The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1866-07-18
LOCAL MATTERS.

Disastrous FIRE on BROAD STREET on
YESTERDAY YMoRSING.-There is n singular
fascination in the sound of the firc-bells
ringing out in the dead of night, and the
hoarse cry of "FIRE," as the heavy boots
of the police clattcr along the silent street,
will awaken a thrill of feeling in every
breast. Murders, suicides, hangings, and
all the monStrosities of museums and ira
Yelling shows have their attractions and
excite modicum of horror, but none of
them are equal in power to the strange in
tluence that lies in the repeated cry OF
FIRE!
At little after o'clock on yesterday
morning a fire broke out in the clothing
and shoe store kept by Mr.. Weinbergcr, on
Broad street, between Second and Third.
The flames spread rapidly, and the fire.
bells rung out Justify and well. Then was
seen the effects of the singular excitement
caused by fire. Men, women and chilrcn
in every style of demi-Semi-toilette were
dashing along the street. There were some
without shoes, some without hats, some
without coats, and some appeared to have
forgotten that they were not in their own
quiet chambers. The " fast young man"
forgot to light his cigar, and had left his cane
and beaver at home; the neat and graceful
"lounger" had forgotten his immaculate
"Vandyke" or Shakespeare" collar and
the ladies, in their desire to see the sight,
forgot that their fair hair was free from all
restraint, and that their dress bore evident
signs of haste and want Of care. Then
came forth the negroes from every alley
and cellar, crowding the corners andturn-
ing their polished faces towards the fiery
glow; then appeared all the dogs that had
been hidden and concealed since the ad-
vent of the dog-catcher and his net; and
all the while, in front of the gazing crowd,
the flames hissed and cracked, sending up
showers of sparks which whrled and ed
died in the air moment, and then were
lost to sight.
The building in which the fire CON-
menced was entirely of wood, and offered
no impcdiment to the progress of the
flames. Above it were several frame
houses, and these also caught fire, so that
by half past | o'clock the whole block OF
buildings between Newman's grocery and
Isaac Cohen's store was in flames. None
of the occupants of the houses were per-
sonally hurt, but they lost, With but few
exceptions, every particle of their pro-
perty. A man ran this way with pillow
or bolster, a woman ran that way with a
child or bundle of clothing, and a negro
stumbled along the street with pile OF
miscellaneous plundcr. Some OF the stock,
! however, of the several stores was thrown
ont into the street, and in this way little
was saved. The firemen, after throwing
heavy streams from the steam and hand
engines for some time upon the burning
houses, saw that they must be lost, and dl-
rcctcd all their efforts to saving the brick
! houses above and below, occupied reSpec-
| lively by Isaac Cohen and Mr.. Newman
I In this they were successful, and by ~
| o'clock tho force of the flames had been
| so far subducd that there was no longer
any danger of its spreading further.
EXTENT OF THE LOSS.
| The fire commenced in Weinberger':
clothing and shoe store, which was entirel!
DESTROYED; and the dry goods stores o
Lovingstein & Isaacs, E. W. Franck, ant
Rouss g. Co., the saddlery store Of Mr.
Emmenhauser, and the house occupied by
Lomax Smith were burned to the ground
A house occupied by Mr.. Slater was com
pletely gutted, and only q portion OF th'
frame Is left standing. Mr.. Loebmai
owned the house occupied by Rouss 90
Mr.. A. Wrist owned the house occupied
by Emmenhauser, and Lomax Smith ownet
the houses occupied by Weinberger ant
Lovingstein & Isaacs, besides his Owl
dwelling house. Lomsx Smith is one Q
the heaviest sufferers by the fire, Is h
loses two tenements and two busines
houses, and he also sustains the loss Of
bcdstead upon which Lafayette had slept
and which was carefully preserved as
memento Of the Revolution. The stoc
In Newman's grocery store was slight
damaged by water, but the house was br
little injured.
THE ENGINES,
u The members Of the Fire Brigade acte