Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1856-08-02

BuRSED DEArH-At three o'clock yesterday afternoon
fire broke out in the large brick building No Ss4 North
street. known "Jeferson Block"-which was owned by
Cornelius Dohefty, and occupied in the first story as
wine and liquor store and ale agency by c. & NJ Doher
~ aud the upper portion rented sundry poor
families The ire commenced in the back part of the store
aud in less than five minutes gained such headsay AS 10
render unsafe for any person remain in IT, The
tire block was soon in blaze and the inmates had barely
wooden enements on Everett place in the rear of the
block owned by the Messrs Doherty thence with two
houses aso in Everett PLACED and the stable Of Mr. John
SeAver, on Clarke street.
All these buildings soon reduced to ashes The
wooden building between Savers stable and the large
brick building the of North aud Clark streets
now took ire and the brick building itself al
ter in blaze The brick building occupied by Pat
rick Collins boarding house. and owned as was
also the wooden building, by John w. James This COM
pletes list OF wooden houses stable three sto
~ brick house and Jefferson Block which, together with
their contents, were totally destroyed. The fire next
broke out on the roof Of wooden building Of North
street and Barbour lane owned by the Barbour heirs
occupied by John Sullivan. While the fremen were
braveiy combating the flames this point chimney in
the part Of the hoGse fell into the lane Charles War.
rem OF hook and ladder company No 3, struck on
the head by of the falling bricks and was so Sc
yerey wounded that he died within minutes in the
apothecary store Of DIR. Ludwig Newell Harding Jr son
OF Mr. ~ Harding. the well known slyersmiih OF Court
square, OF engine No IL, severely injured and Philip
Hackett and j. W. Regain, also members OF company No
H. we're slightly hurt Two three other hremen were
more or less injured but could learn their names
Mrs Mary Collins, wife of Daniel Collins jumped from
window in Jefferson Block and sustained mortal injury
She died on the sidewalk instantly She sixty
years old
Ms Margaret Sweeny jumped from window in the
house OF Patrick Collins. She sustained broken arm
and leg and she was carried to the hospital treatment
IL rumored during the progress OF the flames that
several persons had been burned in the houses Eve
rei place; hut II thought these statements were
grounded in the fears Of the bewdered people who
rendered houseess search was made and up TO seven
ast eyp five hOfie al tha
ruins The first body discovered that OF man; then
woman with what appeared TO be the charred bones OF
an infant IN her arms mex, two bodies apparently
and boy; and finally the body of woman.
The nearest friends Of the dead could not identify the
bodies, which we're so changed from be hide
Gus As, one after another they removed from the
ruins those persons who had friends missing aocked
round the litter and gave vent to their distress in
agonizng to touch all hearts. No could withstand
the spectacle without emotion Coroner Pratt ordered
the bodies TO be removed 10 the basement the first po-
lice station, and was in that the distracted people
asked permission inspect them The hesrtessness of
the Coroner seemed only equaed by the magniy of the
fumes
Thus far have been able TO ascertain the
of the persons burned.
Cornelius Dohery, in whose store the fire commenced
had insurance OF $1,000 on his building in the New
England Mutual Marine Office $1,000 on his stock and
$1,000 the four wooden houses ia Everett pacc-the
latter policies at the State Mutual Office Dr. Doherty cs
| Inmates his loss at $4,000
John Seavor had insurance Of 81 500 on the two
houses in the OF his stable These houses wore oo
cupied by Patrick Riley and Leonard Wood, and those
\ persons lost all their property.
John w. James is fully insured.
There about sixty families rendered homeless by
| this fire.
The loss Of life WAS owing TO belief which became gcn
erA among the occupants OF houses In Everett place thai
all the leading TO IL off by the flames
the surrounding buildings, and this supposition wa,
strengthened by the fact that the arch under Jefferson
Block early in the progress Of the conAagraion becun,
so heated that IL hazardous pass through it, Tn,
bewildered people inside moaned aud shouted IN the wild
est os relief; and the frenen. with characteristic
herosm weut into The ho1ses aud actually rescued per
sons who had resigned Themselves 10 death.
The fire, IL stated the result Of gross careless
ness While woman pouring camphine from jus
into small vessel person came along having mattel
or lighted cigar in his hand, aud the liquid accident
ally fired The flames spread at once add the rest i
known.- bottom Courier, July 80.