Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1843-05-13
OFFICE OF THE souru.CARoLryrAx.

tbANNagtH Ag CF .hiN - l0l0.
a fire broke outin this city about ID or 20 minutes be.
fore O'Clock this morning, IN the two.siory wooden bull.
ding owned by Mr.. JAS. McCAFFREy, and occupied by
him as a grocery store, situated on the west side Of Main
street, about $50 yards south of MHybin's Hotel. Mr.. Nc
CAFFEEy, and the boarders in his house, who were sleepinp
IN the second story, were awOke by the smoke, and unable
to descend the stairs escaped through the window, by let.
ting themselves down by n sheet. Mr.. MCCARTNEY imme.
diately discovered the fire breaking out at the north corner
OF the store next the street. and IS uncertain whether it on
ginnted in the store or the cellar, but ~ confident II must
have been communicated To the one or the other by an in
ccndiary, as he and the inmates of the building had rctir.
ed 10 rest about 10 or II o'clock, and were careful. as usual.
IN eSunguishing oil light or fire of any kind. They saved
nothing beyond barely enough clothing to scanuly cover
them. Mr.. McCATTREy estimates his loss, in the building
and is eonlents,at $500 to Si,0OO-consumting his all,
except the bare lot, and no part Of it insured.
From there It communicated, N~ouhwardly,t to the adioin-
ing twosiory dwelling OF Mrs. Paut, and the next adjoining
partly wood and partly brick store and dwelling Of Mr.. ].
=. Norton, on the corner of Main and Lady streets. opposite
Muybin's HOtel-and SouthwArdly, TO the adjoining small
wooden buildings owned by Mr.. James McAndrew, and
occupied, one 10y himself, and the other by Mir Mills.
The next small wooden building, ownel by Mr.. James
Fleming, was blownup and the flames thereby arrested, or
the next large twOstOTy wooden store and dwelling owned
and occupied by Mossr- Isaac Lyons & Sons, extending to
the next corner, must have been destroyed. We regret the
painful duty OF nnoumcing that Professor Twiss Of South
carolina College, was severely injured, and Mr.. Joseph
Shepherd and MI Wheeler slightly, by the blowing
up OF Mr. Fleming's building. Prof. Twiss superintendent
the arrangements for blowing up, and after Whiting some.
time without the explosion taking place, he expected the
match had gone out and re-entercd the building to rolighti IT.,
'1fFs' ~ w. iAHAithAAA'l ulNNI UNtIlU
the explosion occurred, by which he was severely burned
and bruised, though we are grahfed to learn, not danger.
ouslyJ and the Others slightly. But, considering how the
building was blown to pieces, 1t seemsnext to a miracle that
all were not instantly killed.
Fortunately, the wind was very light during the fire, and
the Firemen and citizens early on the spot, cOnsiderin tho
hour At which the fire broke OUT butihere wassome difficulty
at the start ~ getting water, owing to the nearest fire plugs
being somewhat out Of Ordor-a defect which should be nj.
ways most carefully guarded againstby the city authorities.
For a time the United States Hotel, opposite, seemed IN
much danger, and Maybin's Hotel, and Mr. Shells Store
also, IN a less degree. But In saving them, great credit H.
due TO the Firemon, for their determined, energetic, and
por7cyoring oxortions, as we'll ne to many Of the citizens,
including the l%nicndunt, Mr. Palmer, MI. M]ontoth, Mr..
Muybin, Mr.. Root, mud others.
Theentire loss Is ostinated At ten to twelve thousand dol.
lurs-he buildings being mostly very, old fabout the oldest
m the ciyl and Of comparatively little value; insurance
S~J,JOO-S2,JO0 on Mrs. Paris building, IN the Ktnu In.
surance Company Of Hartford, Conn, aud $500 on Mr..
james McAndrcws building, IN the Protection Insurance
Company Of Hartford, Conn, Mr. Noton's loss IL probably
about $4,000. Mr. McCniIroy's about $500 to $4,000,
Mrs. Pau's lover her insurance. about S7OO; and the others
about $500 to 800 each.