Fort Mill times. [volume] (Fort Mill, S.C.) 1892-current, 1909-12-09
CAMDEN SHAKEN
Three Buildings Are Wrecked and aVe.
shuctive Fne Fellows
A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION
Several Persons Hurt, and Property
Worth Approximately Ono Hun.
dred Thousand Dollars Destroyed
as Result OF Explosion Of Uncer-
tain Origin In Express Office.

tain Origin In Express Office.
A special dispatch TO The State
says as a result OF the explosion OF
a presto-carbon tank in the Southern
Express company's Office Thursday
night. Friday morning found about
half block Of Camdcns finest
business places in aches. one color
ed man probably killed. though this
could not be verified two prominent
young men badly burt. and five 9TH
ers painfully injured
About 7;30 O'Clock Thursday night
severe shock wes felt oil over
the town ond people rushed from
their homes and places of business
TO find flames already gushing from
Watkin Brothers establishment and
the express office and to- learn that
the explosion had broken the wall
between the express office and Wat
kins' store. causing It to fall on
the occupants OF the latter. not one
OF them escaping without injury.
Those In the store at the time
were Willie Selmond. Andrew
Whitaker. Charlie Watkins, Willie
Watkins and Arthur Watkins.
Messrs. Whitaker and Arthur Wat
kins were badly hurt. while the 9TH
ers escaped with severe bruises.
Had all OF the men been AS badly
hurt as Messrs. Whitaker and Wat
kins, II Is likely that none would
have escaped. Fortunately. however,,
three of the men were able to free
Shomeelves from the wreckage and
tsey the other two out with the az
eistance OF other -taen who happen
ed TO be near at hand before the
building was ahsme. The loss is
estimated at over 100000.
1t Ia generally thought that the
explosion was that of a presto-car-
bon tank which bad come to the ex-
press offive consigned 10 W. r. De
Loache for automobile lighting I'll
was stated by employees Of the ex-
press Office tina. the tank was some
distance from the stove. which had
little or no fire In It. and the cause
of the explosion IS practically un-
known.
The explosion threw the walls on
either side in 10 tho Watkins
Brothers and Baruche-Nettles es-
tablishment respectively. Fortu-
nately. however. the express Office
and the Baruche- Nettles store had
closed some time before and only
the occupants In Watkins Brothers
49, 4
ed glasses throughout the city. prin-
cipally on Main street. and the shock
could be distinctly felt for miles
many thinking that II was an earth
quake.
In the nearby baiber shop men
rushed 10 the streets with half shaw
en- faces aud one shoe shiDed TO
finish their toilet at some future
time.
The firemen did fine work and
though handicapped by the low
pressure OF the water. succeeding
In checking the flre at w. r Smiths
store and made a noble effort at
saving Bruce G. Langs. but II was of
no avail.
During the course Of fighting the
fire w. X. DeLoach end Tom Good.
ale received slight Injuries. Messrs
Andrew Whitaker and Arthur Wat
kins were the men most seriously
hurt, Mr.. Watkins was taken TO the
hotel Camden after being rescue
and appeared to be resting we'll un
der the care OF two physicians ant
a trained nurse. The extent of the
injuries of Messrs. Whitaker an
Watkins could not be ascertaine
as they were too painfully hurt t.
be immedN Nteiy examined. Willie
Salmond was taken home. Willio
AMI Charlie Watkins were able &c
remain TO make arrangements to
open up their business Friday morn
Ing at another location.