The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1897-05-12
A DISASTROUS FIRE.
GIN. MILL. WAREHOUSES;. STABLE
AND DISpENSARY BURNED.
The Losses Above $4,000. d. VI.
Bradham the Heaviest LoStr.-Tle
Possibilities. Losses. Notes.

IuS " i-i VIC - -I''tiI S!t Hp''t' cS''
not discovered til then, the blaze had
made considerable headway, for in 4 very
few minutes the fire had spread to other
buildings in the vicinity. 4; :05 the fire
was under control, with still :. great deal of
work to DO in keeping the fire from ad-
joining buildings.
All the property destroyed, with the ex-
cept;on of q small house. the. property Of
Mr. J. W. Mcleod. and DispenSary stock,
was owned by MeSsrs. Bradham and Thom-
as, the former being the heaviest loser,
there being no insurance on the gin and mill
owned by him, in which over $1,000 worth
of new machinery had been added only
last fall
The buildings destroyed were all OF
wood and very dry so that the smallest
spark ignited them and caused them to be
consumed very fast.
There seems to be a division of opinion
as to the origin OF the fire. While some say
that the fire started by shavings near the
boiler taking fire, others are inclined to
the belief that it was the work Of an incen-
diary.
Fortunately no one suffered any severe
injuries, but slight burns and cats We're
quite numerous.
TIE PROGRESS OF The FLAMES.
The fire started in the ginnery and in an
incredibly short time the building had
fallen in. From the mill it travelled to the
warehouse north Of it, where were stored a
large number Of wagons moving machines
and other farm implements, and then to
the Dispensary, catching on the root and
working down. There was pos
sibihty of saving some Of the liquors, but
after Mr. Erwin, the Dispenser, had taken
ont some furniture and bedding that was
stored on the upper hoor he locked the
door and left the doomed building which
was wise, because had the crowd gotten to
the liquor the probability is that more
property would have been destroyed.
The wind was blowing northeast and the
SPARKS from the DiSpensary were blown
over on the stable owned by Thomas y
Bradham, where. all the stock having been
driven out and some harness carried away
every effort was made by the heroic volun-
teer fremen to save the structure, but all
efforts proved of no avail, the fire having
worked IN under the shingles. When one
of the fire fighters found that fire was lssu-
ing from the inside be gave warning tLat
nothing could be doue and everyone left
the building to its fate. Many then
turned to and removed the huggies, car
riages, harnesses, etc, that were IN the
warehouse adjoining the stable, aud then
both buildings were left 10 be consumed.
The hard and more dangerous work Of
the brave men was only then to commenc ce
in the effort 70 prevent the fire from reach
ing 1Ir. Thomas residence and the Ben
bow house. which were in imminent dan
ger Both buildings were on fire a. differ
ent times, but owing to the extreme vigil
ance Of the fire ladies, the danger was
averted time and again. When the house
of Mr.. Thomas had been put under strict
guard OF ever watchfui men, the great men
ace was transferred 10 the Benbow House.
The walls of the DiSpensary building stood
like fiery Sentinels after all that vas inside
had burned away, threatening to destroy
the Benbow House by flying sparks, and it
was only by the greatest caution and watch
fulness, that building was saved. At
one time the building was on fire, and ow-
ing to the force IN charge of the Thomas
residence and the paratively small num-
given the building IL the way OF men,
buckets and water, and but for the timely
use Of an axe in the hands Of one OF the
volunteers in chopping away the burning
part. the structure would have been raZed.
Some apprehension was feltto the safety
of the town lookup and the building occu-
pied by Col. Barron and Mr.. Galloway, bu,
the copious use OF water kept the buildings
in damp condition.
The AWFUL POSSIBILITIES.
Great credit is due the men who fought
so braveiy and especially for the protec,
ton given to the Benbow House and
Thomas residence Had either one Of the
buildings gotten beyond control Of the
fremen, the greater portion of the town
lying north and west of the fire would
have been burned up. Owing to the nun
Der of wooden building north Of the Ben.
bow House. had that building caught fire,
every one of the houses would have been
burned and on reaching the corner would
have travelled west OF both sides Of the
street, and it is impossible to conjecture
where the demon would have ceased,
satisfied with the great havoc he had made
THE LOSSES.
! Following are the losses sustained and
the amount of insurance, # any, on al the
property consumed by fire:
Thomas Bradham-Stable, 81 900; feed,
$50; buggy warehouse, $1,000; tobacco in
same $50; warehouse between mill and
Dispensary, $500; wagons and machinery
contained therein, $1,000; D;spensary
bull ling, $500; ? horses killed in the
railroad wreck, after being driven out Of
the burning stable Sl00; total, $3.50; in
surance on all, 81 900.
Mr. D. NJ Bradham's loss on the gin and
mill was about 50, 800; 20 insurance.
The house owned By Mr.. J. W. Mcleod
was valued at $500, with 500 insurance.
The loss to the Dispensary was all OF the
stock, which amounted to S2039; the last
shipment, amounting to SG99.GO having
been received only the day before the fire
The insurance on the stock was S400. The
amount of insurance compared with ths
stock on hand is small, bat no more couli
be carried as the Dispenser received in
Structions from the State Board.
Recap!tulation.
Thomas Il Bra6ham m.S 81 S5(