The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1912-02-07
Eoar Caildyea Loose Their Lives RhsD
heir House Was Burned
RESCUE TRIAL FAILED
Three Were Burned Up W.ich the
House and the Fourth, Who Was
Rescued by Neishbors From the
Burning House. Died a Few Hours
After Being Rescued.

Three children Of Walter ]. Gibson
perished in the flames, and fourth
was fatally burned when his home,
three miles from CampoLello, in
Spartanbu1g County, was burned
down at one O'Clock Monday morning
in his absence. 4 fourth child was
saved through the courage Of neigh
Dor, but received burns which caused
his death.
The dead are: Hugh Gibson, 16
years old; Annie Thomas Gibson. 4
years old: Laura Gibson, 10 years
old; James Gibson, eight years old.
Walter J. Gibson, prominent
farmer and former member OF the
legislature, went 20 Greenville Sat
u,day on account OF the death Of
p. D. Gilreath, kinsman, leaving
the four children alone at home.
Their mother died several years ago
and their stepmother last winter.
The children spent Sunday with
their sister, Mrs. Clinton Rainey, who
lives ;-5out a mile away. They re-
turaed home at 20 o'clock. The
house was large two-story frame
building CT nine rooms.
TIE children were all accustomed
to sleep up stairs, but it is believed
Hugh, the oldest, either went to BED
down stairs Sunday night or started
to do so, as the cover Of his fathers
bed on the first floor was later OBJ
served to have been turned down and
part OF Highs clothing was found
lying on chair by the bed.
1t js thought likely that after the
fire was discovered he ran up stairs
70 save his sisters and brother-only
to die himself. How the fire origi
mated is not known. but it is sup.
posed coal fell from crate.
About one O'Clock the attention o
ncighbors was attracted to the flames
When they reached the scene the
Gibson home was already roaring
mass Of fire.
Amid the cracking of the fame:
was heard the screaming of the chill
dren, whose figures were soon de
scribed in the lurtd glare trapped or
the upper floor and running fTanti
cally hither and thither in yair
search of escape.
The horror-stricken onlookers were
helpless. Belton keid, at the srea
risk Of his own lie, undertook t
rescue the children AS he dashed
into the house. james Gibson, the
Youngest child, fell through hole il
the upper floor.
Mr. Reid lifted the child up, e1
tinguished the fire on his clothing
and carried him TO his own home
nearby. James woce suit Of woole1
underwear and it is believed he start
ed to dress after waking, and finding
the house on fire, stopping to dress
may have caused the death OF thu
other children.
The little boy, terribly burned, re
NAMED ct the horne of Mr.. Reid al
day, attended by DR.. Burgess O
Campobello, and DR. ]. z. Gibson
Of Inman, an uncle He died Mon
day night. No attempt was made tt
gain any information from him con
corning the fire.
A few minutes after Mr.. Reid!
rescue Of James Gibson. the saggins
walls Of the house collapsed. the roo
fell in. and the bodies Of three othe,
children whose cries had by this time
ceased, dropped into the ruins, while
sparks and burning brands were
showered around foi many yards.
The fire did It's york quickly. anC
as dawn broke the cold rain made i
possible to explore the smoking ruins
Within few feet Ct each other were
found three charred bodies The,
were carried to the home OF a rela
tive.