The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-04-05
COLUMBIA CITY
HALL BURNED.
1t was Also Known as the
Columbia Opera House.

3 safosos p1Ot0sSe31S A.io o11SS
Of Saernan occurred tonight; the
Opera House OF City Hall building is a
complete loss
The fre was an agly and dangerous
one. The Opsrs House was on the
northwest corner of Washington and
Main streets, aud vas large three
story ballding, with a bell tower, from
which the ere alarms we're sounded.
On the opposite side of she street are
large buildings. aud alosg mp Main
street are stores snd banking buildings,
all Of which we're in extreme jeopardy.
Many business houses saw st TO
remove nest of their stock Of
goods, the fixtures we're taken out OF
Offices, valuable papers we're removed
from banks, and the general expecsa
ton Was that there would be general
condagrasion along the west side of the
street. The department. could barely
saye the Carolina National Bauk and
the building beyond it, and they did
Bonderfully we'll and took hazardous
chances 10 holding the FIRE IN check.
81 The fre took hold Of the Immense
building With WiDdsor-like rapidity.
As Q 90 OF Z 80 the fire vas absolutely
beyond control, SO far IS the Opera
House was concerned. It was q reg
ular tinder box fire.
The estimate of losses is somewhas
difficult to get at just now. bat Che
figures are approximately as follows
City Hall building $4,000; r B.
and D. Mckay, grocery, $4,000 );
J ii Mancke. tobacco. etc.. $4,000 /;
city property, 81 900 !; scenery, chairs.
ess., in Opera House. 5000; city
engineers ONCE, $500; police station,
electric alarm. etc., $1,000; Cover
nor,s Guards armory. guns, etc.,
50, 900 Myrtle Lodge. &. of P
81 200 /; Confederate camp. Camp
Hsnpson, 5000; Fsask J. Moses.
manager Of Opera House. 5000
Wocdmen of the World. 800; Red
Men, 300; Brotherhood of LocoGo-
si7e Engineers. 500; Oda Fellows,
Palmetto Lodge. $500; Postal Tele-
graph Company. $500; Carolina Ma
lienal Bank. POSTAL building. $1,000;
Robertson & Moore, law Office, 5000 /;
W s Reamer, apartments. $50; Caro-
IiDs Na.;onsi Bank, building proper,
$500; Western Union Telegraph |
Company. 500; Lend Hand Libra.
r., 81 900. Total. $50. 400.
Insurance: City Hail. $25. 900;
Opera House and furniture (oisy) ST.
500; r B and D Mckay. So. 1000 |
Myrtle Lodge, K Of P, $500 Total,
SSs. 600.
TIE City Hall. 10 which isthe Opera
House, cost more than II is pat Gown
at. Il was oDe of sie Radical steals,
AID she exast cost of the building is
probIemasic. TIE taxpayers are pay
sng interest on $4,000 of bonds
iasaad for the City Hall building.
Tha bulldog actually cost in cash from
$s0. 600 to S15o.O00. HOWE & Allan
,hsd shs original ccosraes. aud they
failed TO do the work. Then CLARK
Wssing gas awarded the contract for
S84 .00o, brs was stopped, be said
so-pigbs, seSore completing the bulldog
:asd does uos know shss i. cost. He
said Is vas built about 1873. during |
Mayor Alszsnder's tern Of cfice.
VIVA, 1t cost after Mr. Wariug vas |
.aEsn eff toe work Is uncertain. except
tia. all possible expense vas piled oc
The bu;ldisg could be replaced for
from $50, geo to $4,000 AID it is
7. clear loss"
The building ~ss 115 by 100 feet,
With four large store rooms oo gsouod
noar. TIE corner vas occupied oy
r. B aod D MeKsy, oexs vas the
Office Of the city eagia=e., aud Mayors
zCsu-s reom oexs tbe police stssioc,
sad asxs j n. Mencke's store. On
the second a,or we're tie city efices,
couseil chamber. Ganp Hampton and !
sae maio part OF the Opera House.
sOa the third asor we're tie lodge rooms.
Gare.aos's Guards arucry acd Opera
Hoase gallery. add above these t5e
city bell end tower. Every ves:ige OF
property wishio The four walls was &C.
=asseyed
among tue !osses which caaoot be
repaired ia that Of the osi igioat seals of
sse city of Co,enbia. presented to it By
eGen Hampton. They we're kept in
glsss case 10 The city coarcii chamber
asd we're very valuable bissoricsl relics
OF sbe beginning Ct the city. Besides
shis there vas a splendid bust Of
William Gi:no.e Sims. Which stood on
q pedestal jsst 10 rear of the mayors
sss. 10 tie ceoocil chamber. All of
the important books aud records 10 the
civ clerk. and sreasurer's and city
auai.or's ofi ses ~ese saved shrough the
efforts of City Auditor J. r. Allen aed