The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1896-03-04
THE FLORENCE FIRE.
Heavy Losses in Buildings
and Goods-One Nan
Burnt to Death.
Special 10 TIE Stale.

Special 10 TIE Stale.
Florence, Feb. 27.-FIorence pre-
sents a gloomy appearance to day.
The very heart Of the business por
ton of the city is in ashes a'id men.
women ard children have all day
been silently viewing what .tester-
day was q group Of handsome brick
buildings, now a mass Of black and
charred ruins.
The fire alarm sounded about 4 10,
flames having been seen coming from
the rear of the Ellis block OF build
lngs or the north side of Evans
street, Immediately adjoining the
Central Hotel This block, the pro-
perty of Mr.. 0. S. Ellis. is two
stories in height, the first floor used
as stores, the upper as Offices and
private rooms Though the fire de-
partment responded promptly and
the citizens turned out Ell masse, the
flames spread rapidly towards the
east, taking in two smaller brick
stores and the large 3 story building
on the corner thence up Dargan
street, taking in two other brick
buildings, the last five all the pro-
perty Of Dr.. F = Lake. The fire
did not cross the street and the Cen
trail Hotel by ;:eroic efforts, was
saved Water ruined the plasterng
in the western half of this building,
the timbers supporting the tin roof
were charred by the heat and furnl-
ture in some of the rooms was
blistered Masses Of brick and
ashes show where the other build
ings stood
The losses, as we'll as they can
now be obtained, are as follows
O. S. Ellis. five stores. Offices
above stairs, loss about $4,000 ; in
surance $4,000.
F y Lake, FIVE stores, one three
stories in height with offices Oh
second story and secret society head
quarters on third story. loss Sl2, 600;
insurance $1,000
Slight q Rucker, dry goods,
greater portion destroyed, loss about
S25 900 insurance $4,000.
Su1zbacher & Son, jewelry store,
heavy losers total value Of stock
about $4,000; insurance $4,000.
Mrs 0. L Morgan, millinery, lost
heavily ; total value Of stock about
$1,000 ; insurance $1,000
Post Office, locked boxes and fix
lures destroyed ; value S400: IN
surance $500 mail matter. stamps
and money saved
Darr & Brunson, propretors of
The Banner.Messenger, total loss
s3,5oo; insurance $1,000.
Western Union Telegraph Com
pany, office fixtures, batteries, etc,
totally destroyed.
Snipe's barber shop. total loss
about $500 insurance $500
F. Z. Lake & Go drugs, loss es-
tlmated at about 50 per cent ; value
Of stock and fixtures about $4,000 !;
insurance 50 1900.
Charles Bultman, shoes, partial
loss value of stock about $4,000 !;
insurance $500.
County dispensary, almost a total
loss value of stock about 81, 500 /;
insurance not known
Farrell & Edwards, photographers,
partial loss value Of material, fix
lures, etc $500; no insurance.
II E. Gee. dentist, partial loss ;
value of outfit about $500 insurance
$3.50
Knights of Pythias lodge, total
loss of paraphcrnalia and furniture /;
value 81, $50 insurance 81, lao.
Masonic lodge, value $3.50 in
surance $3.50
Knights of Honor, value $500 ; in
surance $3.50
Brotherhood OF Locomotive Engi-
neers, no insurance
American Legion Of Honor, 10 in
surance.
Rathbcne Sisters, no insurance.
Chosen Friends, no insurance.
Muldrow & Chase, general mer-
chandise, stock damaged by waite:
$1,000 or sl,200; covered by in
surance.
Central Hotel damaged $1,000 or
$4,000 !; covered by insurance
The total actual loss is variously
estimated at from $4,000 to $780,
600 and total amount Of insurance
involved, including Central Hotel, is
about $4,000
There was but one fatility, but it is
sad one George Williams, Of
Darlington, printer, who was visit
ing here at the time and occupying a
room in the Ellis building. was over