The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1908-11-19
Bagging Factory Burned
Henderson, Most Disastrous
Fire in Recent Years Occurs
Early Saturday Morning
Large Four-Story Brick
Structure, Modem Machinery
and Contents Destroyed.

III uStul z, lNIOOCIlI iNAoSiiAASAy
and Contents Destroyed.
One of the most disastrous fires
Henderson has had in a long time
occurred early Saturday morning
! when the Parham Brothers Supply
| Conpany's bagging factory was
burned. The building, a large four
, story brick structure, was totally
burned together with its contents.
The fire broke out about 4 o'clock
originating in the pick room. aud so
rapidly did the flames spread that it
was beyond control of the Is Oper-
atives who were at work in the room
at the time.
The alarm was given and the fire
| departments responded and a large
crowd soon gathered. 1t was seen
that nothing could be done to save
the burning factory and efforts were
directed toward protecting the ada
| cent property. There was little wind
| and the elements were favorable.
The brick walls of the burning build
ing served as fiue and the heat and
flames shot upward instead OF spread
ing and communicating to neighbour
ing property. The factory building
stood on the corner OF Winder and
Chestnut streets on the Southwest,
the residence of DR.. F. S. Harris on
the Southeast corner and Mrs. S. Ii.
Allen directly in front on the opposite
side of Chestnut. The residence of
Mr.. NJ. ]. O'Neil in the same block
further down Chestnut street was in
the greatest danger of burning all
the time the wind blowing in that
direction. Leaves and fences were set
on fire further down the street by
flying sparks. Asmall building which
had been moved from the factory lot
onto Mr.. O'Neil's and which he was
to use as an clubhouse and stable was
burned and for time it looked very
much like the residence would go
also. So great did the danger seem
that everything was moved out and
taken to a safe distance. Mr.. O'Neil
puts his loss at between $4,000 and
$4,000, covered by insurance.
Mrs. Aliens residence was in danger
at one time and the front part OF the
house was slightly scorched, but
sudden shift of the wind changed the
threatening situation and the fire.
men did the rest
A sad feature of the fire was the
critical sickness of DR.. Frank Harris.
His home seemed imperiled and his
removal to a neighboring house was
contemplated. But this was found
not be necessary the condition of the
wind and protecting walls of the
burning building saving the home
from the great danger that seemed to
threaten. 1t was a fortunate unfOrt-
innate occurrence all around as it
turned out. Had there been a heavier
wind or had it blown in a different
direction the consequences would
have been much more disastrous.
The loss sustained by the bagging
factory company on building and
contents is placed at $4,000. In
surance $4,000. The machinery
with which the factory was equip
ped was of the most modern and eX-
pensive kind. This was their first
season and they had sold up very
closely all the stock manufactured.
Approaching the end of the ginning
season they had comparatively little
raw material on hand or the loss
would have been much greater. An
automatic sprinkler system was
being installed at n cost of $3. 12O,
and this would have been completed
and connected up with the water sup
ply in few days There was no in
surance on this thus making the loss
that much greater.
We are informed by the manage
ment of the bagging factory that
they will rebuild but have not decided
on the location as yet. They have
options on property situated nearer
the railroads and the matter of haul
ing to and from the ears being an
item of considerable Importance in
the operating expenses of "a big man
ufacturing enterprise this may infiu
ence them in deciding not to build on
the same site again. At any rate
| they expect to rebuild and be in oper-
| alton in the next three or four
months-certainly in shape again
| and doing business somewhere with
an ample stock on hand before the
| novt SnaSnn nnanc