The Mississippi in the Civil War Message Board - Archive

Fire at Beauvoir

I recently found the following news article in the Abbeville (S.C.) Press and Banner, 19 Dec 1924, p. 6, c. 2:

"TWO SOUTHERN VETS DIE WHEN HOME IS BURNED.

Beauvoir, Miss., Dec 16. -- Two Confederate veterans were burned to death and two were seriously injured today as a result of a fire that destroyed a dormitory of the Jefferson Davis Soldier's Home at 2:35.

The dead:

F. J. Sharpe, 78, Columbus, Miss., and J. F. Hunter, 80, Laurel, Miss.

The injured:

Joe Sanders, Lauderdale, Miss., feet burned; Clement Cox, Harrison county, feet and hands burned.

Twenty were asleep in the one-story frame building when the structure was discovered in flames.

Volunteers fought their way through the smoke and carried veterans to safety. Sharpe and Hunter could not be reached and their charred bodies were found in bed later. Some of the veterans went back into the building for their possessions and it was only difficulty that some were rescued the second time. The dormitory adjoined the old hospital occupied by women aged from 80 to 100 years. The hospital was emptied by volunteers.

The origin of the fire has not been determined."

I am sure that there was much more coverage in the Mississippi press, particularly the dailies, but I thought that the item would be of interest to many of you. Does any one know what units the two dead men and two injured men belonged to?

Merry Christmas!!

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