The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-11-03
Fire.

This town was again visited by ire and
where it was least expected did the demon
put IN his work OF destrucuon.
Last Thursday morning between toe
hours of 5 and 6 O'clock Policeman Hug
gins discovered flames eating their way oat
OF the western upper story window OF bar
vim & Barrons store Immediately he
sounded the alarm and before an entrance
to the building could be effected the ire
had gained such headw4y that It w"s Gan
gerous to life to attempt the work OF saving
the goods Mr. Archie Barron, the junior
member Of the firm, attempted to reach tie
money till where the nigh: before he h;Id
left about two hundred dollars IN casl, bat
he was driven back by the intense heat and
smoke. 4 second attempt would have neeA
made, but the falling n Of tEe upper door
near tue place he was seeking to get pre-
vented him, and very fortunatel y, too, be-
cause had be reached his money drawer the
probability is that he would have been
caught by the falling timbers and killed.
Very little goods were Sared-aot rs much
as twenty-five dollars worth
Policeman Higgins says that some time
during the night or early morning he heard
noise like the breaking OF glass and he
made careful Aunt il the store lots aud
about the fronts to ascertain the cause. his
search MAS frultless and he came u the con-
clus.on that piece Of glassware had ia!len
from a shelf. He secreted himself among
some bales Of cotton IL McLeoos lot and
watched for over an hour. At the same time
Rush ingram. was on the lookout IN front.
Hearing nothing more and seeing no Sisus
OF any one moving about, he Came out OF his
hiding place and took q seat on the door
sill of Harvin y Barron 5 store, when al. ut
once be heard a cracking noise, and LOOK
ing up. discovered the IRE
The building and contents were entirely
consumeGand the store occupied by Mr.. {.
". Kendall was very badly damaged. The
adjoining wall will have to be taken down
and rebuilt. At one time tue whole block
was il great danger Of destruction and what
kept the fire from spreading, is due entirely
to . merciful Providence and the hercu!ean
efforts of Mr.. John Meier. Mr.. }. b. Lee
sesnes stock was somewhat damaged from
the handling il moving ont and IN; 80 Were
the stocks OF Me>SrS. Kendall, R:T ana
kraSnoE.
The property burned belonged to 3lrs: s.
4. Walker and was Insured Iof S4,oVU'
which will uot cover tue loss. hArvln {.
Barrons insurance on stock was S9,oUO and
they had on hand over $4,000 worth oi
goods, some of which had only arrived IN
the store the day before the ire and
was opened up for their special sale
which would have taken place had not the
fire prevented 1t.
Every body felt sad when they saw this
property being consumed, because the firm
Of Aaryln i Barron had brought about
condition in this town which qulckened the
mercantile pulse and put a.! OF our lner-
chants on their mettle to not be outssrlpped
in tue competition tor public favor and pat
ronage.
The blow at frstwas so severe that 1t al
most made the members OF this firm heart
sick, but with that determined spirit eXnlb.
tied so far il theIr short career, they rallied
and before the smoke died away trom the
burning embers they began negotiating for
the mercantile business OF Mr. j. ". Nc
Leod.
The negotiations resulted in deal, and
they bought out Mr.. Mcleod where, IN the
future, they will be found catering to the
public for confidence and trade, and they
feel that the misfortune which came upon
them will have the effect OF making them
redouble their efforts to draw to the town
Of Manning a still larger portion OF the al
ready decreased trade due to thrift, energy
and up-to-date methods.