The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1909-12-04
CAMDEN SHAKEN
Three Buildings Are Wrecked and a De-
structive Fire Follows
A TERRIFIC EXPLOSION

several Persons Hurt, and Properly
Worth approximately One Hun
dred Thousand Dollars DESTROYED
as Result of Explosion Of Uncer-
tain Origin in Express Office.
A special dispatch to The State
.savs 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, one color
ed man probably killed, though TINS
could rot be verified; two prominent
Young men badly hurt, and tye otn-
aers painfully injured.
About 1880 o'clock Thursday night
a severe shock was felt all over
cshe town and people rushed from
their homes and places OF business
to find flames already gushing from
watkin Brothers establishment and
ahe 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
ahs occupants of the latter. not one
of them escaping without injury.
Those in the store at the time
were Willie Salmond, Andrew
Whitaker, Charlie Watkins, Willie
Watkins and Arthur Watkins.
Messrs. Whitaker and Arthur Wat
Rims 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
lsins, it Is likely. that none would
have escaped. Fortunately, however
shree of the men were able to free
themselves from the wreckage ana
get the other two out with the as
sistance of other men who happen
ed to be near at hand before the
building was afame. The loss Is
estimated at over 100000.
1t is generally thought that the
explosion was that of a .presto-car-
hon tank which had come to the eX-
press offive consigned to w. T. De-
1I,oache for automobile lighting. 1t
was stated by employees Of the ex-
press Office that the talk 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 TO the Watkins
Brothers and Baruche-Nettles es-
tahlishment respectively. Fortu-
nately, however. the express ottice
and the Baruche-Nettles store had
closed some time before and only
the occupants in Watkins Brothers
were hurt. The explosion shatter-
ed glasses throughout the city, prin-
eieally on Main street, and the shock
could be distinctly felt for miles,
many thinking that it was an earth
quake.
In the nearby barber shop men
rushed to the streets with half shay
en- faces and one shoe shined to
finish their toilet at some future
time.
The fremen did fine work and
Enough handicapped by the low
pressure 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
Injuries Of Messrs. Whitaker and
Watkins could not be ascertained,
as they were too painfully hurt to
be immediately examined. Willie
Saimond was taken home. Willie
and Charlie Watkins were able to
remain to make arrangements to
open up their business Friday morn
ing at another location.