The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-03-14
BIG FIRE IN VARNv|lLE.
BUSINESS HOUSES DESTROYER
BY FIRE.
Stores Wiped Out on Both Sides of
Main Strcet--Only Two Escape
Heavy Loss Results.

Hampton, March 10.-One of the
most disastrous fires in the history of
the town occurred in Varnvlle at an
early hour this morning when prac-
tically the entire number of business
houses on both sides of Main street
were destroyed, entailing an esti-
mated loss of between s65,OOO and
$4,000, partly covered by insurance.
The fire originated in lot serarat-
ing the stores of c. w. Taylor and
w. o. Guess. A number of banana
cartons and a quantity of excelsior
had been piled on this vacant lot
and it is supposed that some one
passingly by carelessly threw a light
ed cigarette on this pile of refuse,
igniting it, The fire was discovered
by the night watchman shortly after
midnight, it had then reached the
store Of c. w. Taylor. This being a
wooden building. the confagration
spread rapidly, destroying the adjoin-
ing store, that of w. G. Gooding, in
short order, and spreading in both
directions. crossing the street and
burning the large store of l.. r. Dow
ling G Sons. Then the fire swept
down both streets at the same time
Only by heroic efforts were the Char.
lesion & Western Carolina railway
station, the residence of w. IS. Dow
ling, and the only two stores of the
entire street left standing. The fire
was gotten under control about 2:1J
a. m.
Ike L. Lightsey was seriously in
Jured when a part Of the burning
building Of w. G. Gooding fell upon
him. He was burned badly over his
body. as we'll as bruised by the fall
Ing structure. The attending physi-
clan says that his condition is grave
The stores destroyed, together with
an estimated loss of stock and amour:
OF in'urance carried. are as follows.
North side, l.. r. Bowling & Sons
general merchants. store and goods
100000. insurance $1,000; L. r. Dow
ling & Sons, grocery warehouse, 81. =
600. no insurance.; Jessie Thomas
general merchandise, stock $4,000
partly covered by insurance.: Lee
Welch, confections. stock $1,000, no
insurance; Waco theatre, 500, no in
surance; Leland Sanders, stock $1,2O0
no insurance. South side, w. G. GoS1-
ing, general merchandise, stock, ST.
600, partly covered by insurance: &C.
w. Taylor, meat market and fancy
grocery. stock $4,000, no insurance;
w. O.NGuess, general merchant, stock
$4,000, insu "ance $1,000; Mrs. b. T..
Warn, millinery, loss $4,000, insurance
$4,000; s. G. Warn, Esq, law Office
$1,000; no insurance.; Mrs. R.,I4
Chisolm. store, $4,000, no insurance
Absolutely nothing was saved fror'
the several stores destroyed, due t.
the rapidity with which the flame
except that Of Jessie Thomas
from which a quantity of merchandise
was NOV ID before the flames reachel
1t, the most Of which, however. wa.
badly damaged.
The stores occupied by Thomas, the
Waco theatre, and Welch were owned
by Mrs. j. A. Smoak. of Varnvillc:
the stores occupied by Gooding, Tay-
Tor and Guess were owned by J. J
and a. r. Speaks. Mrs. Smoaks loss
was about $4,000; he Speaks broth
ers. about $4,000 with s1,S0O insur-
ance. The Varnville Lighting COM
pany sustained damages amountins
to about $500 due to the burning of
street lights. wires. posts, etc. The
store of Mrs. ". w. Rentz was dam
aged in the sum of $500 caused by
the breaking of large plate glass fron,
windows. The store of ]. y. Youmans
occupied by Chisolm Brothers, wa
damaged likewise and in about the
same amount. The manager Of the
store Of l.. r. Bowling & Sons says
mat while its losses was heavy, il
Will begin Immediately the construc-
ton OF modern brick building on
the site of the old store. The othcr
merchants will also rebuild at once
and in each instance a brick build
ing will replace the former woode,,
structure.