The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-09-08
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN NORFOLK.
LOSS OVER S6O.OUOI.
z rn,,..roraauce Of the Richmond DISPATCH.

Norrot.K. September I'm.
About f9 O'Clock this morning. q
discovered bursting out of the BACK Win"o
az Mechanics, Hall, situated at the corner u
Main street and Boush's lane. successiui :. "a.
sorts were made to burst open the ooor, Out
the fire had obtained such heaaWay as " l rt.
elude the possibility OF an ehtIans'. ne
opening of the doors seemed 70 sss s h ,.l1ss
a new impetus, and IN an nv sn ~.
s,ana af time the whole upper part OF tnat
iarrrs hn;idinr was enyeioped in sheet OF
name and all hopes OF saving u was aoah-
doned. Under this spacious .,a, w. Ma 49,
Isrga stores. occupied respectively by Messrs.
Esant & IA as n merchant tailoring esfab-
iishment Messrs. Cowdrey q Dtbree, drug
gists and J. J. Tompkins, furniture deaiefi
who, finding that all nopes o' sa,ans Tue shair
rnnas To this end, numbers OF tue crowd
1snt willing hands, and in short while the
naye,neuts on both sides OF Main street, botn
bba,o,v and above the fire, was crowded with
drnr hotties, fancy goods furniture of all de-
enriptions and numerous boxes containing
cloths cassimeres, vestings, &c. BY the time
the most. of these goods were removed, the
flames had so encroached upon the stores as
Ia drive the industrious crowd out entirely,
and shortly after the front wall fell in with
n crash which sounded like distant tnuhder,
and shook the city for squares around
About this time the roof of Peppers res
taurant was discovered to be on fire. AT the
same time the flames had reached across
Boush's lane, and communicated to the bnlIa-
ing in rear of the restaurant, both OF wmch
were despite the exertions of the firemen soon
wrapped in sheet of fire. MIR. Peppers
friends then commenced TO remove DIS 1hIhi-
ture and goods but We're driven out before
they had half effected that object Meah"hlie
the fire was gradually spreading. and nao
reached the building occupied by W. a. wal
tiers 4 Co as an upholstering and paper-hang-
ing establishment. This building caught in
the roof, and hopes We're enter tanned Una. .he
cd
store below consequently little or no EFFORT
was made to remove the goods, until 1T was
too late to get them all out. The tenement ad
Joining Walters, occupied by >. Uiiman u 20.
shoe dealers. and only separated by a stud
wall speedily caught, and, before this stock
could be removed, The fire had So encroached
that all of their goods could not be gotten out.
BY this time the paYefnents We're plien up
with carpets, mattresses, curtain goods, boots,
shoes and CATERS, which, together with the
articles taken from the three stores under the
HALL were placed under the protection OF the
military, who had promptly turned out for
the protection of the exposed property
The Fire Battalion of this city, assisted by
the independent" of Portsmouth, worked
manfuily and battled like heroes; but all their
efforts were insufficient TO suppress the mad
element until it reached the block OF buildings
known as SOAK Hail." Here there were TWO
fire. proof walls, joining i'll front ana separat-
ing in an acute angle IN the rear Addeu 10
this was the fortunate circ ums lance that YAK
Hall was covered with a fiat root, upon Wnich
the tirpmen were enabled to Work, ana thus
sion the progress of the flames. While these
buildings IN front were burning the rear
buildings connecting were also destroyed, ana
so rauidly and unexpectedly that little or
nothing was saved from them.
II would be next TO Impossible TO make a lar
estimate of the loss occasioned by this unfor-
innate confiagra ton. in time for this letter.
We learn however, that the Hall cost the Me-
chanics' Association about oh0u, and was
insured for about $4,000. Mr.. Pepper,
who owned the rear building, in which he
had four valuable billiard tables, lost about
$4,000, with an insurance of S., 900. Walters
* Co. who saved the greater part of their
goods are amply covered by an insurance of
$1,000 Mr. Tompkius had policy for 81, 900,
which he expects will cover his loss. Cowdrey
Il Debree lose $4,000, which is covered b.
$4,000 ms urance. The panorama of Australia
and China, belonging to Mr.. Boneau, and VAL
ued at st, 900, was in Mechanics Hail. and was
consumed without insurance. The Excelsior
Ethiopian Opera Troupe, who were occupying
the Hall, lost all their wardrobe, musical in
struments, &c, including an exceedingly valu-
able melodeon. They were without insurance,
and estimate their loss at between g., 0JO and
SO UG0. including lost time, &c.
In addition to the above, the Commercial
House, kept by Mr.. Ben Peddle. was consider
ably damaged and the stock, fixtures, and fur
niture either broken or destroyed. J. Ham,
berger & 90, tobacco and cigar dealers, were
also damaged by water, bnt are covered by in
surance.
The ruins are now smoking and shoulder
ing, and present an ugly gap in Main street.
PERCUSSION.