The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1897-06-09
ASYLUM ON FIRE.
Heroic Work of the Fire
men---s2O,OOO Loss.

dCt OIC w VI a vi bA0 IL -
men---s2O,OOO Loss.
1t was just before | o'clock that
Superintendent Babcock, Mr.. May
hew and some others were sitting
under tree watching the progress
of the work on the foundations of the
new negro building out at the hos
pital, when DR.. Babcock happening
to glance up at the southern able of
the handsome brick structl-.e used
for the steam laundry. the engine
and boiler rooms and the electric
light plans, thought he detected a
little smoke curling out from under
the woodwork. Calling the attention
of his companions to it he went
around the wall to investigator Mr.
Mayhem was ahead of him The
thirty or more negro female patients
who work in the laundry had just
come out about Is minutes before
Mr. Mayhem rushed into the building
to see the ceiling beginning to crack
and the flames burst forth From
another room Mrs. Douglas came forth
saying that flames were roaring above
DR.. Babcock summoned all the atten-
dants within call and the hand engine
was gotten out. Before the lose
cou'd be gotten on the fire we'll flames
burst from every portion of the roof
1t seemed that in some way the fire
had caught in the roof and had been
burning some time before it was dis
covered
DR. Babcock seeing that the fire
was toe much for his force. ordered
the city fire alarm turned in.
Meanwhile he sen. runners to all the
gates and orders were quickly passed
around to guard the patients care
fully QuicA!y those who were 10
the yards were forced into line by
the excited attendants and hurried
into the wards, where they were
placed under lock and key. The
work was done very quickly and
quietly. There were many white
male patients in the yard adjoining
These there was some difficulty in
getting into the building and the
frenen, after cutting out high Sec
tion of the beard fence in order to get
to the hydran. with their engine, got
in before the nnfortunates had all
been gotten into the building.
KNEW WHAT IT MEANT
The fire department realized the
possibilities Of an alarm from the
State Hospital for the Insane and
the machines were driven With IN.
usual speed. Every fireman in the
city likewise fastened to the hospital,
as did the mayor, the chief cf police
and every policeman within reach
The Palmetto engine got good ny
drant inside the yard after winding
drive and spread her hose. The In.
dependents had to cut out section
of the high board fence and get their
engine through it as told above, but
not moment was lost The Colum
bia engine managed to come through
an archway recently constructed
under the main building and got a
very good locality. The fremen
quickly had the hose laid and in a
short time three heavy streams Of
water were getting in their work
upon the fire which had by this time
obtained great headway in fact. the
whole building was mass of flames
The engineer had thoughtfully opened
the steamcocks on the boilers in the
building the moment the fire was dis
covered and stream of cold water
was left running through them DUR
ing the progress of the fire BE
likewise cut off the electric current
from the city plant wires in the yard
Employees brought out most of the
clothes in the laundry.
BIT TIE CHEF.
When the FIRE was discovered, Dr.
Babcock summoned all the hands en-
gagged upon the new buildings to the
aid of the attendants Among these
were Will Mscksy and Abram
Moore, the latter being we'll known
over the city as g former colored fire
man and a powerful man BE had
directed them to do what they could
about the building and then start
several freight cs.rs standing on the
track by the burning structure down
the incline, out of reach of the
flames
Chief May soon arrived and en-.
deavored to get into the building
Moore blocked his way aud said lie
could NOT erter. disnnfinp the riphi