The Chesterfield advertiser. [volume] (Chesterfield C.H., S.C.) 1884-1978, 1919-01-30
CHESTERFIELD HAS COSTLY
FIRE; LITTLE INSURANCE

! A very destructive fire visited
Chesterfield last Thursday morning
when three fine brick buildings and
one frame were completely destroyed
The total loss when. cost to replace
the buildings is taken into accoun,
will not fall far short of $4O,OOO.OO
The insurance on all buildings and
goods is about $17,5OO.OO.
The fire, which originated at about
IL o'clock, Wednesday night in the
rear of H. w. Pusser G. Sons dry
goods and notions store, spread to the
adjoining buildings on the east un-
til the clothing store of H. w. Pusser
& Sons was reached; where it
stopped.
The postoffice building, which ad-
joined the dry goods store on the
west was not damaged.
The fire, the origin of which is
unknown, was discovered by Mr.. j.
w. Hanna, who was returning in his
auto from Wadesboro, where he had
gone to see his sister-in-law, Mrs.
l.. O. Brantly on the train for her
home in Chattanooga. When first
noticed from the road near Friend
ship church, the flames were confined
to the rear of the store mentioned.
Mr.. Hanna gave the alarm and soon
the whole town was awake and on
| the scene.
Insurance on all property lost by
H. w. Pusser & Sons amounted to
100000. The loss was probably
nuch heavier when the cost to re-
place building and stock are consid-
| cred.
The flames made complete the de-
struction of that store and spread to
the Square Deal Drug Co., where it
destroyed a stock Of goods which had
recently been invoiced at $6,500.
About 5000 worth of these goods
were saved. Insurance on the stock
was for $4,000. The building, COM
plete wreck, was insured for $1,500.
It will probably cost $4,000 to re-
place it. On the second floor of this
building, which was owned by Wat
son Bros, was the stock of jewelry
Of Watson Bros, valued at 81 900, on
which was no insurance, and about
500 worth of watches and jewel
ry belonging to the patrons Of Wat
son Bros. These items were in the
repair shop of II. d. Watson.
When the flames reached the Pc
oples Bank, most of the fixtures of
he bank had been removed. The
safe and vault proved fire-proof and
all the valuable papers were saved.
The building, which it is estimated,
will cost $4,000 to rebuild, was in
sured for $4,000.
The second floor of this building
was occupied by the Teal Light &
Power Co., and there was at the
time Of the fire, electrical equipment
on hand worth something less than
| 1000, which carried no insurance.
DR.. ID. II. Teal also lost several hun
dred dollars worth Of surgical instru-
ments. A small safe belonging to
Attorney C. L. Hunley, was badly
damaged. 1t contained War Saving
Stamps and Liberty Bonds worth
$3.50. These were badly charred, but
have been forwarded by Mr.. Hunlcy
to Washington, where he hopes to
have them replaced. Mr.. Hunley had
only recently removed some $40O
worth of these securities and placed
them in fire proof vault.
When the flames reached the frame
building Of the d. II. Laney Pharm-
acy the building had been empted
of it's stock Of drugs, which was all
saved, though there was a loss due to
the hasty moving. The building was,
complete loss. 1t is understood that
DR.. Laney carried no insurance.
1t was generally believed that if
the fire had gotten into the adjoin,
ing store, that of II. w. Pusser &
Sons clothing department, the whole
Of that side Of Main street would
have been doomed.
The insurance adjusters have come
and there was no hitch in the adjust
ments.
There has been meeting Of the
business people who were burned out
and all stated their intention to
rebuild at once.
Insurance on the building and
stock amounted to 100000. We
do not know the estimated value of
the property destroyed, but it is be.
| lieved the loss was heavy.