The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-06
Water Works Saved the Town
"A BIO FIRE QUICKLY ExTINGUIsuED.
Good Work OF the Dcpariment-Eir Alarm,
Sounded Tuesday l;vsning.

| Good Work OF the Dcpnr,men -Flr, Alarm,
| Sounded Tuesday EvSning.
Everybody now says that the water
works has already pnid the outlay for
the system. IL took only one first class
fire to demonstrate the value of the
system. And the fire came before
everything was ready, but oven in the
incomplete state our system was found
invaluable.
Some years ago it was said that
Young John paid for himself in one
night when Il big fire came on.
Eut on Tuesday night Young John
woi;ld have been helpless if left to him
SELF. lie has done good service, but
the fire Oh Tuesday night would have
btcn too much for him.
The tircmcn did good and efficient
service rs they always do on occasions
| Of this kind.
They responded promptly and worked
hcroically and in half an hour had
what appeared to be fire beyond their
control completely under their control.
But they could not have done what
they did without the aid of the water
| works system.
The fire originated in tho feed room
of Purcell {: Spcarman. Just how no
ono knows or ever will. Col. Purcell
| says no one had been in the room since
noon. His boy who feeds was at tho
house feeding COWS and had not come
down to feed. On all sides were wooden
shells, which burned like powder
houses. Before the firemcn got there
with water the flames were bulging out
| of the top. On one side were Browns
| stables and on the other an old wooden
building, and the stables of Purcell g.
Spearman were dry and burned like
powder, almost. Law range, national
bank and Tarrant's store were all in
| danger. And If Browns stables had
gone there would have been no way OF
keeping the fire from crossing the
street and Johnstone u Co.'s sta
| blcs, Spearman g. Co.'s store, and all
| the wooden buildings up to the Crot-
we'll Hotel would have been endangered.
In fact, but for the water supply, there
is no telling the extent to which the
flames would have gone.
Everybody says the water works sys-
tenn paid for itself on Tuesday night.
There are now no longer any doubling
Thomascs as to the value of water
works. If there is now any moro oppo-
sition we have not heard of it.
The losses were not large.
Purcell & Go. lost about $500, insured
for$l50. They had 800 more insurance
but it was on stock, and as all the
horses and mules were saved this will
not count. Mr.. Purcell had just gotten
in car load of wagons, but fortunately
had only brought over q part of them
About 26 wagon bodies were burned OF
'damagcd. Geo. S. Mower, loss 1926, nc
Insurance.; a. ". Brown, loss 300, nc
insurance; ". G. Pool, loss 5000, GOV
cred by insurance; National Bank, small
| damage from water.
The other property belonged to tho
Phifer estate, and the damage is csti
mated at about 81 900. but as Mr.. Lane
who manages the property is absent, il
is not known whether there was any
/ insurance.
There were at one time about ter
streams thrown on the fire, and tho
pressure came direct from the power
hous" and the deep woll pump.
That was more streams than should
be used, but as it was the first use made
of the water works we will have t(
learn by experience. Engineer Davi.
says that three fire streams with gOOt
pressure is worth more than six with
out the pressure. Pressure is wortl
az much us quantity in fighting fire
and in no event should more stream!
be used than are actually necessary
Mr.. Davis says that the pump will sus
tain well four streams. OF the tel
streams used Tuesday some of then
were from Young John. This is sait
simply as suggestion and not by way o
criticism, for we all realize and apprc
ciatc the good and efficient work of ou
firemen. and The Herald and News i
always ready and willing to ail ant
nnppuroUo and oonooop1 thom