The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1908-12-16
LOCAL PARAGRAPHS.

yesterday by an alarm sent in
from the residence Of Mr.. w. A. Bow
man on West Hampton Ave. When
the hose wagons arrived at the scene
the incipient fire had been extinguish-
ed and there was nothing for the fire.
men to do.
lamp exploded at the residence of
Mr. j. w. McKeiver early yesterday
and but for the promptness of Mr..
Mckiever in smothering the flames
with blankets there would have been
serious fire, as the blazing oil was
scattered over the room and set fire
to the mantle and the mating on the
floor. In extinguishing the flames Mr..
McKiever was slightly burned on his
hands and feet, but the damage to the
room and furniture was not serious.
A ruta baga turnip that weighed
over seven pounds was exhibited at
this office a few days ago by Sam
Green colored farmer. who lives in
the western suburbs of the city.
Elizabeth Robinson, a four-year old
negro girl, the daughter of Joseph
Robinson. was burned to death in
shannontown, negro settlement in
the Southern suberbs of the city yes
terday about 8 o'clock. The child
was left alone in the house by
her mother while she went to a neigh
bor's, and when the fire was discover
cd the whole house was ablaze and
there was no possibility Of rescuing
the child, although an attempt to do
so was made by those who arrived first
on the scene. The nearest neighbor. q
negro woman, stated that she heard
the child crying in the house for some
little time, but paid no attention to
1t as she had frequently heard it cry
Ing. Having occasion to go to the
door she saw that the Robinson house
was in a blaze from top to bottom.
She called to the neighbors for assis-
tance but 1t was then too late to res
cue the child.
The practice of sweeping Main street
during the morning hours when the
streets and stores are most crowded
with shoppers should be discontinued.
The streets should be swept at night,
or early in the morning or late in the
afternoon.
While on his way home Saturday
night about 1880 o'clock Mr.. A. r.
Flowers was alarmed by the screams
of a woman just before he reached
the corner of Hampton and Hardy
avenues. He ran In the direction from
which the screams proceeded and
when he arrived in front of Mrs. ]
c. Doves he found Mrs. B. j. Grier
and her daughter. Miss Folsom in a
state Of terror and saw a man running
toward Salem avenue. Making hasty
inquiries he was informed that a ne
gro had sprung out Of the darkness
and made a desperate effort to take
from Mrs. Grier a hand bag which
she was carrying on her arm. She re.
sisted with all her might and scream
ed for help. The negro did not de-
sist from his attempt to secure the
hand bag until he heard Mr.. Flowers
running to the rescue. AS soon as Mr..
Flowers wasVpformed that a robbery
had been attempted, without waiting
for details, he gave pursuit to the
fieeing foot-pad, but could not sue
ceed In overtaking him. He followed
the negro as far as the corner OF Sa-
lom and Calhoun street, but there lost
sight OF him. This was. about the
boldest attempt at robbery that has
been committed on the streets of Sum-
ter In years, and shows that the hold
up man Is bold and desperate charac-
ter to make the attempt where he did
In the midst of one of the most thick
~ built up residence sections of the
city and within hundred yards of
the home Of Chief Of Police Brad
f"rd. Mrs. Grier was very much ter.
rihed and unnerved by her experience
with the foot-pad, and could give no
satisfactory description Of the man
who attacked her.