The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-10-19
VERY DISASTROUS FIRE.

VERY DISASTROUS FIRE.
SOUTHERN RAILWAY WAREHOUSE BURNED
LAST FRIDAY NIGHT.
Total Loss Will Reach 100000 or More.
Business Portion Of Town Narrowly
Escaped Destruction.
The alarm of fire was sounded last Fri
day night about nine o'clock, and it was
found that the freight depot of the South.
ern Railway, situated at the junction OF
Main street and Railroad Avenue, was on
fire. Extending from the depot on the
East was the large cotton platform, over
200 feet long, and this was also burned.
Most of this platform had roof on it.
The depot was full of freight, merchan-
disc of all kinds, and the platform
was crowded with bales of cotton, bug
gies, merchandise, etc.
1t is not known how the fire originated,
but it is possible that it was caused by
rats, of which there were numbers in the
warehouse. The fire burned very rapidly,
and nothing could be saved from the
depot and very little from the platform.
The large brick store of 81. G. Folk
was damaged, and at one time it was in
great danger, the wooden window shut
tiers catching on fire several times. His
wooden warehouse in rear of his store
caught on fire as well, but was put out.
The large wooden stables of Jones Bros.
was saved by hard work, although the
front was badly scorched, and their stock
of buggies and harness was badly dam
aged by moving.
A number of freight cars were on the
side track by the platform, some loaded
and some empties. Eight cars were
rolled away, but six were burned. Four
of these were loaded, and two empty.
Two cars were loaded with cotton, one
with merchandise, and one with grain.
The beautiful shade trees on both sides
of the street were killed by the heat, and
the poles of the telephone and telegraph
lines were burned.
From the standpoint of loss this was
one of the most disastrous fires in the
history of the town, and at one time it
looked as if the entire business section OF
the town would be burned. What breeze
there was (Which was very little) came
from the South, which carried the flames
over on the North side of the street next
to the court house and the Bamberg
Hotel. This building, as well as the resi-
dence of Mrs. Livingston next door, was
in danger, and many of the boarders
packed up their trunks and got ready to
move out their effects in case the building
caught. Had the wind been from the
North nothing. could have saved the
stable of Jones Bros, 81. G. Folks store,
and possibly large part of the business
section. Never has the need Of water
works been more apparent. About 175
bales of cotton were burned, also thirty
bales of domestics which the Bamberg
Cotton Mills had put on the platform that
afternoon. The lot was 42 bales, but 10
were saved. The total loss will amount
to $4,000 or more, most of which will
fall on the railroad company. A few
bales of cotton were saved. The loss of
d. G. Folk and Jones Bros. is covered by
insurance. It IS not known what insur-
ance the railroad carried.
A force of hands was at once put to
work, and a part of the platform is being
put back, and a small temporary ware
house will be erected for freight. Cotton
has been weighed on the ground at the
depot for the past few days, and freight
has been delivered from the cars.
Our people generally hope that the rail-
road authorities will erect the warehouse
and platform at more convenient spot,
and Mayor Dickinson has already written
Superintendent Heether to this effect.
There is town ordinance against erect
ing anything but brick or stone buildings
within 100 feet of Main street, and in case
the depot is put back at the same place it
will have to be of these materials. But
all of US trust that the railroad will see
the wisdom of erecting the depot below
the passenger depot, so as to get rid of
the blocking of Main street by switching
and the consequent congestion of traffic.
Then, too, the embankment at the cotton
platform and depot makes that side OF
Railroad Avenue entirely too narrow, and
there is almost blockade in front of
Jones Bros. stables during the busy sea-
son.
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