The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1853-07-16
LOCAL MATTERS.

LOCAL MATTERS,
DEsTRucr1vE FrAE.-Yeaterday morning q few
minutes altar l12 o'clock, irs vs. dIseossrsd d
the large tenement occupied BY Mr. James Riley q
tobacco nsnsfacsory, being ono Of the block oi
brick warehouses running through from Cary 70
Dock streets, between 2lst and 22nd Streets and I'd
joining the tenement the corner of Cary and 2lss
streets. When discovered, the fire had progressed
20 far that before 1t could be subdued that and two
9th ar buildings, occupied ~ tobacco manufactures,
were destroyed together with their contents. The
tenement on thewcst tide Of Rileys manufsctory
(the corner bslding) was occupied BY Messrs w
Robinson 4 Co that, on the east was occupied BY
measrs Harwosd Il Blackburn. The buildings were
our stories high. The flames spread 30 rapidly
from the inHammable nature of the contents, that
the efforts of the fremen, who were promptly on
tne spot were utterly unavsiing to these three
factories, and with their stocks and valuable ma
chinery, they were soon destroyed. Scarcely any
tning was saved excepting the books and papers,
and lew boxes of manufactured tobacco, which
happened to be on the first story of Mr. Riley .
factory.
The buildings destroyed were part of row of
six large buildings, all occupied a. tobacco facto.
ries, the whole having one continuous roof 1t
seems almost miraculous how the remaioing three
tsnements could have escaped. But they stand oil
sate-and the fact shows what the FIRE companies
of Richmond can accomplish in the hour of peril.
The buildings on the opposite corner were several
times on fire, but were saved by great exertions.
The buildings that were destroyed belonged to
the estate of the late John Enders, and were in
sured as follows, In the Mutual Assurance Society
of Virginia:
On the corner building. -.................s4,6 $40
On the middle do ......4O OO
On the south do ................. 400
sl3, O40
Messrs HARDWOOD & Blackburn's loss was abou,
$1,000 as near as could be ascertained at the time
Insured &c. 600 in the Va Marine and Fire Insurance
Company. Mr. Riley's loss Is estimated at Gil, 900
Insurance $4,000 in same Company. The loss oil
Messrs w r Robinson e. Co is from 1915, 600 to
$40 900. Insured in Virginia Marine and Fire Insu
rance Company S5, 600 and in Richmond Fire As
ISOLATION S., 600.
The factory to the east of HARDWOOD Black
burns, occupied by Messrs Gentry & Hatcher, was
saved thaough the active exertions of the fremen,
particularly Of companies No and 2. The build
ing and contents were flooded with water, and the
tobacco was greatly damaged by the water and the
smoke. The loss of Messrs e. 81 will not exceed
$780, and it is covered by insurance. The roof was
the only part of the building damaged, it being cut
through in various parts, in order to allow the in.
PRODUCTION of water. Directly opposite the three
factories that entirely destroyed ON Cary street.
IL Dibrells warehouse, which at one time was in
great danger from the surging mass of flame that
threatened its destruction. The roof caught in
one or two places but the fire was speedily quench
ed. Opposite w R Robinson d. Cos factory on 2ls
street, stood Alexander Kerr's large tobacco fac
tory. The roof Of this building also caught, and
naught but the almost superhumau labors of com
pany No saved it from the devastating element
The tobacco in the factory was damaged slightly
with water In the basement story of Messrs Gen.
try & Hatcher's building was stored large guam
tity of sugar and molasses the property of 7
Workman & Co, but no damage accrued to it. II
is supposed that the fire was caused by stove In
the third story of Mr. Rlley's warehouse, which had
been in use for some days in drying tobacco, and
on Thursday night was filed up with fuel for the
purpose of continuing the drying operation
The stove and the pipe becoming unduly heat
ed, it is thought communicated with some com
bustible part of the building adjacent to them
and caused the fire. We heard that the manner in
which the buildings were constructed conduced
to the rapid extension of the flames. The cross
beams of each building were inserted in the same
holes in the partition walls so that they overlapped
each other aud led to speedy communication of
4 .me. There was the same connection of the raft
els, and no parapet walls.
The interruption of business especially at this
son. when manufacturing is most brisk-the destruc-
ton of machinery which cannot be replaced in many
weeks, perhaps months-the loss of time of the
large number of hands employed in these factories
will cause large additional loss to the Even
if buildings could be procured it would take at least
two months to resume operations The stock of to-.
bacco manufactured and unmanufactured, in each of
the factories was, at the time, unusually large.