The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1905-11-22
A BAD FIRE.
Nineteen Finely Trained Horses
and Other Property Burned.
The Wild West Show Ruined. Fire
Was Set and Several Suspects
VIII BE- Arrested.

|
Will BE- Arrested.
The Augusta Chronicle says what
was probably the most disastrous fire
Of recsnt years occurred Wednesday
morning when two stables, two barns,
one hundred and fifty tons OF hay and
many valuable farming implements,
the whole being the property Of Mr..
w. Il. Buford and nineteen fine
trained Texas horses, the property OF
Capt. C. W. Riggs, were destroyed,
totaling loss OF about s26, ,000. The
fire occurred on the EIorado Farm,
and is supposed to have been OF incen-
diary or gin.
The fire was discovered Wednes
day morning about o'clock BY ne
groes residing on the Eldorado Farm.
When the alarm was given the $50
zig barns we're q mass Of 1Ames.
Within q few nom nts the two ad
joining stables, in which twenty hor-
ses we're occupying stall ignited, and
before the horses could be recued the
stables also were in flames.
By that time Mr. Buford. the ow-
ner OF the Eldcrado Farm, Capt
Riggs, the proprietor Of the Wild west
show which is wintering on she farm
together with sll their employees had
gathered on the scene and made sever
al attempts to check the progress Of
the fire. Their Efforts on this lines,
however, proved Intellectual. Fort.
unassly wind kept the flames from
reaching the residence buildings and
the tents OF Capt Riggs, which were
but a few yards distanG.
Those who witnessed the fire say
that their experience was horrible
one. Four big buildings were blsz
ing fercely. In one was confined
twenty horses who we're being slowly
burned to death. Their snorts and
squeals OF terror and pain brought
tears to the eyes Of the spectators,
who were powerleSs to aid them, Ole
horse escaped from the building, but
so badly burned that it will not live.
Capt. Riggs loss will amount to
absut $4,000. Tle horses we're OF
unusually fine biced, and besides,
wers trained for circus purposes.
Many OF then-the more intelligent
ones-held high place In bis afec
tions. and be feels their loss in other
than a pecuniary way. BE himself
declares that he is heartbicken.
MIR. Bufords loses aggregate slS. 900
at the lowest estimate. The barns
and stables we're the largest and pos
sibly the best equipped in or near the
city. Besides be lost many threshing
~. c lines OF great value, hundreds OF
farm Implement AID about one hun.
dred and fifty tons Of hay. The prop
erty was not insured. Those who are
in position to know declare that
the fire was OF incardiary origin. I5
vas even stated that certain persons
we're suspected OF having committed
the No Malicious act, and that their ar
Arrest would shortly follow.
The Chronicle says touching in
cident, and one that was q rare ez-
ample OF the devotion that some AMI.
mas bear for their masters and mis-
tresses, was witnessed Wednesday
morning by few who had driven out
to the Eliorado Fam to view the
scene OF the terrible fire, when Little
Miss Riggs, the daughter OF Capt. G.
w. Riggs, who was the owner OF the
horses, succeeded in getting "Ruby,"
The only horse Of twenty that escap-
cd ir,m the flames. to rize from the
ground, after many had str1ven In
vain to induce the burned and suffer
ing beast to stir from the position in
which it had fallen.
The horse's hioe, where 10 had not
been burned cff completely, resembled
leather; it's eyes were burned out, and
It's head and face terribly ol1suered.
After escaping from the burning sta,
ole the horse hac been led to water
ing trough beside which 1t had fallen.
Several men had been endeaVoring
for number of hours to induce the
beast to stand on its legs. But their
coax!ng and thrests had been in vain.
Miss Riggs approached within
few feet OF Tie horse which had once
been her pet.
''Raby," she softly called; Ruby,
please get up"
For q. moment the horse lay still;
then it made one supreme effort and
staggered to its feet. Guided by her
voice "Ruby" walked forward q few
steps on weak, shaking legs. Just
as Miss Riggs pstted It's forehead the
legs collapsed and the horse fell to
the ground.
And despite the further efforts OF
Whip poor will, Capt. Riggs Chero-
kee Indian associate, ID refused to
bulge.
pfcuIfsr Accident.