The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-09-18
" anted Water Works
Also a Fire Engine to Make
Use of Same.
Special to The State


ABBEvlILE. Sept l5-The worst
fire since 1878 visited Abbeville this
morning The alarm was sounded at
2 o'clock The fire commenced in
planning mill owned by Nj }. Allen
Smith. The mill had been running
all day Saturday, but at 6 o'clock
was shut down and every precautIon
was taken to guard against fire In
ten minutes after the first alarm the
streets were filed with people run
ming to and fro, not knowing what to
do, but willing to do anything.
As our "city" has no water
works or fire department of any kind
the citizens had nothing to rely upon
but themselves, but they appreciated
this fact and did most excellent work.
The fire had gained too much head
way in the planning mill to give hope
of controlling it there so everyone
turned their attention on the sur
rounding buildings. A building
owned by J Allen Smith and occu
pied by Mr. Robt. Maybre was the
next to catch Every effort was made
to stop the fire here, but there was no
use The flames seemed determined
to wipe out the whole block Good
work was done in saving, with little
loss, Mr. Maybre's household goods
A grocery. owned by J Allen
Smith, was the next victim About
twelve or fifteen bales of cotton were
stored in this building, all of which
was total los. The flames soon
spread to restaurant adjoining the
grocery-which was consumed.
The next building to go was A NJ
Hill & Sons carriage repository, sale
and livery stable The people went
with cheer TO the rescue of the live
stock in the stable The horses
were turned out. and it was grand
sight to see them. with their heads
upIifted running for life down Main
street. They seemed to know exact
ly what TO do, and snorted and paved
the dust in manner which indicated
that they knew where and what the
danger was.
lhe flames were checked here,
temporarily, bat the wind shifted,
! aud socn every one saw that Dr.. S.
G Thomson's magnificent mansion
was on fire. 1t was one Of the lar.
gest buildings in the block, and The
fire fighters knew that il this struc
ture was burned a great potion of
the residence part of the town would
be in danger, so they worked as
though their lives were at stake; but
sad to relate. their noble efforts were
to again meet with failure. On Mr.
Thomson's lot were several out.
houses, ETC.. all Of which are now in
ashes.
The best work Of the night was
done at this juncture. The resi-
dence of Dr.. L. T. Hill and the cam
ming factory and grocery store Of ].
G. Younger are within thirty yards
of the Thomson dwelling and to save
these two buildings was little less
than impossible. but it was done.
Good work was done at J. c..
Younger's place of business, aud they
did we'll to stop the flames from
spreading further in that direction,
for had they done so the McCants
Hotel would have been consumed
The following are the losses. with
the insurance. as far as your CORES,
pondent has been able to gather:
j. Allen Smith & Sons-Planing
mill grocery, restaurant and three
dwellings. What the value and in
surance are it is impossible to state.
Robert Maybre-Loss on furniture,
damaged by removal about $3.50; in
surance, $3.50 in the Orient
Harriet Adams lost about S75.
A. NJ. Hill & Sons lost about $5,-
600; insurance, $500 pretty we'll
insured. Hill lost five buildings in
all
DR.. F J Thompson-Building and
houses on premises-Lost about
$40, 900; insurance, $1,000; lost on
furniture, etc about 81 500; in.
surance, 81 900.
L Z. Hill lost on furniture S4OO !;
30 insurance.
j. C. Younger-Stock damaged by
removal loss about 500; no in
surance.
The cause of the fire is not known.
\ great many think that it was in
canaiary thnnoh nothing is certain