The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1874-04-22
THE HAxALL MILLS DESTROYER
BY FIRE. =
The Origin of the Fire not Known.
DESCRIPTION OF THE BUILDINGS
BURNED.
The Loss Probably $500, ,OOo-Ths
--sgs
Insurance.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
So, &c., &c.

So. &c.. &c.
The great Touring mills Of Haxall, Crer.
shaw d Co. were totally destroyed by fire
last hight, inficting o calamity upon the city
| which has mot been equaled since the de-
| structive confsgration Of the evacuation.
Only few weeks ago our people were con-
| graduated by the Mayor and Chief Engi.
neer Of the Fire Department upon our ex-
| emption from large losses by fire, the amount
for the twelve months preceding the 10Th Of
February having scarcely exceeded $40 900.
But right here in the beginning Of the new
fiscal year we are met by misfortune which
seriously affects one Of our chief industries,
entails vast losses upon our insurance CON-
panies and the proprietors Of the mills, and
destroys one Of the oldest, most useful, and
best known Of our manufacturing establish
| ments. ...s.. ....-- ..,...--. ....
| AT about $50 o'clock an alarm OF fire was
sounded from box IA, at the corner Of Tenth
and Byrd streets. Flames had been discov.
! cred issuing from one OF the topmost stories
| of the centre building Of the mills, and the
alarm was given by a gentleman of the
neighborhood. A second alarm was soon
afterwards given from the same box; those
persons who first arrived upon the spot
comprehended at once that the fire was des.
tined to be no ordinary one.
SUPPOSED ORIGIN OF THE YIRB.
There are two or three conflicting opinions
as to the origin Of the fire. One is to the
effect that it originated in the southeastern
end Of the uppermost story Of the middle
building. This building contained the dri-
wing machinery for the mills on the right
and left OF it, besides the elevating apparatus
for wheat. 1t is thought that fire was pro-
duced by friction and was communicated
from the journal (Which is the receptacle
| for the shafting, andis generally m de Of hard
| woody to other iDfammable material.
Another theory is, that the fan, which was
also in the top part Of the building used for
cleaning wheat, and run consequently with
great velocity, occasioned fire by friction OF
| its axles in their beds, and that it caught the
fan machine and was thus spread into great
4 me. Still another idea Is, that some OF
the employe, Of the mill before leaving the
building carelessly left alight where it caught
surrounding woodwork.
| We are informed, however, thst the flour
mills had not been in operation for several
| days; the corn mill had been doing some
grinding, and the fan in the upper portion
| Vi Lue CSullc uuliuau6 Was az NV = S'SeAAH5
wheat yesterday.
MIR. Crensbaw has no explanation Of the
origin of the fire, but will make it a matter
for thorough investigation.
WHERE THE FIRE STARTED.
| Those who first entered the building in
| which the fire started were unable to ascend
the stairs any great distance, the dust and
smoke forming complet barrier to their
progress, and though at that time the flames
| had made no great headway, they were en-
tirely inaccessible. On one side was the
river, on the right and left the mills proper,
and in front the mill.race separating the
establishment from the storehouse and of1ce.
The centre building was eight stories high,
and the streams of water, which were
promptly put on, failed to reach the neces'
sary height; and if they had, would hardly
have touched the flames, as they were burst
| ing forth from the windows on the river
side. ALI the efforts Of the hremen to pre-.
vent the spreading of the fire were fruitless.
It swept to the right and left, destroying all
Of the buildings used for milling purposes
SHB BUILDINGS WHICH WE'RE BURNED
were sll under one roof, or rather commu.
nicated with each other. The western emo
of the mill, which fronts upon Twelfth
street, was built about the year 1880. In
this mill twenty pair Of burrs we're operated.
The eastern portion OF the mill WAS BULL
by Mr.. Lewis D. Crenshaw in 1S5S-'69. Ia
this mil'twelve pair of burrs were worked,
Including three pair of burrs which be-
l}onped to the corn mill, and which was also
loperated in the same building.
The middle building was erected in 1858,
land was used for the purpose OF storing
wheat as well as elevating it. 1t also COR
tained the valuable machinery which drove
the two mills on each side of 1t. Adjoining
the western end OF the mill, or in close prox'
Unity to the old mill, was building which
was used as 4 store-house for flour barrels.
This store-heuse took fire but was put out
before serious damage was done. The
buildings proper extended distance OF
about three hundred feet by sixty or seventy
Eve feet In depth. The main building was
eight stories high, and its southern exposure
was upon the river. ooo
The " Ha1all Mills were erected in 1909
and have been in continuous operation near
Ily ever since; they were destroyed by hre IL
!, 1929. and considerable loss to the proprle'
tors was the consequence. Unlike the Gal'
Ilego Mills, they escaped the great tire OF tne
evacuation. 1
THE Haxall brand had an extensive repu
tation, especially in South American anC
) English markets, and the capacity OF tnt
mills was equalled but by few in the world
THE SCENE AROUND rHB FIRE.
} The scene about the fire was full OF gran
deur and beauty, though its dreadful conse
ouences of course painfully impressed tht
minds of all beholders. The flames shet
a light nearly as bright as the
sun over the centre OF TINS city:
nnon the stream and islands OF the
river. and upon the town Of. Manchester
Ten or fifteen thousand people were pro
bably witnessing the progress OF the nre a.
one time, Many Of these were ladies, anC
with their escorts came from distant portions
OF this city. All the commanding emlnences
ON this side of the river were crowded, ano
the Manchester people from the Free Drldge
and Mayo's bridge saw with alarm and dreao
the march of the deyouring element as II
steadily advanced right and left in Its course
The tremen were continually in danger o.
falling valls. and underwent innumerabf
disapDointments and vexati0ns because o.
hursting hose and inability to get 10
position where their exertlons Woulu
nroye OF value. Some beautiful streams
were thrown, but the water seemed
rather to intensity than to decrease tne
strength Of the flames. The immense reo'
hot walls falling into the river causeo
seetiling and foaning OF the waters Oh tns
James. such as sas never before Wltnesseu
while the walls which fell to the front snoos
the earth like some mighty CONFUSION @
nature. -. a.,
trees and bushes Ia the river formed z scent snt
a