The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-09-08
THE FIRE OF MONDAY NIGHT.
LOSSES AND INSURANCE.
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.

The fire of Monday night was the largest,
with the exception of the awful conilaGra-
ton following the Confederate evacuation,
that has occurred in Richmond for score
Of years. Its rapid spread, which may Mt
first glance seem remarkable, was owing TO
several untoward circumstances. Among
these may be named the mistake of some Of
the bcll-ringers in giving the alarm, the
choking of an engine, the sudden indisposi-
ton OF the Chief Engineer, and the
large amount of dry and comhustible
material in the lumber-yard. The fire.
men worked hcroicGlly; the police,
with their chief, were efficient, and the citi
zcns generally did we'll; but for the want
OF one cool head-and that head ought TO
have been on the shoulders Of the Chief
Enginccr-little was done TO subdue the
| flames. and there was much useless sacrifice
Of property. We regret to add that q con-
tlict Of authority between the police and
fire departments, involving the arrest Of
couple Of frcmcn. wasted much valuable
time. Moreover, the conflict was inexcusa-
bic, as the city ordinances and the Code arc
so explicit as to leave no doubt about who
was in the right.
The fire abatcd shortly after our paper
went to press on yesterday morning, and
| no more houses were burned. None of the
stores on the cast side of Fifteenth or on
the south side of Cary street were burned,
but in some instances there were los Gcs by
water or by the premature removal oil
stock. The escape of a. \. Stokes & Co.'s
establishment, owned by e. D. Danforth,
seemed almost miraculous. 1t caught fire
repeatedly, but the flames were as often
cxtinguishcd by citizens. The stock was
damaged to n slight extent by water. 1t
was insured for $4,000 in the Insurance
and Savings Company of Virginia, $4,000
in the Virginia State, 1000 in the South
crn Mutual, and $500 in the Virginia Fire
and Giarinc-all home companies. The stock
Oh hand was valued at about $4,000.
The lumber-yard of W. W. Wells Co.
was insured in the North British and Mcr
camille Company of London aud Edinburg
for 81 900; Petersburg Savings and Insu-
rance Company, $4,000. On Wells & Co.'s
box factory, $500 in the United States
Fire and Marine Insurance Company. Esti-
mated loss, $50, 900.
wF. c. Braucr's building, on Cary street,
entirely destroyed, was insured for s., 600
in the Security Insurance Company OF New
! York, s., ,0G0 in the Atlantic OF New York,
and 81, 900 in the Georgia Home. Loss
| fully covered.
The building OH tic corner of Fifteenth
and Cary, occupied by Board & lIirsh, and
owned by Mrs. Jane NJ. Jones, was fully
insured for 81 500 in the Virginia State
Insurance Company.
J. W. Carlwcll 4 Co. were insured il the
Petersburg Savings and Insurance Com
nany for $500; Firemcn's and Mcr-
chants Of Petersburg, 81, 900; Washington
of Baltimore, 81 1000 Franklin of Balti-
more, s. 900; United States Fire and Ma
rinc of Baltimore, 81 800; North British
and Mercantile of London, 81 ,0G0. Tota',
$4,000. Loss about $50, 0,00O-pcrhaps
more.
/ Mcssrs. David Parr & Sons lost about
800, which was covered by II policy for
| $500 III tho Georgia Home.
! Massey & IIarvey's loss is not asccr
taincd, but is believed to be covered by an
insurance of $1,000 in the Virginia Fire
and Marine Company.
Edward Boyle Qatc Boyle & Gamblc}
was loser to the amount Of about $2l 900.
! Insurance on saw-factOry, machinery,
StOCh, anu oSNhI'lI't ny w q.
Cardwcll & Co.: Virginia Insurance Com
pany, of Stauntcn, 81 900; Georgia Home,
ST., 5,0O0 Albcmarlc, $4,000 Valley In
surancc Company, SO, 900; Virginia State,
SI5, ,0G0; Monumental, Of Baltimore,
81 900 Atlantic, of Baltimore, 81, 900.
johnson, Estes 4 Harwood were insured
for nearly the full amount of loss in the
Home, OF New Haven (33,000), and Wash
ington, of Baltimore, ($3,000.)
Downward & Anderson, agents of the Vir-
ginia Bone Mill, had their stock saved in
damaged condition. Loss about 1000 :;
insured for 1000 in the Jefferson In
surancc Company. The building occupied
by this firm was damaged to the extent Of
81 900; insured for 81 900 in the Insurance
and Savings Company of Virginia.
G. Gersdorf's stock, &C., was insured for
$400 in the Albemarle. We have heard no
estimate of his loss, but it was heavy.
Board < llirsh lost their entire stock, the
value of which is not Gsccrtaincd, but it
was insured for $1,000 in the Security, of
New York.
1t will be seen that the total loss is by no
means as heavy az was ut first reported, but
the indications are that it will reach nearly
$lj0,000. About three-fourths Of this is
covered by insurance, with no more than
fair share in home companies. Of the in
surance agencies that Of 7. NJ. Alfricnd &
Son is the heaviest loser. The companies
represented byJ. II. Montague also suffered
to considerable extent, while the agencies
of D. n. Walker and Bacon & Baskeryill
were losers in small amounts.
There is one point of view from which
this great destruction of property by fire
may appear Of benefit to the city. Should
it arouse our City Council to the necessity
Of increasing the number of fire engines
and firemcn, and to the propriety of putting
up u fre-alarm telegraph, it will be well.
The confusion caused by the mistake of Il
sleepy bell-ringer is It strong argument in
favor of Colonel Egbcrt's proposition laid
before the Council at the last meeting. Dis
pense with the Capitol Square bell-ringers,
and the 81 900 per annum now paid for
their services would in few years dcfray
the expense of putting up the telegraph.
As to the necessity Of getting one or two
more fire engines, mere words could not
make it more apparent after the lesson Of
Monday night. Last of all, we want Cap
tain Charters back at the head of the Fire
Department. The health Of Captain Mullen
is too delicate to admit of hard work, us
WAS established by his fainting several
times from over-cxertiOn on Monday night.
There is no doubt, however, Of the fact that
he did what he could. The facilities at his
disposal for putting out fire were not what
a city like Richmond could well afford. We
learn wisdom by experience.
The FIRE OF MONDAY NIGHT-ITs LES
sON.--We are told by an eyewitness that
the loss by the late disastrous fire would not
have reached one-fourth its present extent