The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1875-04-24

FIRE on MAIN STEEET.-Iesterday morn
ing at 1l:iO O'Clock an alarm was turned in
al Station 81, corner of Fourteenth and
Main streets, fire having broken out in the
three-story brick building No. 140T. on the
south side Of Main street, occupied as the
office and storehouse OF the Canton Color
Company, II. Thomas agent The fire ori-
gina,ed in the second story. A number of
girls were there at work manufacturing
paper covers TO be pasted over the small
wooden boxes in which the company ship
their colors, paints. dyestuffs, dc. A pile of
these paper covers was standing near the
stove, and gust of wind through window
blew some OF them on the stove, and IN a
moment the whole pile was in flames. The
girls were, OF course, very much alarmed,
and speedily lett the room. The flames spread
with rapldity, owing to the inaammable ma
teria with which they came In contact; and
during tue few minutes which elapsed
while the fremen were waiting for
the engines to "get steam" there were ap-
prebenSions that the fire might get beyond
the store in which it originated. A plug
stream, however, which the Tenth.Street
HOSE Company put upon the fire, in four
minutes after the alarm was given, assisted
in great measure in keeping the flames in
check, and few minutes later the Broad
Street engine (Compsny Az put two streams
in the rear Of the building, and pretty effec-
tually eXtinguisbed the fire there. In front,
the other engines were at work, but they
had difficulty in reaching the flames, which
soon attacked the woodwork and lathing
between the tin roof and the ceiling. The
fire was finally put out, however, after the
building, except the Main.street floor, had
been almost entirely consumed.
The building was finished by Mr.. T. Wiley
Davis aud turned over to the owner, Captain
Elijah Baker, on the lst Of January, 1874, at
cost of about $4,000. 1t was damaged by
fire to the extent of $1,000; insured for
$4,000 in the Royal Insurance Company, of
which Major j. II. Claiborne is agent. '
The Canton Color Company had quite a
large stock on hand, which was greatly dam
aged by fire and water-probably about
$4,000 or $4,000. upon which there is an
insurance OF $4,000, divided as follows
Royal and Imperial Insurance Companies,
Major j. Fl. Claiborne agent, S4, ZOO each
North British and Mercantile, ID. N. Walker
4 CO. agents. 81, 900; Liverpool and London
anu Globe, &. +. Worthsm & Co. agents,
s4'oo0. Mr.. Thomas valued bis stock at
about S34, 900.
Ihe store adjoining the burned building
on the west, No. 14o5. occupied by Aessrs.
w. X. Phillips d Co., boot and shoe,dealers,
was damaged by Water TO the amount of
sS,o9O or $1,000. upon which they have an
insurance OF $4,000 in toe Rietmond Bank
ing ana Insurance Company.
The Fire Department is sadly in need of
bose. The hose which they had in use yes.
seFaay appeared to be very old. aad bursted |
several times while the men were at wors. |
eausing considerable delay and iaconveni- |
ence. The couplings, both plug and hose,
AeeEed to be in bad order; sndth fremen
aonot he expected to perform their duty |
pro petiy uDIess they are provided With com.
plete, suitable, and good apparatus. This
Aatter should be looked into at once.