The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1898-02-23
Great Loss BY Forest Fires.

In our last issue we mentioned something
about the rayages Of the forest fires IN the
Salem section, but We had no idea that the
damage was great
MIR. F. n. Thomas of Seloc was in town
last Saturday and he said it is reported
that Monday Of last week some young men
on their way home from Sumter through
what is known as Thorougbfare road, threw
out some fire, and as the wind was high it
soon famed into flames and spread itself
through Dial's bay, reaching j. J. Cara
ways. It was with great difficulty that the
sops of Mr.. Carraway and son OF Mr..
Thomas, assisted by colored man, saved
the harm and stables, and at one time the
dwelling was in imminent danger. Not
withstanding the hard work which saved
this property, MIR. Carrsway did not escape
without the loss OF his blacksmith shop and
contents, consisting Of tools and farming
implements. The widow Wallace lost four
houses and considerable fencing. 4 house
on the Morris Floyd place was consumed,
so was one on Neal Thompson's place; an
other Oh the Dorril place, and every house
on the Wright Wilson place was swept away
by the monster. The flames laShed them
selves into fury and leaped across Hud-
sons mill poLd, DESTROYED barn with its
contents belonging to Ellison Rush, anG
then went over the county line and burned
the barn Of Wheeler Chandler. The dam
age to fencing was great and 1t will take
great deal Of hard work to replace the prop
erty destroyed.
INoTEER ACCOUNT.
From gentleman on Santee we are in
formed that forest fires have done consid.
erable damage to the timhered lands of the
southern portion of the county, consuming
in it's track all the straw and litter, which
are so valuable to the farming interest. The
season has been so dry and having such
high winds, which carried the fire ut such
speed that every human effort failed IL
most instances in stopping its passage as
long as it could find material to burn.
There is certainly great deal OF damage
done the farming interest Of our county
each year from the above causes, and It is
high time to hunt up these fre-bugs who
every January and February set FIRE to all
lands adjoining them in the hours of night,
perhaps, to obtain pasturage for their bob
tail oxen. The laws Of our State make it o
misdemesnor and liable to the changing,
and the sooner the magistrates Of the county
run OOWu lGeSe uIS-OuSS IuS ooOoeA SA0SC
forest fires will cease and the farmers there
By save hundreds OF dollars IN straw and
timber.
On last Wednesday night while the wind
was blowing gale and forest fire was
burning near negros house on Gen.
Noises plantation known as Pine Grove,
the negro. whose name is Bill Fielder, was
cutting down some trees which had caught
fire and were endangering his home; and
having his wife and children assisting II
fighting the fire from his place, he cut a
tree down which fell on his little daughter
and instantly killed her. Magistrate a J.
Richbourg was summoned to the inquest.
but with the above facts he declined to hold
the inquest, and ordered the child buried.
Nearly every year these ire-bugs not
only destroy the straw and timber, but
sometimes the life of some innocent person
is lost by it. and every good citizen should
cause the apprehension Of a1y one who
would set 6re and cause such results.