The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1911-08-16
BIG WORKS BURN
Southern Wood PredacIs Company Plant
al Conway Destroyed.
A SPECTACULAR BLAZE
Without Warming, Explosion Fol
lowed by Rapid Spread of Flames
Results in Serious Burning Of
Several Employees and Total De-
struction of Valuable Property.

struction of Valuable Property.
A special dispatch from Conway to
The News and Courier says as re-
suit of a serious fire, the causes of
which are unknown, which suddenly
broke out Thursday night in the
plant of the Southern Wood Products
Company, the day foemlan, N. David
W. Tisdale, lies in critical condi-
ton, several other employees are in
jured and the large new plant of the
company is a complete mass Of char
red ruins.
All of the employees were at their
posts and the work was proceeding,
seemingly, in perfect order when
there was slight explosion and the
flames flashed and spread over the
whole building; all materials con
tanned therein being; highly inflam-
mable and there was no hope Of say
ing the factory.
In the explosion and first breath
of the fire, Mr.. Tisdale was COM
pletely enveloped in the gas-laden
flames. A negro workman, near at
hand, received serious burns and otn-
er minor injudies. Except for the
GOODNESS of other employees, who,
recognizing their danger and the ne
cessity for prompt action, seized
those who had been most seriously
burned and plunged them into a
tank Of water, the results would
have been far more serious.
Mr.. Tisdale, who was almost
crazed by his burns, broke from his
friends, and closely followed by a
burning negro employee ran all the
way to Conway, distance of nearly
mile where he was given medical
attention. His condition is now con-
sjdered critical, while the others who
were burned are out of danger.
The fire was very spectacular, the
rays of the flames being accentuated
by rapid explosions Of tanks OF BEN
zine. oils and other explosives, the
products of the company, that shot
upwards immense columns OF lire
and smoke, which were visible miles
away. The heat was so intense that
nothing could be saved from the fac
tory, although by heroic efforts
the old factory nearby, the ofhce
building and the residence OF MT.
tMagrath were saved. a number OF
railroad cars on nearby siding
were burned.
Mr.. L. D. Magrath the superin-
tendent and general manager OF the
works. when seen, stated that his
loss would probably exceed 4O,oOo
with no insurance to cover, as the in
surance companies have, on account
of the nature of the business, retus-
ed the risk. Mr. Magrath had no
statement to make relative to the
plans for rebuilding nor of the prob
abilities, as up to this time no ad-
vices had been received by him from
the New York Offices.
The company's lightwood timber
holdings were extensive, SUI
ficient to run the plant for twenty
years, and they were continually ad-
ding to their possessions. This COM
pany the oily thoroughly sue
cessful process for the extraction OF
tnnentine. rosin and other prod
ucts from Eghtwood. and the burn
ed plant was the pioneer factory op-
Grating under the new process
invented and perfected by Mr.. Geo:
Walker. of New York City, presl-
dent of the company. It was reviv-
ing a rapidly declining industry OF
this section of the State. that OF tur-
pentine distillation.
The first plant built by Mr.. Walker
and his associates was erected mere
six years ago. After a few months
of successful operation it was burn
ed, but was Immediately rebuilt.
Since that time an entirely new proc
ess having been discovered the op-
Grafton of the plant already IN eXls-
tence has been discontinued. WORK
was begun on the new factory Il
tie over a year ago, and the factory
has lust been completed, although
portions of it have been in operation
for several months.
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