The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1899-12-27
FLORENCE III RUINS.
City Hall, Hotel and Opera House, in
Ashes.

A special dispatch from Florence to
The State, under date Of December 19,
says bare walls and masses Of debris
mark the business portion of Florence.
The disastrous fire, concerning which
few words were hastened to The State
yestesday morning, was checked at s
o'clock this morning, but not until
about $3.50, 600 worth Of property had
melted away before the fury OF the
flames. There are various estimates as
to the loss, but many business men
place it at $3.50, 600 and more. 1t Was
the greatest fire that ever visited Flor
ence, and one from which it will be
difficult to recover very soon, for many
of the losses fall heavily on tie vic
Tins.
The FIRE started in the City hotel, a
handsome .hree-story building, and
this was burned 70 the ground before
the flames began to spread. The water
supply was Inadequate, and just when
it was thought the fire could be con-
trolled, the engines ceased pumping
and pandemoniune reigued. Bucket
brigades were formed and heroic work
was done, but all Of no avail. The city
hall, brick, and Aliens block, frame,
caught and burned rapidly. The en-
gines changed positions and recon-
lnenced work. The & !mes had gained
such headway, however, that nothing
could be done to check them, and the
Bank of Florence, across Evans street,
was next licked up, with the Western
Union Telegraph Office. The FIRE con-
tinued to spread anI all of the build
ings from e. D. Bristos's fruit store
on Evans 10 Stockley's on Dorgan
street were destroyed in rapid success
sion The flames crossed Dorgan street
aud four other large stores were des-
troyed.
The principal buildings burned were
the city hall, a $4,000 building, the
Bank Of Florence, valued at 81 900, the
City hotel, value, Sl2, 0OD, aud the
Florence opera house, placed by the
owuers at Sl2, 900. The stores of '. NJ.
Hauner, George NJ. McCosD, James
H Penny, DR.. W. H. Daily, Thco.
Kuker, Wilkins & Brunsou, N. j..
Xepopas, r VI Nclties & Co., H. L.
D4rr. VI s Rubens'ciu, Parker Bros,
T. J. Fuller. j w Cannon, E S Buch-
bert, and w. P. Rogers were entirely
destroyed, besides a uuuber OF others
which we're badly damaged. The Bell
aud Home Telephone companies aud
the Florence Improvement aud maui
featuring company suffered serious
losses. A nun Der of Shops and irult
stands were destroy yed, and the hand
some stores Of John i BaniDger and
H. 5 Rose were BADLY damaged. The
handsome law ufice OF Wilcox & Will
cox in the bank building were de-
stroyed.
The Florence fire department did ex
cellent work but Were Murdered by the
lack Of water. The citlzcus lined out
in force and cid what they could to
save the effects from the burning
buildings. Darlington responded
promptly to the call for aid and arrived
within one hour after the special train
had ben seut by Capt. G. 6. Lynch.
The Darlington 6remen did good work,
and for their assistance the people OF
Florence are grateful. The purpose OF
the men who have suffered by the fire
is to rebuild at once, aud with Flor
ence's spent is undoubtably. She will
not long suffer this awful gap in her
main streets to 60 united. Another
result Of the fire will certainly be a
modern system Of water works for
Florence.