The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1861-05-09
IocAL MATTEHe.

Ertensire Confagration.-The large brick
forw arding, commission and storage establish
ment occupied by Bridgford j Co., fronting
Oh Dock street, corner Of goth, was discovered
to be on fire about fifteen minutes past 4
o'clock yesterday morning, in several places in
the northeast corner. By the time the alarm
became general and the iremen arrived, the
whole interior of the capacious editce was one
mass Ut flame. The firemen poured water in
to the place at an astonishing rate, but to no
purpose. One of the proprietors, Mr.. d. 3.
BridgforG, who slept In the office, made
his escape (minus his usual apparel) by
leaping from second-story window on a
large pile of laths stored on the
sidewalk, but received little injury
He, however, lost all Of his clothing aud va
rious articles of personal property, in his
sleeping apartment, besides a considerable
sum of money, only a small portion Of which,
in silver, was afterwards recovered from the
debris below. We understand that MIR. b.
would have lost his life, also, had he not been
walked by the cries Of Waterman BoZe, who,
with his partner, had just approached that
point to extinguish the street lamps. They
aided him to escape with life. The large
building adjoining, occupied by Mr.. J. II.
Beegleston as ship chandlcry, which was full
Of goods took fire from the intense heat, and
was also consumed, though considerable lot
OF valuable property was rescued.
The two buildings were part of the Enders
estate, and owned by Mr.. Edris Berkeley, Of
Baltimore, and were, We believe, insured for
$4,000 each, one of the policies being issued
by the Virginia Fire and Marine Insurance
Company. The Old Dominion Nail Company
had an insurance of $4,000 on nails stored
with Bridgford Il Co. Wombe & Claiborne
insurance on 200 bbls. fish, stored there.
Bridgford d Co. were insured personally, for
$4,000 in various Offices, including q policy
Of $1,000 III the Merchants office. Mr.. Beeg-
lesion was insured in the Merchants Rich
m0nd Fire Association, and other Offices, euf-
fcient to cover two-thirds of his loss. The
State, rs well as the occupants and owner of
the houses, is d considerable loser by the above
ire--a lot of army stores, such as fish, mess
pork, rice, apples, flour, hay, tar, and percus-
sion caps, having been consumed. The whole
loss, in building, stock, de-, may be roughly
estimated ut scYenty-ive thousand dollars
Mr.. John NJ. Hall, formerly with Adams &
Co.'S Express, lost seven or eight hundred dol
lars, having that amount in goods on Storage
there. The reporter mag e all the inquiries he
could, and used all means to get an accurate
list of assurances, but found ii much easier to
attempt than to accomplish satisfactorily. The
drel--of this there seems to be no doubt. The
sparks and cinders few great distance, and
set fire to the roof Of the Old Quaker Church,
Dibrells Warehouse, Wilson Il. Hills factory,
Cars factory, and other buildings; but the
flames were all seen and put ont IN time.
1t has been suggested to us, in view of the
fact that incendIaries may attempt to play
their despicable FRANKS in future, that the
members of the Home Guard would do good
service by performing patrol duty, thus saw
ing their own and the property Of all citizens
from msditated destruction. They could not
better employ themselves adjuncts of the
wltchnen IN thus providing tor home de-
fence"
The warehouse Of Luther Libby & Son, cor
ner Of 10th and Cary streets, was saved from
burning by the exertions of the Richmond fire
men, who excrted themselves successfully to
prevent the FIRE from extending across the
street.