The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1856-05-03

Gus buildings having bssn more or less damased
~ nakea Of ars fhliing upon thsn. The Buflesl
mouse, q Eighth and Chssnut streets, was on Ara
rnose most Injured were No. 1856 occupied by @.
n. Garden Co, hat manufacturers: No. l0i. bv
Evans a. Quincy, queensware dealers; No 195
Goldsmith e. Brothers clothing house and No. Ias.
Steen 4 Garretts store
On north side Of this thoroughfsre there were :
large number Of stores ON FIRE, bat the well direct.
ed efforts OF the fremen prevented any ssrious
damage. IL was thought that Lintville ZelIer &.
Gillespies grocery house on the northwest corner
of Sixth street would be consumed. but the fire
men succeeded In saving Il, and thus effectually
to check the progress of the FIRE westward
VIM. Bowen, member of the United States
Engine Company, was slightly injured at the same
time Also, member of the Philadelphia Hose
Company.
During the height of the FIRE an ARRAY occurred
in Sixth street. above Market, between the adl,er.
ents of the Franklin and Moyamensiug hose com.
panies, during which James Barley, member Of
the former, was stabbed in the right breast He
was conveyed to the Pennsylvania Hospital and
1t is feared cannot recover.
Firemen Killed and Injnred.
Mr. John r. Croft, member of the Perseverance
Hose Company, residing at No. SO Race street,
while holding q side stream In the stable yard ad-
joining Jessup & Moores warehouse, was crushed
by falling walls and instantly killed. His body
was recovered, and the Coroner will hold an in
quest this afternoon Mr.. Croft was a returned
He was 35 years of age, and unmarried He
worked in 3 cigar store in Race street.
Two other firemen, supposed to be killed at the
same time and place, are missing.
Edward Nuttall, member of the Franklin Fin.
gine Company, received severe fracture of the
skull by the falling walls, In an alley leading East
from Sixth street, above Market. He was imme.
diately conveyed to his residence, Front and Race
streets. Mr. Nuttall is compositor in the Ledger
office
TaI,,. IA. r. A.
was badly burned in the right eye.
At 10 o'clock the fire was still burning, but there
was no danger of its spreading Thousands of
persons are about the ruins.
The scene.
The Philadelphia Bulletin of Thursday after
noon says:
The wind was blowing freshly from the north.
east ut the time ths fire broke out and the flames
were carried through with fearful rapidity to the
other extremity OF the store, on Commerce street.
The large structure wa: speedily enveloped IN
flames, which were carried by the force of the
wind against the buildings adjoining, and they were
soon in o light blaZ5.
To addto the disastrous effects of the FIRE the
burning rags aud paper were vOIaited forth from
the windows aud carried on tho wind in south.
westerly direction, where they fel in tery show.
er The trsmen were soon in service, but it was
speedily manifest that all the buildings west of the
paper store to Sixth street and south to Market
street. must be involved in destruction. The
State House bell was immediately struck for a
general ALARM and its constant strokes brought to
the ground the entire department of the city.
The scene was now most frighful-the flames
shot up high into the air, Illuminating the entire
city, and threatening TO destroy entire blocks to
the westward Commerce and North streets W ere
in flames, and fires were raging on both sides Of
Market and sixth street. The wind, which was in
creasing in strength, was carrying fiery shower
to great distance all around the scene of devas.
tation persons were hurrying away their families
and their goods to places Of safety.
The fire continued to spread until after daylight
and when the sun arose sickening scene of de-
struction was exhibited. Every building on the
iron structure at No. 2l9, to Sixth street, was in
ruins, and most of the houses on the east side of
Sixth street to North street. were down.