The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1869-09-21
Another Destructive FtTe---BurntDG
Of an Eron-F'r0nt Building and Com
snnts..-E,oas about Sa0,0 900.

Another Destructive FiRe---BurniDg
Of an Eron-Front Building and Com
tcnts--Loas about $4,000.
Last night at about o'clock persons
going down Main between Thirteenth and
Fourteenth streets discovered heavy vo-
lume of smoke issuing from the cellar OF
the iron-front building occupied by George
G. Gary as china and crockery store. The
alarm was promptly given, and passed from
man to man, and in very short time quite
-, crowd had collected, but for some mex
nlicable reason the bells did not ring for
nearly ten minutes. Meantime the mock
and ladder truck arrived, and the balance
of the Fire Department was not tar pehlno.
The fire ut first did not seem serious, and
onnareptly could have been easily extln-
r5,ished by throwing o few buckets OF water
in the right place. But mismanagement,
or rather lack of management, was the oraer
of the night, and although the hremeh
worked like heroes, for want OF proper dl
rection their efforts were misdirectcd, and
proved of no avail. The flames mounted
from story to story without serious lmpedl-
ment being thrown in their way until pre-
sently the whole building was wrapped IN
flame. and the crashing of the falling floors,
with their weight of crockery, proved, too
that the stock Of Fir. Gary was a total
wreck and loss.
From the first building, which was owned
bv Mr.. John Asher, the flames spread 10
the new and unoccupied one adjoining, be-
longing to Messrs. Kersey & Davis. This
caurht on the roof, and would have suffered
yery heavy damage had not hand-englne a
been brought upon the ground. This little
machine, manned by gang OF stout lei
lows, threw the best stream or the eve
ning. and by it mainly was the spread OF
the fire prevented after it touched the se-
cond building.
The fire was not entirely subdued until
about IL o'clock, but no further damage
was done except that the firms OF L. b.
Spence s. Son ind William Ira Smith, clo-
thiers, and G.. B. Stacy s Son, upholsterers,
each sustained sllght loss in preparing to
rcmovc their stocks in order 70 be ready
for any emergency.
The total loss will probably amount to
$40 900, which will he nearly covered by
Observation-Disclosures i'll home companies.
Mr.. AshGr's building was insured Tor so,ooo
in the Insurance and Savings Company OF
Virginia, and for $4,000 Ill the Virginia
State Insurance Company.
Mr.. Garys stock was insured as follows !:
Atlantic Fire Insurance Company, OF Brook
lvn, $500: Security Company, OF New
York, s5,50O-D. \. Walker & Co., agents
for the two above-namcd companies; Home
Insurance Company, of New Haven, Mes
sieurs Z. NJ. Alfricud & Co., agents. 81
500 Insurance and Savings Company, OF
Richmond, $2,50O; Georgia Home Comp'y,
of Columbus, Ga, John II. Montague,
agcnt,) $4,000; Albcmarle Insurance Com
panv, John r. Montague, agentO S3,0OO;
Putnam Fire Insurance Company, (John IL.
Montague, agcnt,) 81 500. Total, S2l 500.
This will probably cover the loss of stock,
but il is feared that it will fall short about
5000.
The new building OF Messrs. kersev y
Davis was insured for $4,000 III the Mu-
tual Insurance Company of Virglnia-an
amount amply covering the loss.
breaking ont very carly in the evening,
and continuing for several hours, the con-
larration attracted an immense crowd,
composed Of persons of every age, color,
and sex, whose movements sometimes Sc
riousiy impcdcd the operations OF ponce
and fircmen. The cause of the fire had not
been aeccrtained at the hour or going to
press.