hotel on the West. This building was
also soon a mass Of tllmeS and only by
the greatest effOrls was a portion Of the
furniture saved before it Succumb. It
being a large, three story, frame strnc
ture, gave forth an intense heat. AMI al
though Main street is IS feet wide and
h IS large shade trees on each side, the
heat soon set fire TO the front end Of the
Lexington Bazaar, owned by Mr.. G. N.
Harman, and occupied by him with a
stock of confectionery, fruits, family
groceries, toys, chiBa and glassware, ci
garS, tobacco aud drugs, and in the rear
by the LeXing on DISpa Oh as an office
and press room. O1ly the show cases
containing toilet articles and stationery
and cigars were saved from the Bazaar
stock, and some type. eases. "matter'
on gaIlels, a small cabinet and books OF
subscription and advertising were saved.
In spite Of every effort 10 save the
dwelling of Mr.. G. NJ. Harman, few
feet to the cast Of the Bazaar, it soon
caught. From this buiding good por
ton Of the furniture was taken III a
much damaged C, ndltion.
Mr.. GoldStcin'S entire stock was
burned, as was Col. J Brooks Wingacd's
law library and the furniture and organ
of All Saints Episcopal Mission in the
hall up stairs in this building. In the
rear room up stairs the rifles and uni
folms of the disbanded lexington Rifles
were also consumed by the flames.
The loss of Cyl. Wingard and the
Episcopal Mission is total with no in
surance. Mr.. Goldtein'S stock was
stated to be 1000 with 81, 900 insur-
ance. The Drafts estate had 900 in
surance on hotel and $3.50 on the store
building, with loss supposed to be about
$4,000. Mr. Harman's loss is roughly
estimated to be about $4,000, with $2,-
800 insurance
When the Drafts Hotel was burning
il was only by the free use of wet blankets
aud the best effjris efthe bucket brigade
that the Hammer Hotel, about 100 feet
to the west, was prevented from catch
ing on fire, and while the Bazaar was
being consumed, the same mears were
successful in saving the brick drug store
and Office of DR.. NJ Q. Hendrix and the
store of Mr.. J. ". Long, or the same
side of Main street to the west.
Col. G. T. Graham also lot his law
library, which caught on fire after being
removed 10 the street from his Office ad-
joining Drafts hCtel and was burned,
the heat being too great from the burn
ing buildings 10 permit it being reached
after it caught.
This is the most disastrous fire that
Lexington has ever experienced except
when Shermans army burned most of
the buildings in the place. Had the
wind changed to the east during the
burning OF D:ats' store the brick court
house would in al! probability also been
burned, as the coroic4s are of wood
TakiOg itall il all We suppose the direct
losses will aggregate near 81, $500, with
$3.50 to offset them.
The presses and other printing ma
terial of the Dispatch having been lost,
this issue of the paper is printed on the
presses of The Register, which have
been kindly placed at our disposal by
the proprietor. 1t is the intention Of
the proprietor and publisher of the Dis
patch to continue its publication With
cut break, and at as early date as is
possible, to procure new outfit in
presses, type, etc. To accomplish this
lie needs the assistance of the friends of
The paper, aud appeals to all who are in
dcbted to him by paying years sub
scriptiou in advance. Ii th's is done he
will be able to accomplish the desired
end with comparative ease. We earn
eStly hope TO have hearty response in
I Cf