The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1909-12-08
CAMDEN SHAKEN
Three Buildings Are Wrecked and a De.
stuctiye Fire Follows
A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION
Several Persons Hurt, and Property
Worth approximately One Hun
dred Thousand Dollars Destroyed
as Result Of Explosion OF CRcer'
tain Origin In Express Office.

as Result Of Explosion OF CRcer'
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
a half block Of Camden's finest
business places in ashes, n color
ed man probably killed. though this
could not be verified; two prominent
young men badly hurt. and i've otn-
ers painfully injured.
About 1880 O'Clock Thursday night
a severe shock was felt all over
the town and people rushed from
their homes and places Of business
to find flames already gushing from
Watkin Brothers establishment ana
tho express Office and to learn that
the explosion had broken the wall
between the express Office and Wat
kins' store, causing 1t to fall on
the occupants Of the latter. not n
OF them escaping without injury.
Those In tho store at the time
were Willie Salmond. Andrew
Whitaker, Charlie Watkins. Willie
Watkins and Arthur Watkins
Messrs. Whitaker and Arthur Wat
kins we're 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, it Is likely that none would
have escaped. Fortunately. however,
three of the men were able to free
themselves from the w~reckage aud
get the other two out With the as
sistance Of other men who happen
ed to be near at hand before the
building was atame. Inc loss II
estimated at over 100000.
1t Is generally thought that the
explosion was that of a presto-car-
bon tank which had come to the ex-
press Olive consigned to W. r. De-
Loache for automobile lighting. II
was stated by employees Of the eX-
press Office that the tank. vas 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 70 the Watkins
Brothers and Bavuche-Nettles es-
t%ablishmeut respectively. Fortu-
nately, however, the express office
and the Baruche-Nettles store had
closed some time before and only
the occupants In Watkins Brothers
we're hurt. The explosion SKATER
ed glasses throughout the city. prin-
cipally on Main street. and the shock
could be distinctly felt for miles,
many thinking that 1t was an earth
quake.
In the nearby barber shop men
rushed to the streets with half shaw
en- faces and one shoe shined to
finish their toilet at ONE future
time.
The fremen did fine work and
though handicapped by the low
pressure Of the water. succeeding
in checking the fire at W.. T. Smiths
store and made a noble effort at
saving Bruce & Langs, but 1t was OF
no avail.
During the course Of fighting the
FIRE w. r. DeLoach and Tom Good
ale received slight injuries. Messrs.
Andrew Whitaker and Arthur Wat
kins we're the men most seriously
hurt Mr.. Watkins was taken to the
hotel Camden after being rescued
and appeared to be resting we'll un-
der the care of two physicians and
a trained nurse. The extent Of the
injuries Of Messrs. Whitaker and
Watkins could not be ascertatned.
az they were too painfully hurt to
be Immediately examined. Willie
Salmond was taken home. Willie
and Charlie Watkins were able tc
remain to make arrangements to
open up their business Friday morn
ing at another location.