The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-11-04
BIG FIRE IN oaiNeEDuRG,
Son0agrasion Pcncratcs From 81.
John tn Russell Strcct--Buildings
Destroyed Valued at $23,OOO.

John tO Russell Strcct-BulldingS
Destroyed Valued at $25,OOO.
Orangeburg. Oct. 31.--Orangc Durs
was visited this afternoon by disas-
trous fire. destroying approximately
S2b.Oo0 worth of property with very
little insurance. The big fire was I'm
the centre of the east business section
and great fears were entertained that
the entire big block Of stores would
go. The fire was held in check 10
wooden buildings and one brick
building. Adjacent brick buildings
aided ~ tiremen to stop further
spread. Five buildings were entirely
destroyed and one very badly dam
aged. Other buildings sustained
smaller damage.
Shortly after 3 o'clock the fire
alarm was sounded. The streets
were crowded with people and vol
umes OF smoke In the business section
caused great excitement. The fire
began I'm the sales stables occupied
by q. Henry Slater and j. ID. Bolen
ON st. John street. The origin is un-
known. Before the fire department
could get to that street the fire had
spread to the adjoining stables of l..
c. Hughes on one side and rented
stable on the other. Shortly the large
sales stables Of II. Doyle caught. All
OF these buildings except that of L..
&. Hughes were wooden buildings.
These were large buildings. The
quantities Of feedstuffs caused the
fre to burn fiercely and get a big
start The conhagration was huge.
For time 1t looked as IL a large part
OF the business section was doomed.
as the fire had burned through from
st. John street to Russell street, the
main business street of Orangeburg
The two-~tory building Of G.. "A. Stro-
man on Russell street was practically
destroyed by the fire. The modern
brick home OF the Elliott Hook and
Ladder fire department was very bad
ly damaged.
Tho losses are approximately: C.
A. Stroman. two-story store building
on Russell street and two sales stable
buildings on St John Street, valued
at $4,000. insurance $2.5O0; L. c.
Huhges. sales stable buildings, feed
stuffs. ETC.. value. $4,000; insurance.
S2.50o; Slater Brothers. sales stable
building. value $4,000. insurance ST.
600: IL. Doyle. feedstuffs. etc. value
$500. no Insurance.: q. Henry Slater
sustained big loss Of feedstuffs, ETC.;
J. II. Boleu lost two head of stock and
feedstuffS no Insurance.; ]. II.
Schachte. grocer. suffered $500 dam
ages by breakage. moving and water;
John wannamaker, grocer, lost $500
I'm breaknge. water and moving; both
grocers had some insurance. L. Nj.
Grady. fruits. confections. groceries.
ETC.. sustained slight damage; T. L.
Andrea. jcweler. sustained slight
damages: M. T. Siny. department
store. suffered slight damages; Il. l..
Cutler. blacksmith. buggies. etc. sus-
tained slight damages: III. Won Ohsen.
bakery. sustained several hundred
dollars damage; negro pressing club
lost about 500 In clothing and sup
plies; William Kelley lost household
effects. no insurance; Elliott Hook
and Ladder Fire company lost about
$500 on building, covered by insur-
ance.
The fire was one of tho biggest
that has visited Orargcburg In a long
time. burning n district of several
acres and going from street to street.
The work Of the fire department was
exceptionally fine and great praise Is
due the members.
In the stables of l.. c. Hughes were
horses and buggics. etc.. Of county
folk and some OF them sustained
losses. II. r.. Stroman lost q horse
L.. G.. Hughes two head OF stock. Thad
Barton "a thrcshing machine. Jeff
Davis n buggy. Julius Ahrens lost
feedstunfs and buggy. A large num-
ber Of stock and bugsies were saved.
Some valuable papers were destroyed.