The Dillon herald. [volume] (Dillon, S.C.) 1894-????, 1911-08-17
FIRE DESTROYS CONWAY PLANT
Foreman TisdaIe May Not Survive
Injuries.

Foreman Tisdale May Not Survive
Injuries.
Conway, Aug. IL. - Special: AS
result of a serious fire, the caus-
es of which are unknown, which
suddenly broke out last night in
the plant of the Southern Wood
Products Company, the day fore
man, Mr.. David w. Tisdale lies in
critical condition, several other
employees are injured and the large
complete mass of charred.
All of the employeets are at
their posts and the work was pro-
ceeding, seemingly, III perfect order,
where there was a slight explosion
and the flames flashed and spread
over the whole building; all ma
terials contained therein were high
/ ly inflamable and there was no
/ hope of saving the factory.
/ Envclopcd i'm Flames.
/ In the explosion and first breath h
/ of the fire, Mr.. Tisdale was com
pletely' enveloped in the gas-laden
flames. a negro workman, near AT
hand, received serious burns and
other minor injuries. Except for
the GOODNESS of other employees
who, realizing their danger and
the necessity for prompt action,
seized those who had been most Sc
/ riously burned and plunged them
. into a tan of water, the result wOulC
have been far more serious
! Mr.. Tisdale, who was almost Graz.
ed by his burns, he broke from his
friends, and closely followed by q
burning negro employee, ran all the
way to Conway, distance OF near.
ly mile, where he was cared foI
by physicians, who extended every
attention to him. His condition is
now considered critical, while tho
others who are burned are out OF
danger.
Spectacular BIaIr.
The fire was very spectacular
the rays OF the flames accentuat
ed by rapid explosions of tanks o
benzene, oils and other explosives
the products of the company, tina
shot upwards immense columns o
fire and smoke, which were visible
miles away. The heat was so in
tense that nothing could be savet
from the factory, although by he
roic efforts the old factory nearby
the office building and the resid
ence of Mr.. Magrath were saved. !
number Of railroad cars on a nearb
siding We're burned
Mir. l.. ID. Magrath, the Superin
tendent ana general manager O
the works, when seen to-day, stat
ed that his loss would probably eN
ceed $4,000, with no insurance t
cover, as the insurance companie
nave. on account CT the nature c
the business refused lhc risk. Nj
Magrath had no statement I
make relative TO plans for reDuilG
ing nor OF the probabilities, us IL
to this time no adVices had bee
received by his from the New Yor
offices.
An Extensive Enterprise.
The company's lightwood timbe
holdings were extensive, sufficier
to run the plant for twenty year.
and they we're continually adding {
p their possessions This compau
owns the only thoroughly successfu
process for the extraction of tut
pentine, rosin and other product
from liShtwood, and the burne
plant was the pioneer factory opeI
atlng under the new process, in
vented and perfected by Mr.. Gee
Walker. of New York City, presi
dent of the company. 1t was re
viving rapidity, declining indus
try of this section of the State, tha
OF turpentine distillation.
The first plant built by MIR. Wall
er and his associates was erecte,
here six years ago. After fev
months of successful operation i
was burned, but was immediatCl
rebuilt. Since that time an entire
ly new process having been discov
cred, the operation of the plant al
ready in operation has been dis
continued. Work was begun on
new factory little over yea
ago, and the factory has just beer
completed, although portions OF i
have been i'll operation for sever
al months.