The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-01-23
Fires.

Fires.
Some little time ago the cook room In Q
dwelling near the Be ptist church be!osin to
DIR. Nepffer was found 10 be afre. The fire
company responded promptly and except
the roof, saved the structure.
Last Wednesday night Ferguson Hall
siLuated about u mile and three quarteri
from the public square was destroyed by
fire.
Last Tuesday morning about five O'Clock
the dwelling house belonging 10 MI. W. Joe
Smith end IN which Mr.. B. K. Beacbsm lived
was burnt, with everything In 1t. With Mr.
Beacham other families were living. Tit
fire company came promptly to the rescue
and prevented the spread Of the flames. A
one time 1t seemed almost impossible 10 save
some of the neighboripg buildings. Better OF
more faithful work was never done by either
the fire company or by volunteers who were
anxious to lend a helping hand against the
spread OF the flames.
The burning Of the Ferguson Hall at the
HARRISON college WAS not known In the city
until next morning. The building was dis.
covered or fire at half past ten O'Clock In
the night. Tne night was ~unuasully dark
owing to the dense fog. This was one OF four
valuable brick structures on q sixty acre lot
fronting the. Due West road between Upper
Lone Cane church and The city Of Abbeville
The building which was destroyed was the
frst that was built out there. Including the
mansard roof It was three stories; and wa.
used as a home for the presidents and the
female teachers, as q dormitory or for the
the boarding girl students. The Hall was
possibly go by 100 feet, with an ell about 80 by
80 feet. The ell was one story and used for o
COOL room and dining hall.
The loss Of the building Is estimatee al
$4,000. The value Of the furniture and other
things which we're destroyed is unknown.
The furniture in five out OF eight rooms In
the second story was saved. All the furni-
ture or other goods in the third story were
y destroyed, as were nearly all the goods in the
cook room and The dining hall.
The property is owned by the Northern
Presbyterians, whose Board OF Freedmens
Missions has hes dquarters at Plttsbnrg, Pa
DR.. Henry D. Lindsay formerly OF Due West
is one OF the directors In the board. The
money tn buil0 and maintain these estab.
ments Is raised by patriotic Northern people
who feel It their duty Ant their privilege TO
contribute something toward the educating
and outstanding OF the negroes or the
South, and we have NO doubt that they sre
as sincere as we are In sending money t.
carry the gospel and education to Others
From their success down this way 1t is fair
to presume that we have an object Lesson in
orr good work abroad. g.
The agitation OF the race question has
awakened and intensified the race prejudice
which seemed dormant or which had no,
until recently come TO The surface In a pro
bounced form. The president Of tho Hsrbi
son college is g. native born negro. and ont
who seems 10 be acceptable to a majority o
our people. but he has not opened the schoo
this year. His predecessor was a Northern
negro, who was Objectionable to some OF our
people. He left and The school closed las
August or September, and is still closed.