The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1905-02-08
THE MINOR STORE FIRE.

Dry Goods Department Seriously DAM
aged Monday Night--.Mr. Elisha Car
son Injured by Falling SkyIiqht.
The most costly fire that has occur
red in this city for months broke out
in the dry goods department of the
Minor Store Monday night about 8
o'clock and for more than two hours
the fremea had hard and stubborn
fight with the flames to prevent is
astrous confagraeion Ill the heart #
the business district.
The fire originated in the rear part
of the second floor and when it was
discovered had been burning for some
time, for a large section of the cell
ing was ablaze and the flames had
gained strong hold between the cell
ing and roof. The goods stored on the
second floor were also burning fierce
ly
When the front door was forced
open by the firemen the glass in the
large sky light was broken by the
rush of air carrying the flames up
ward and this created a draft that
caused the fire 10 burn With greater
rapidity. Added to this condition
that favored the spread Of the fire, the
fremen were handicapped by the usual
lack of pressure. When the water was
first turned on the feeble stream that
issued from the nozzle had too lit
tie force to reach the second floor un-
til the hose was dragged upstairs. The
fremen were equal TO the emergency,
however, and procuring ladders and
ropes they mounted to the roofs OF ad-
joining buildings and dragging up the
hose fought the fire from above.
After time the pumps at the water
station were started and with the
direct pressure thus given stronger
and more abundant supply of water
was secured.
The fight to save the building was
made at close quarters otherwise the
hremen would not have succeeded in
confning the flames to the building in
which the fire originated. For more
than an hour the issue hung in the
balance and few believed the shoe de-
parment could be saved, but by con.
finipg the fire to the second floor of
the dry goods department. the stock of
goods on the first floor was saved un-
damaged, except by smoke and water,
aud the shoe department. which COM
municate, with the dry goods depart
ment by an archway was saved intact
likewise. -z.r -
The only accident was sustained by
Mr.. Elisha Carson, the secretary of the
Minor Store Co. who entered the Office
to remove the books and papers from
the safe. The office was situated
directly beneath the skylight and
while Mr.. Carson was in tee office,
large section OF the skylight fell in
upon him. He was knocked down and
received severe ard painful cuts on
the side of the head. face and hands.
He was taken to DeLorme's Drug
Store and given immediate attention
and his wounds dressed before being
sent to his home. While his wounds
are painful, they were fortunately not
serious and be will be out again IN
few days. His escape from death or
very serious injury was marvellous
and his many friends are truly thank
full that he escaped SO lighsly, the cir
cuuast.pces considered.
The Minor Stores, dry goods and
shoes, together contained about S40,-
600 worth of goods as nearly as can
be estimated.
The stock and fixtures we're insured
for S24, 500 divided between the local
agencies as follows:
Sumter Insurance Agency, SIS, 500
1914, 500 in stock, $1,000 on furniture
and fixtures
Citizens Insurance Agency, $4,000,
on stock.
stock.
stock.
The extent to which the stock is
damaged cannot yet be approximately
estimated, but while it is quite large,
it will not exceed the insurance.
The building which is the property
of Mr.. Neill O'Donnell was insured for
So. GOO; (s2, SEQ on the building and
$500 on fixtures, The damage may be
covered by this amount but this point
cannot be determined until the re-
pairs come to be made.
About O'Clock a. ~. Tuesday the
firemen were called out again to ex-
tinguish a small blaze that had start
ed from the smouldering embers in
the Minor Store The fire was Of
email ,ooment and was uuickly eXtin-