The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1904-05-27
BIG AND DESTRUCTIVE
FIRE IN GREENWOOD
HALF OF THE BUSINESS POR-
TON DESTROYED.
Horrible Death of Mrs. Annie Nose
ley-Fire Ragged for
Three Hours.

Greenwood was wiped out by hre
early this morning. The property
loss will approximate S133,ooo with
about $4,000 insurance. Mrs Annie
Moseley. proprietor of the Central
Hotel. lost her life in the fire.
The FIRE originated, it is believed.
in the kitchen OF the Central Hotel,
located in the building owned by J.
& D. NJ. Spigel. and occupying the
entire second story. The first alarm
was given at SIS a. m. by an en-
/ gineer on a Charleston and Western
Carolina freight standing in the yard.
The train crew was soon on the
spot and the boarderS were awaken
ed by them. Mr. R. 4. -Abernethy,
who occupied the room next door
20 the kitchen. was almost overcome
with smoke. but was able to wake
Mrs. Moseley. who was sleeping in
the room next above him. She was
greatly excited and began scream
ing. 1t was supposed that she would
at once escape, as all the others were
doing. The fire was eating It's way
into the building with hendish rapid
;ty and the smoke was already filling
every room. D. VI. Spigel. one OF
the owners OF the building. who has
a room in the hotel was the last to
be aroused He escaped by making
his way to the front veranda and
jumping thence to the ground.
Mrs. Moseley's continued screams
revealed her presence in the build
ing. which was now completely en-
veloped by fame. Tie few present.
having no ladder. were under the
window. trying to get her to jump.
Just a few minutes before ladder
arrived her cries hushed and the red
tongue OF fame filing her window
told the horror-stricken few that her
death agony mad come and was oyer.
From 3 until E o'clock the hre
demon had the town in its grip. The
approximate loss has already been
stated. Where yesterday were the
handsomest stores and complete
stocks OF goods today are heaps Of
blistered., tottering, blackened walls.
and lining the streets for hundreds
OF yards are what was saved OF the
stocks OF household effects OF those
who lived in the burnt district. Mrs.
Moseley. the fires victim, lay buried
in smoking. seething sepulchre.
By s o'clock the fire was complete
1y under control All danger was
over. About 9 o'clock the searchers
found small part OF the remains OF
Mrs. Moseley Mrs. Moseley's only
daughter. Miss Leila, age about 16,
was in Anderson visiting her BROTH
er. Roscoe. about I8, who is clerking
there. Both will arrive today, as
will other relatives from Anderson
and Lowndesville Her death has
cast a deep gloom over the entire
town.
While it is impossible to obtain at
this time the exact losses and the
amount OF insurance, the following
schedule is approximately correct:
J. & D. NJ. Spigel. two-story store
building. Central Hotel. row OF
stores and ware house in rear; stock
OF jewelry. cut glass. etc. Of J.
Spigel and stock of china. glassware
J. & D. NJ. Spigel. Total loss s3s.-
900: insurance $4,000.
The First National Bank. two
story building bank fixtures. Total
loss $4,000. fully covered by insur-
ance. The bank opened for business
at o'clock this morning. having all
its books intact.
Greenwood Hardware Company
stock. $4,000. Total loss. insurance
S5.ooo
Greenwood Loan and Guarantee