The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-07-15

[fron the Richu,ond Inquirer, july Al
We have seldom been called upon TO record aAAore
des <uctive fire in this city than that which occurred
on Saturday night last; do recollect 10 have
Witnessed fire which, for tune, created greater
Akrm or threatened more serious consequences.
kear the hour Of IL O'Clock that nigS, the watch
men IN go0g their rounds, discovered names issuing
v the carpenter skop attached ~ tie tobacco fac
tory Of Mr.. James Tbolnas, jr, the southeast
ner OF Cary aud Seventh streets. The shop, used
principally tor tie manufacture OF tobacco boxes,
was large wooden structure in the centre Of the
square, and extended from Gary street about one
hundred feet north to an alley. 1t was filed with
plank, lumber, machinery, tools, and much combus.
THE matter In few minutes after the discovery OF
the fire the whole building was wrapped in flames
which rapidly communicated to several brick build
,ngs Immediately adjoining the east, used for the
storage "a tobacco for offices, and various purposes
connected with MIR. rs extensive tobacco manufac-
turing establishment. From these buildings the
flames soon extended to the main building, on the
corner fronting about forty feet Cary street three
stories high, and extending back about one hundred
feet ON Seventh street To an alley. In this building
there was large quantity OF manufactured, - well
as leaf or loose" tobacco; and here the numerous
operatives Of the establishment generally
ployed in stemmng, twisting, packing, priZing &c.
The fire speedily spread to every part Of this large
building, when the whole of Mr. r.'s extensive tobac
90 manufacturing establishment, occupying the chief
portion II bait square exhibited one solid mass Of
flame. creating intense heat; for about hour bril-
llantly illuminating the whole city, and placing in
imminent peril vast deal of valuable property in the
neiehborhood. small brick building, west Of the
factory the property OF Mrs. Eliza Gary and tenanted
by yellow woman; dwelling north, aud attached
to the premises of Mr. Thomas, and occupied by his
factory hands; stable and an clubhouse ON the pre-
mises OF Mr. Thomas U. Dudley the line OF the
alley between the Main street property and the pro
perry OF Mr.. Thomus, were destroyed. To save any
portion OF Mr. Thomds's buildings utterly impos-
sible in view of the dry aud combustbie nature Of
the buildings and their contents and the great Ia-
pdity with which the flames spread. The large to-
baeco establishment Of Mesars. Coleman Workman
and Nathan II. Thornton, (the latter building the
property Of MIR. John Stewart) Immediately opposite
the burning buildings, were for time threatened
with destructioD; and great was the heat and so
thckly did the flakes of fire RISE scatter, and fall
upon the houses ct all the surrounding squares that
serious fears entertained for the safety of many
Of the valuable buildings ia the neghborh0od.
strong southern Wind at the time, would, it is
believed, have caused the destruction Of the whole of
that valuable block Of buildings the south side OF
Main street extending rom Sixth to seventh streets.
The stabling and back buildings attached to them
were at various times fire, creating the most
serious alarm for the safety OF the main buildings, all
OF which are large, and very valuable shower OF
rain, towards the close Of tue fire. added greatly to
lessen the DANGER and relieve the fears Of the
and occupiers of the surrounding property At pre-
seIt it is difficult to estimate his loss but Mr. Thomas
believes It amounts t. not less than $50 0O0 which
he has an insurance Of $40 000one half In the office
Of the Fire Association Of this city aud the balance
divided between the office Of the Virginia Marine In
surance Company and the Office of the dItaa and
Protection Co., OF Hartford, in this city The quantity
OF tobacco on hand was unusually large, and the Ak
lures &c, very valuable Every thing destroyed,
save few boxes Of manufactured tobacco. A Sc
rous loss must also result to Mr. l. from the inter-
rnption and delay which must precede the resump-
tion OF business He had large number Of hands
employed in his factory, which are of course, thrown
idle on his hands by this sudden calamity. There il
but little doubt that the fire was the work of an in
cendiary.
young man named John Miller, q son of Mr..
Henry Miller, OF Shockoe Hill, accidentally fell from
the roof OF building in the vicinity of the fire, and
no other accident, although the falling walls and
tmbes, during the progress Of the fire, placed the
flemen in great peril