The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1902-02-14
PATTERsON'S BIO FIRE.
ClearIng UP tho Debris and Getting Ready
For W0rk-Loas @3,OOO,O0O

fire conflagration which burned it's
way through the business center of
Patterson yesterday has completely
spent it's force and is quickly dying
out in tho ashes and broken brick of
it's ruin. The iiremon who hurried
from other cities to save the endan-
gered city have. gone back to their
homes and several companies of tho
local department have been ordered
to their houses for rest and refresh
ments they sorely need.
LOSS AMOUNTS TO $S,O0O,00O.
Conservative opinions inclined to-
day to cut $2,000,O00 from the ag-
gregate loss of $1O,O00,000 agreed
upon, and sS,0OO,00O will probably
be accepted finally as the cost of the
fire. No tabling of individual losses
that can be accepted as reliable has
yet been adopted, and it will be sev-
eral days before satisfactory figures
can be prepared. Equally incom.
plete is the estimate Of insurance. 1t
was stated here today that the insur-
ance amounted to between 81, 100000
and $5,000,000, but what gave basis
to tho calculation was not clear.
Several Of the largest losers SAID
that they had not yet had an oppor-
tunity to examine their policies, and
that in the meantime they could not
tell what amount they carried. Prob
ably no fire of equal magnitude and
widespread destruction ever produced
an equally small list Of losers.
Many Of tho fire volunteers and
the firemen were injured by the fall
ing bricks and timber, burned by
flying firebrands or temporarily over
come by smoke, but only few of
them needed medicinal attention.
The small casualty list is explained
by the fact that the people had am
pie warning and time to abandon
their homes before the flames came
upon them.
AID FOR STRICKEN CITY.
A Broad and coffee famine was
averted by outside aid. A Newark
bread company early this morning
started wagons loaded with 5000
loaves Of bread for free distribution
in the stricken city. Wealthy resi-
dents of this city ordered large sup
plies of coffee and provisions from
Passiac, Newark and New York. The
Ladies' relief committee has estab-
lished it's headquarters in st. Paul's
Episcopal church on Broadway and
will provide food to all who may ap.
ply for assistance.
The fire made no Roadway during
the night. Famed by strong wind
it burned fitfully in places during
the early hours Of the morning, but
wherever it showed threatening
strength the firemen turned streams
on it and beat it down. The tiremen
were completely exhausted after more
than 30 hours continuous work, but
remained at their posts. There ls
comparatively little suffering upon
the part Of those rendered homeless
by the fire, and the ermory, churches
and public shelters opened their doors
to but few applications during the
night. Practically every home that
escaped the flames was thrown open
in spirit of broad charity and near
ly every refugee found shelter Of
some kind.
The declaration of Mayor Win
cliffe that tho city can care for it's
own is not concurred in by every
body and there may be al. appeal
later for outside help.
TO RISE FROM ITS ASHES.
With the elnbers still aglow in the
business districts commercial Pater-
son planned resumption and restora-
tion. All of the banks burned out
yesterday opened for business in tenn
porary quarters today and the Off
cials of the banks expressed deter.
mination to do their part in the main.
tenance Of the financial standing and
credit of the city.
The militiamen remained on guard
today and will be kept under arms
and on duty as long as necessary for
their service. Much valuable prop
erty is still exposed and tho authori.