The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-02-27

The alarm at two-forty-fve Friday
morning aroused the sleeping city to
witness one Of the most frightful and
serious fires in the history Of Sum-
ter. Not in the sense Of property loss,
but in casualties. The bodies Of
brave young men, who risked their
lives in heroic effort to save property
and life, were dragged from piles Of
stone and mortar Of the crumbled
walls, nnangled, bruised and bleding.
Many people were rescued from che
raging flames, when barred by the
scorching fire and sitting smoke from
q. egrcss, at a peril sicllening to see,
and it all ended in a catastrophe long
to be remembered with horror.
The fire was first discovered near
the kitchen of Manheim's Cafe, which
occupied the first floor Of the south
end Of the large artificial stone block,
on South Harvin street, owned by
Messrs. Beck Bros. But even then
the fire must have already spread
over a large portion Of the building
and before much assistance could be
rendered, the building was complete
ly enveloped in flames. The second
floor Of the building was used as
sleeping apartments-an annex to
the cafe on the first floor. While the
fire was rapidly burning its way
from the ground floor to the sec
ond the occupants Of the sleeping
apartments slumbered on unconscious
of their peril. One by one they were
aroused, some bursting through win
dows, jumping to the ground below,
others were rescued by hurriedly i'm
provised fire escapes and that all of
the inmates were saved is nothing
short of miraculous.
Mr.. Adolphus Mannheim, one Of the
proprietors of the cafe, who had
jumped from his window upon dis
covering that the building was on
fire, recovered from the shock thus
sustained and rescued two Of his
guests. In his night robe he scaled
the wall of the burning building with
assistance Of an awning, and burst
through the windows into the rooms
occupied by these gentlemen, whose
names are Messrs. Elmore Wright, Of
Richmond, and W. NJ. Gordon, Of Gin
cinnati, both travelling salesmen.
D. A. McPhail, also connected with
the cafe, and Eugene Stansill, who
were occupying the same room at
the extreme north end Of the build
ing, were rescued in q remarkable
manner A pile Of empty boxes near
by was utilized as means Of escape.
They were quickly converted into a
stairway leading to the second floor,
and but for this, Mr.. McPhail, who is
a crippled man, would have either
sustained painful injuries or perished
in the flames.
The fire department and many cit
liens responded promptly to the
alarm. They were doing laudihle
work in checking the flames, when a
crash came and the walls of the
front fell forward and in an instant
lay in piles Of debris extending half
way across the street. Four men were
caught beneath the falling wreck of
stone and mortar.
Mr.. Will S. Graham, chief of the
fire department and president Of Del
gar Hose Co. No 8, was ascending
ladder on the side of the building
when the walls collapsed. He was
hurled violently to the pavement and
completely buried in the debris. That
he was not instantly killed is mar
velous. He was carried to the Mood
Osteen inhrmary in an unconscious
condition, where he fingered until next
morning. Hisinjuries were several scalp
wounds with symptoms Of injury to
the brain, compound fracture OF
one arm, compound fracture of the
leg at the knee and just above the
ankle, two broken fingers, the bones
of upper jaw are broken, and severely
bruised about the face.
In an effort to save some of the
goods in the burning building Mr. I.
P. Lyman, also member Of the ire
department, was approaching the
door Of the building when the wall
fell. He was pinioned by the DEBRIS
and had to call for assistance. How
ever Mr. lyman, who is suffering
from a severely sprained ankle, was
not seriously injured, but is confined
to his home.