The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1878-12-16
7 LOCAL MATTERS.
A Destructive Fire.

. A Destructive Fire.
+ Between and O'Clock yesterday morn
lug fire broke out in the extensive tobacco
factory of Messrs. T. G. Williams & Co.,
Nos. 4O1 and 4O3 south Seventh street (cor-
ner Seventh and Arch). The tire spread
with great rapidity, and soon the entire
building was one sheet of fame.
An alarm was sounded from Station %.
on Seventh street near tie canal, and to this
Steamers No. / and and Hose Company
No. 6 promptly responded, but there was
little hope of saving the building then, for
the flames had made too much headway.
Third Assistant Engineer Fuqua put the
apparatus to work, and finding that he need
ed more aid, caused a second alarm to be
sounded from the same station, which
brought out Steamers Nos. and 4. They
were assigned positions on the east and
north side of the factory-one at plug,
and the other took supply of water from
the adjacent mill-race.
There were now four streams OF water on
the fire, but apparently not the slightest i'm
preston was made upon ii. Itseemed to
spread from the centre OF the building,
where it originated, on the second floor, in
all directions, and every effort to subdue it
seemed futile.
BY this time the Chief and his two assist
ants had arrived, and it was determined to
turn in another alarm and bring out the re-
naming apparatus Steamer No. Church
HilD. Accordingly, about 8 o'clock, the
alarm was given, and in ten minutes all OF
the Fire Department was upon the ground
and diligently at work; and it was most
perilous and arduous duty that the men had
to perform.
The scarcity OF water became very appa-
rent. The streams seemed to feed the
flames rather than subdue them, but the ef-
forts of the men were not relaxed in the
slightest. A force of hands was put to
work soon after the fire was discovered to
remove the books and other yaluables in the
office, as we'll as all the tobacco that could
be moved from the lower floor. Everybody
seemed willing to lend helping hand, and
some valuable tobacco and factory appli-
ances were saved.
About half-past 8 O'Clock portion OF the
| western wall, facing Arch street, upon
which the Tenth-Street Hose Company and
two OF the engines had streams playing into
the windows on the second floor, fell out,
catching hoSeman A. W. Dickerson, OF the
Tenth-Street Hose Company. For few
moments it was impossible to ascertain
whether the men at the stream were dead
or alive, so great was the smoke and steam
from the falling hot bricks and water. Fl
nallv, however, the man was removed to 6
house across the street and medical aid and
carriage sent for. ..
DR.. C. w. P. Brock was summoned and
dressed Mr.. DickersoRs injuries. His leg
was broken and his foot crushed.
Joseph Pizzini, of Steamer No. 3, was
also injured about the arms and body.
W. J. Nagle, Of Hose Company No.
(Tenth street,, was also injured.
The origin OF the fire was accidental. The
watcnman, James Anderson, was at the
alarm-register about 2 O'Clock, and the tire
originated either from a gas-iet under some
hanging toudCco vi .ioh eue ""tSn'h"oi
lamp. The watchman finding that the fire
was more than he could manage, went out
and summoned to his assistance Denni:
Whelan, a neighbor, but when he cot to tht
building it became necessary to give th'
first alarm.
Mr.. James T. Parkinson, nephew OF Alr
! T. c.. Williams, arrived on the ground ;
few minutes after the first alarm was sound
ed, and breaking irto the office with an axe
saved most OF the papers and books OF th'
concern.
The fire begun in the iob-room, wher
the tobacco is first brought before beins
manufactured. 1t is impossible at this wrl
ting (5 A. NJ to ascertain the loss, but
will amount to manv thousands OF dollars
upon which there is believed to be full in
surance, divided between the home ant
other companies represented in Richmond