The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1905-11-10
'A"c UNION, SOUTH CAROLINA FRIDAY. NOVEMBER TO- 1905
town of Union had insured the
following property in the New
York Underwriters Agency to
tho amount holn,,r ori,nor.

IOOlS.. OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. 1OO.W
Eight Mules. ......... 100000
Feed .................... 10000
Four Sets of Wagon
Harness ......... $500
Street Sprinkler, ..... $4,000
And in the Springfield Fire and
Marine Insurance Company the
following equipment was also
insured for the amounts stated:
Fire Department. =. $15OO.OO
Reel Wagon ....... 10000
Two Horses ..... ...... 10000
Deducting the amount for the
horses, which were saved, the
total amount of insurance will
be $, 495.00. 1t has been esti-
mated. that the total loss to the
city in the fire amounted to about
Sc, 10000, and that the loss and
damage to the other buildings
burned or partly burned was
in the neighborhood of Sc, 900. 90,
making the total loss amount to
about $12,300.OO The three
dwelling houses belonged to the
Union Cotton Mills and the one
occupied by Mr.. w. J. Hames
was insured for household goods
to the amount of $6O0.OO.
Mayor McNally called special
meeting of the town council on
Monday morning, and it was re-
solved by the council that 10000
feet of hose should be purchased
Immediately for the use of the
company to replace that Destroy
ed in the fire.
1t is very probable that the
city will erect within the next
year a suitable brick building for
the fire department to take the
place of the one burned down,
which was constructed rather
cheaply of pine. 1t is probable
that the police headquarters and
the fire department will be
housed under the same roof
when the new building is erweted.
It was very fort una Sc Hat the
wind was not blowing when the
fire occurred, for the absence of
the fire department service and
the excitement of the flames
would have in all probability re-
suited in the utter destruction of
the greater part of the business
portion of the town.
1t is greatly to be regretted
that the fire occurred, for the
department was a very necessary
adjunct to the city and will be
missed. The organization, how
ever, will continue, pending the
erection of the new fire house,
and it will still render service in
case other fires occur.
The matter of the origin of
the fire is being generally dis
cussed in all quarters. John
Turner, the negro, says that he
went up stairs about eleven
O'Clock to put out the lights and
that there was nothing suspicious
to be seen. Several members of
the department had been there
during the evening, but there
were no cigar or cigarette stumps
lying around. He declares that
all was we'll when he went to
bed. He saw no one prowling
about and heard no out-of-the-
way noises. When awakened by
the flames, he was almost SuffO-
Gated with the smoke, and was
slightly burnt in the neck in
getting out the horses. He de-
declares vehemently that he
noticed strong and peculiar odor
similar to that of kerosine while
he was getting the horses out.
There was no kerosine or other
combustible in the house save q
very small amount of kerosine in
the lanterns which were attached
to the reel wagon. The negro also
says that the fire undoubtedly
began down stairs or rather about
the landing where the entry was
that led to the second story. He
saw the flame there first and
noticed that they went in a
steady sheet upward to the roof.
1t was not the custom at the
fire house to lock the door which
led to the second story and thus
access to the interior of the
building would have been very
easy.
1t is an assured fact that the
fire progressed at most unusual
speed and this fact itself is
strongly indicative of the work
of an incendiary.
The insurance of the Union