The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1909-12-09
EXPLOSION CAUSES FIRE.
CAMDEN SUFFERS HEAVY LOSS
BY DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.

Business Portion of Town Destroyed.
Several Men Hurt and One
Reported Killed.
Camden, Dec 2.-As result of
the explosion of presto-carbon tank
in the Southern Express company's
Office tonight, tomorrow morning will
find about a half block of Camden's
finest business places in ashes, one
colored man probably killed, though
this could not be verified; two promi-
nent young men badly hurt, and five
others painfully injured.
About 1880 o'clock tonight severe
shock was felt all over the town and
people rushed from their homes and
places of business to find flames al
ready gushing from Watkin Broth
ers' establishment and the express
office and to learn that the explosion
had broken the wall between the ex-
press office and Watkins store, caus-
ing it to fall, upon the occupants of
the latter, not one of them escaping
without injury. Those in the store
at the time were Willie Salmond, An
drew Whitaker, Charlie Watkins,
Willie Watkins and Arthur Watkins.
Messrs. Whitaker and Arthur Wat
kins, were badly hurt while the
others 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, how
ever, three of the men were able to
free themselves from the wreckage
and get the the other two out with
the assistance of other men who hap
pened to be near at hand before the
building was aflame.
The loss is estimated at over $780,
900. The following buildings were
destroyed: Bruce and Land build
ing, owned by Mr.. E. F. Watkins, of
Spartanburg, heavy loss, partly COW
cred by insurance; n. r. Goodale,
bicycle shop, insurance and loss un-
known; J. N. Traps grocery store,
formerly occupied by Whitaker &
Burnet, building owned by Christmas
and Lewis, building totally destroyed.
stock partly saved; Baruche-Nettles
general furnishing establishment,
total loss, stock valued at 100000,
building owned by Jas. H. Burnes,
value unknown, partly covered by in
surance; Southern Express company's
office; Watkins Brothers building,
owned by Mrs. A. L. Watkins, valued
at $4,000, contents of both buildings
totally destroyed, value of contents
unknown; English Brothers, barber
shop, owned by F. E. Watkins, badly
damaged by water and fire. The
buildings occupied by w. T. Smith
and Christmas and Lewis and owned
by Sydney Smith, the baseball player,
were injured by fire and water. The
following offices above Bruce and
Lang's store sustained total loss:
G.. P. DuBose, real estate office; c.. C..
Moore, law Office; Camden library and
Bruce & Lang's store rooms. Besides
these the Odd Fellows lodge hall and
store which had quarters over an
other establishment were also de-
stroyed.
It is generally thought that the
explosion was that Of presto-car-
bon tank which had come to the ex-
press office consigned to w. R. De-
Loache for automobile lighting. 1t
was stated by employees of the ex-
press office that 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 into the Watkins Broth
ers and Baruche-Nettles establish
ment respectively. Fortunately, how
ever, the express Office and the
Baruche-Nettles store had closed
closed some time before and only the
occupants in Watkins Brothers were
hurt. The explosion shattered glass
es throughout the city, principally on
Main street, and the shock could be
distinctly felt for miles, many think
ing it was an earthquake.
In the nearby barber shop men
rushed to the streets with half shay
en- faces and, one shoe shined to I'm
ish their toilet at some future time.
The firemen did fine work and
though handicapped by the low pres
sure of the water, succeeding in
checking the fire at w. T. Smiths
store and made noble effort at
saving Bruce & Langs, but it 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 were the men most seriously
hurt. Mr.. Watkins was taken to the
hotel Camden after being rescued
and appeared to be resting well un-
der the care of two physicians and a
trained nurse. The extent of the in
juries of Messrs. Whitaker and Wat
kins could not be ascertained, as they
were too painfully hurt to be i'm
mediately examined. Willie Salm-
onds was taken home. Willie and
Charlie Watkins were able to remain
to make arrangements to open up
their business tomorrow at another
location.