The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1904-11-09
IN URGENT APPEAL
FOR IMMEDIATE AIl.
Memorial Dining Hall Burned at
ThornweIl 0rphanage---F Funds
Needed for Rebuilding.

Needed for Rebuilding.
Clinton, Nov. 6.-At half past l
O'Clock Friday night an alarm of fire
was given and the people turned out
to find that the dining hail at the
Thornwell Orphanage was in flames.
The fire was too far advanced for any
thing to be done towards saving the
building, or even towards saving the
contents. The efforts OF the peop,,
were therefore directed towards saving
the adjoining buildings, the Home of
Peace, a girls dormitory, the Bee
Hive, the laundry building, Faith
Cottage, boys dormitory and the
Edith Home, a girls dormitory
All of these buildings were very near
the burning building; but owing to
the fact that there was no wind, that
there had been two days Of rain, with
everything wet and owing to the assis-
tance of the people, these buildings
were not damaged All of the build
ings at the Tlornwell orphanage are
of stone, which made the task easier.
The Memorial hall was fine stone
building about 80 feet square and of
two stories. It's tower contained a
clock whose sweet toned bell largely
regulated the time for the entire
town. The clock, with all other
equipments of the building, was to-
| tai loss. A few barrels of -four only
were saved from the fire.
The people of the town came for
ward and begged for the children IN
til temporary provision can be made
for them. The 240 orphans are domi-
ciled with the towns people. A thou
sand might readily have been given
homes here as the people are all eager
! to help and one and all are devoted
to the orphanage.
The great dining hall was the cen
trail feature of the orphanage here.
The institution is conducted on the
cottage home system, SO that the chill
dren only come together at mealsand
at school. The great dining hall, cap
able of seating 25O children, was one
the sights of the town. as also was the
kitchen where vast quantities OF tooo
are prepared by the girls.
A great problem faces the manage
ment of the orphange These orphan
children must be fed 4 single meal
consists of something like the follow
ing: twenty-five gallons of soup, Il
gallons OF coffee, 700 biscuits, five
bushels potatoes, 800 pounds of meat
and other things in proportion. Ther
Thanksgiving dinner generally takes
20 to IS turkeys. Some idea of the
problem will be gathered from the
fact that the institutin will need q
tables, 250 chairs, as many each Of
plates, saucers, cups, knives, forks,
teaspoons and indeed an equipment fol
the preparation and serving of fooc
for 250 people.
The loss was not insured and is to-
tai. It amounts to about $40, ,00O
The growth of the Institution requir-
es that large accommodations be pro.
vided for the constantly increasing
family, so that the new building
which must now be erected will cost
probably when fully equipped from
Store room to dining room, something
like SIS, 900.
This sum is imperatiyely needed. 4
subscription list is going the rounds
in Clinton today. The people gave
several hundred dollars some two
weeks ago; but today's subscription
! will be much larger. A number Of
people offered liberal assistance ilnme
diately. But the task OF replacing
the building and equipments will b
a large one and will necessitate wide
extended liberality. When it is re
membered that this is the largest Pres
byterian orphanage in America, il
point of the number of its inmates, i
will be seen that what is done shoult
be done Immediately. This los
touches deeply the hearts Of all tn
people. Nothing Comes so close t
every mans sympathy as the needs o
the orphan. Here We have 240 o
them, without bread, without plac
to cook or to eat.
The new building should be begun
at opce, and in the meantime tn
family must be broken up into small
ones aud each family supplied will
adequate equipment with which t.
cook, and eat. This means the pur
chase Of some thousands of kitchen
and dining room utensils. We woult
suggest to the readers of this pape
that they Immediately put thei
shoulders to the wheel and pull tn
little folks out of their dilemma. Tw'
or three thousand dollars is needed
today to furnish cottage kitchens
dining rooms and food The SIS, 00
should come Immediately for the nev
dining hall. Wire or mail your con
tribution at once and it will be donbl,
helpful
The management of the orphanas
is too busy providing for immediate
needs OF the children to make thi
appeal hence, Your correspondent
takes the liberty of making appeal fo
immediate help on the Institution
behalf. Contributions should be sen
to Rev W. P. Jacobs, D. d., Gin
ton, s. c.