The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1897-02-16
A SENSATION IN THE TOWN OF UNION.
ATTEMPT TO BURN "A NEW BANK
BUILDING.

Rosin, Straw. Oil and Lighted Candle
in the CclIar-Statcment from DIR.
w. NJ Mcador, Accused OF the
Crime.
The most astounding sensation was
sprung upon the people OF Union on
tuesday morning, 9th inst, relating
TO an attempt made the night before to
set firu to handsome block OF buildings
just completed. The New Era makes
the following statements:
The new bank building just being
finished, Is the largest, and by far,
the handsomest building in town, be-
ing four stories high. The first and
second floor was finished fist, and the
Union Drug Co. went into one Of the
rooms and fitted up one of the finest
drug stores In the up country and the
Merchants and Planters Bank have
| just moved into their handsome apart
ments in the same building.
1t is stated that DR.. Mcador last
Monday night after leaving the store,
| started for home, but was seen BY "a
party to return after few minutes
| and unlock the door and entUr without
striking light. The party noticed
that no light was made and he awaited
developments. He says he finally saw
|
and departed hurricdly around the
corner and down the street. Suspect
Ing something wrong key was OBJ
thined, and policeman was hunted
up and together they entered the drug
store, and began looking around. ~
lantern was found on the ll)or discon-
nccted, which aroused more suspicious
and they finally went down into the
cellar, when only a few stops down Il
light was discovered in the cellar and
upon investigation it vas found to be
IL short lighted candle and around the
candle was piled shavings or straw ana
rubbish, all OF which were saturated
with kerosene oil, and very near the
candle stood barrel OF rosin also
saturated with kerosene oil. Within
a few feet stood the oil tank, which
was surrounded by the litter also sat
uratcd with oil. Leading from the
candle to the room where tho various
barrels OF oil were kept thero was a
row or trail of rosin. The steps and
landing was also noticed to be wet
with kerosene oil. The candle was
burning low and possibly in the short
space OF ffteen minutes more the mag
nificent building would have been en-
veioped in llamcs. a policeman was
left in charge of tho store TO await
developments. Early Tuesday morn.
ing, about five o'clock, DR.. Meador
came and went into the store and find
ing the policeman on guard, asked
hlm what was up and what he was
doing there? the policeman replied
that he had been left there to guard
the store on account of some one try
ing to break in. The Dr. asked him
who left him there and he was told tina,
DR.. Smith and Cotton had left him
there. The DR.. asked why he hat
not been sent for? The policeman
told him he did not know. The DR..
afLor opening and shutting some draw
ers, went away in few minutes.
The UniOn Drug Company was com
posed Of DR.. Meador and DR.. Nj. T
Smith, as well as we can learn. The
co.partnership was dissolved 5yester
day morning and the keys werc turn
ed over to DR.. Smith.
Now the question arises who pu
/, that lighted candle in that dangerou
place. Should the building hav
. caught there would have possibly bsel
, one OF the greatest conDagrations eve
: seen in Union. 1t is impossible &
estimate the loss that would have re
:. suited.
DIR. MEADOR'S STATEMENT.
v Monday night K Of II. were holdin
: Il meeting at their hall above the dru
r store. While they were in session
a said to senior clerk Of drug store
). Wonder il anybody could SEQ wha
+ was going on up there?" Said he didn'
know. ! said that the Woodmen c
& the World met there and I went m