The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-02-25
ANIMALS CREMATED
THIRrY- TWO HORSES AND
MULES BURNED.

stables Of Bryant Brothers Set on
Fire by lightning and Destruc-
tive Confagration Follows.
Lightning struck and set on fire
the big wooden stable of Messrs.
Bryant Brothers on Pithan Alley,
Just back of their big brick stable,
about half-past one o'clock Tuesday
morning. In about twenty minutes
after the flash of lightning that
started the fire the stable was in
q blaze from one end to the other,
as there was considerable hay and
fodder stored in the loft Some
forty-five head of horses and mules
were stalled in the stable thirty
TWO OF which were cremated-two
horses and shirty mules. The color
ed man who had the stable in
charge, and who opened the doors
a few minutes after it was struck
to get the animals out, says that FIVE
of them were killed by the stroke
of lightning which set the build
ing on fire. When the doors were
opened the fire had made such rapid
progress that only thirteen head OF
mules and horses escaped from the
building, and some of these were so
badly burned that they were shot
tho next morning to end their suf-
fering.
Notwithstanding the fact that
very hard rain was falling, the fire
spread very rapidly, and soon the
stables of the Hydrick estate, ad-
joining those OF Bryant Brothers,
and occupied by Mr.. H. E. Bolen,
caught and were totally destroyed.
There were quite a number of hors-
es and mules stalled in them, but
they were all gotten out and saved
The cottage on the corner Of Pithan
Alley and st. Paul street, occupied
by Policeman w. H. Edwins, caught
and was partially destroyed before
it could be eXtinguished. Mr.. Ed
wins saved much Of his furniture,
but in greatly damaged condition.
This cottage was owned by Mr.. F.
j. D. Fielder, county supervisor, and
was insured, but Mr.. Edwins had no
insurance on his furniture.
It looked at one time as II the
whole block bounded by Pithan AL
5ey and Russell street was doomed.
and it would have been, had it not
been for the hard rain that fell
during the progress Of the fire, which
saturated the roofs of the houses In
the vicinity, and the most excellent
work of the gallant aremen, who
stuck to their posts most herocially
In the face Of the most adverse cir
cumstances. The buildings Destroy
ed were ell old and constructed Of
wood, and Notwithstanding that they
were wet from the rains, burned with
remarkable rapidity.
- The total loss sustained is estimat-
ed at $12, ,000-the major part Of
this, about $4,000, falling on Bryant
Brothers, whose loss is complete, as
they carried no insurance. The bal
ance of the loss is practically cover
ed by insurance, except that of the
furniture of Mr. Edwins, who had
no insurance. The insurance rates
on this class of property is so high
that it is prohibitive, and that is why
the Bryant Brothers carried none.
The half consumed bodies of the
horses and mules that were burned
in the building presented grue-
some sight the morning after the
fire as they were being hauled off.
This is the worst fire of the kind
that has ever happened in this city.
On several occasions one or two
animals have been consumed, but
never before in the history of the
town has so many horses and mules
met death in a fire as on Tuesday
morning. We hope Orangeburg will
never have such another fire.