The county record. [volume] (Kingstree, S.C.) 1885-1975, 1913-02-06
BIG PIRE ON MAIN STREET.
"Nettles Hotel'' Partly Destroy
ed--MerchandiSe Damaged.

| cd. DduldUSO.
On Friday morning last about 2:3O
O'Clock fire was discovered by Spec
ial Policeman ] A Scott on the top
floor of the big two-story building
on Main street near the railroad
crossing belonging to Mr. R H Kella-
har. known as the "Nettles Hotel"
The first floor of the building was
occupied by Messrs Jenkinson Bros
Co and Milhous & Jennings, the first
named firm with stock of shoes
and dry goods invoicing about Sl2,-
900, while the latter carried a large
stock of heavy and fancy groceries.
shoes and dry goods, amounting in
value to about $4,000.
Messrs Jenkinson Bros Co carried
insurance on stock, furniture and fix
lures amounting to $3.50. The
Milhous & Jennings corporation was
insured in the sum of $4,000, and it
is not thought that either of these
firms will sustain a very heavy loss
when the damages have been adjust
ed by the insurance people. The
building was also insured and will
be rebuilt at once by the owner,
Hon R H Kellahan, and it is the
present intention of both firms to re-
sumo business at their old stands.
The second story of the building,
up to January of last year occupied
and conducted as a hotel by Mr. S A
Nettles, had recently been used by
the latter as lodging and storage
house, and at the time it was burnt
several rooms were occupied by Mr.
M E King and his family. 1t is not
known how the fire originated, but
it was discovered in one of Mr. Kings
rooms. The partitions and ceiling all
being composed of pine wood, the
fire spread rapidly all over the Sec
ond floor Notwithstanding the
prompt and highly commendable
work of citizens, with the aid of the
towns hose and other fire-fghting
apparatus. Several hundred dollars
worth of furniture and household
articles belonging to Mr. Nettles
were destroyed. He had no insur-
ance. Mr. King also lost all of his
furniture and household belongings,
his loss being partially covered by
insurance.
This being the first fire of any
consequence in the town since the
installation and completion of our
water-works, it furnished an excel
lent opportunity for thorough test
of the plants efficiency. Without
any conjecture as to the possible
damage to adjoining property in this
street, it is almost a certainty that
the entire building, along with the
large stocks of merchandise of Messrs
Jenkinson Bros Co and Messrs Mil
hous & Jennings would have been
completely consumed had it not been
for the towns improved water and
fire facilities. Fifty thousand gal
Ions, or one tankful, of water were
poured into the building and the fire
extinguished without burn n z
through the floor into the store
rooms below.
Messrs Jenkinson Bros Co trans
ferred their stock to the big tobac-
co warehouse on Hampton avenue,
where Mr. w E Jenkinson and a
force of assistants are busily en-
gagged taking inventory and getting
their goods in order for inspection
by the insurance adjusters, as is also
being done by Mr. ] S Jennings and
assistants in the big store-room next
to the Southern Express Co.'S office,
where the damaged stock Of Milhous
e. Jennings was conveyed after the
fire,