The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1910-11-08
FIRE on STATE FAIR GROUNDS.
Commercial Building Reduced to Pile
of Ashes-Many Exhibits Also
Consumed by Flames.

Columbia, Nov. 4-Ihe commercial
building of the State fair is in ruins
tonight, as the result of fire. The
building. valued at $4,000 and insured
for $4,000, is razed to the ground and
exhibits estimated to have been worth
$4,000 were lost in the flames. The
origin Of the fire is in doubt, the two
theories advanced being that either
the building was set on fire by means
OF an oil stove placed under the steps,
or men searching for monkey that
escaped from ore of the shows, struck
matches that igrited the trash lying
under tie steps. A negro, who did not
answer the questions Of detectives
with frankness, was placed under ar
rest at the fair grounds Immediately
following the discovery of the fire.
"Colonial" Exhibit in Danger.
Far beyond any monetary loss, eth
er to the society or to Individual eX-
hibitors in articles that can be replac-
ed, was the peril in which the Colon
ial" exhibit, owned by DR.. James W.
Babcock and Capt. J. A. Willis, of
this city, was put. This exhibit, valu-
ed I'd in thousands, with association
because of age and rareness, was of
the most part saved, although to-
night it is believed that two tables,
one "Thcusand Leg" or "Gate Leg
table ana the other Dutch Table, y
are lost. The insurance on the whole
"Colonial' exhibit was only $1,000.
That will cover the financial loss as
to the tables. It is feared the tables
ara lost, although they may turn up
tomorrow. Dr.. Babcock and Capt
Willis think they will not be found.
Valuable Pieces.
In the Colonial exhibit were: One
Chippendale bed, more than two hun
dred years old, the property OF Dr.
Babcock. It would be hard to place
any money value on this piece of rare
furniture; chairs, owned by Dr.
Eabcock; tables. the ones referred
to above; sideboards, owned by
Capt. Willis. One Of the sideboards
was bruised in being taken out The
exhibit was q novelty this year, and
it was with foreboding that DR.. Bah
cock and Capt Willis risked such ar
ticles at the fair grounds. The exhibit
consisted of Chippendale, Hepplewhite
and Empire mahogany and antiques.
While it is next to impossible to tell
with absolute accuracy all that was
lost, or even to say what might be
saved, with the aid of Secretary J. NJ.
Cantey the following summary is CIV
en- as to what was in the building,
what was lost and what was saved,
with the insurance, where known:
Losses and Insurance.
Commercial Hall building, complete
2oss, value about $4,000; insurance
$4,000.
Charles NJ. Stieff, pianos valued at
$500; insurance s1,400.
Southern Scale and Fixture COM
pany, of this city, estimate furnished
by president of company, loss of s9,-
500 in scales and fixtures; no insur-
ance.
BIC Electric company, Of this city.
loss in fixtures less than $1,000.
DR.. Babcock and Capt Willis, two
antique tables (as explained above);
insurance $1,000.
Gregory-Conder Mule company, OF
Columbia. one automobile. value less
than $1,000. Three automobiles saved
by this company. Lost also some auto
accessories.
S. 3. McMaster. of this city, guns
one canoe and sporting goods, loss
$500; no Insurance.
Prize Cotton Lost.
Seven bales of cotton were lost, in
1cluding c0e or TWO bales OF sea lslano
cotton. These were in the following
exhibits: l.. F. PeaTsons, J. L. Roo-
gers, S. l.. Rawls and c. B. Wingaro.
of Lexington, the last mentioned be-
ing second prize winner for the best
individual exhibit Of the most stun
raised on one farm. l.. F. PearsonS'
Of Woodruff, was the winner OF hrst
prize in this department. These eS-
bibits contained hundreds OF articles
raised on the farm. 1t would be dlf-
fcult to place monetary values on this
class of exhibits.
Minor losses included one soda
fountain. concession booths of various
men who came here for the fair, a
oooh OF the shandon Methodist
church and auto fixtures OF the Glooes
Machinery company, OF Columbia.