Norfolk day book. [volume] (Norfolk and Portsmouth Va.) 1868-1880, 1869-08-23

The FIRE SATURDAY AFTERNOON
On Saturday afternoon about % o'clock
terrible fire broke out in the grocery
store of Mr.. VIM. J. Hozier, located on
what is known as the triangle" at the
intersection of, Butte and Charlotts
streets. Many stories went the rounds
as to the origin of the fire, but the cor
rect version is as follows Some per-
son entered the store to purchase can
of oil. Mr.. Hozier's son, who is quite
youth, filled the can from large barrel
of oil. Just before he turned the spigot
off, the purchaser. asked If the oil was
non.explosiys, to which he replied affirm
atively, and, by way of demonstrating
the truth of his assertion, applied
lighted match to the fluid which imme-
diately blazed up, filing the store with
fame and smoke. This drove every
one out of the store, and fortunately
too, for scarcely had they gotten on
when an explosion took place the re-
port of which rent the air for squares
around. 1t was occasioned by the fire
igniting the fluid in the said barrel.
Above the store Mr.. Hozier and bis
faulty resided, and we are sorry to say,
they lost everything, excepting feath-
er bed End baby's crib. Mr.. Hozier
didn't even ha nc TO s-we his &C
count books and the money in the
drawer, which amounted to about
$l25 in greenbacks.
- The fire spread with unprecedented
fury and rapidity, OWN G to the cons
bustible nature eff the store material;
and in little more than hour after the
first alarm, the building and its entire
contents, were but a heap of charred
ruins and ashes. The engines, owing
doubtless to the intense heat of the
weather, and the rather unfortunate
hour of the day, were quite late in
reaching the scenes of confagration.
When they reached it the building was
about half "gone up, but if they had
been ever so promptly upon the spot
their exertions would have vailed not
and the result would have been the
same, so inaammable was the food that
fed the fire king. asa rs @sa
The boys, howevsr, did good service
and fulfilled their mission in saving the
adjacent buildings. The roof of the resi-
dence Of Mr.. VIM. R. Gait, just opposite
the fire, on Butte street, took fire several
times, but fortunately the flames were
extinguished, and the burnt shingles cut
away, which was all the damage the
house sustained. The kitchen attached
to the residence Of Mr.. s. r. Borum, on
the lot adjoining Mr.. Galts, also caught
FIRE on the roof, which was likewise
promptly subdued, with little or no loss.
OVERCOME DY THE HEAT.
Conspicuous among the fremen, in
their noble exertions to conquer the fire
monster, were Capt, John A. Humphrey
of the Union Hook aud Ladder Compa-
ny, and Frank Wood, a member Of the
United. These two were the first on the
roof of Mr.. Calls residence, where the
burning heat Of the Ere, combined with
the scorching rays of the sun-both ic-
tensiied by their noble efforts to save
the building--overcame them with the
heat, and they subsequently had to be
conveyed to their respective residence.
on filters in al insensible condition. DR..
Saml Brown, at this opportune moment
appeared upon the scene, and his nedi-
cal assistance was called to alleviate the
SuuSIeiS- lAt utSt ~ WAC tuOuSut tIldt
they we're sunstruck, but this proved
not to be the case. We are happy to
announce that yesterday they were very
much better and out of danger
NO INSURANCE,
In this instance Mr.. Hozier has met
a severe loss, for neither bis stock nor
building was insured. 1t teaches but an
other lesson to the improvident in such
matters, and we hope will have salu-
tary effect upon others as well as the
unfortunate loser. His loss is estimated
at about $4,000.
ae LIQUID GAS.
This is the oil, we understand, that
did all the damage in question. The
confidence young IA ii led
him :. oaks the experiment that re.
suited 80 disas.. 10y. NJ al, Put not
your trust in "liquid gas" or any other
oil