Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1879-09-02
Destructive Fire.

CASTLE THUNDER BURNED TO THE
GRoUND--Loss ABOUT $l25,000.
1t has been many months since there
was u fire in Richmond resulting in so
heavy loss as the one which occurred
in the lower part Of the city this morn
ing.
At1:l2 4. NJ. an alarm was turned in
from the Old Market-house, station No
., and promptly responded to by that
portion of the fire brigade which an
swers call from that section. The fire
Is supposed to have originated amongst Il
pile of shavings near the steam engine in
II. II. Whitlock's tobacco box factory, u
brick building situated on the northeast
corner of Cary and Eighteenth streets.
This building was filled with boxes and
material and machinery, aud in its rear
was yard full Of lumber, and such was
THE coMBUsTmLE NATTlN,E or IT'S con-
that when the first piece Of apparatus
reached the ground, the fire had gained
great Roadway and The flames were
bursting through every available outlet,
Illuminating the Whole Of the clover por-
ton Of the city. II was soon seen that
IL was useless TO try and check the fire
Mt that point and the attention Of the
fireman was devoted TO an effort to pre-
vent the spreading Of Che flames to the
neighboring buildings.
At 30 4. VI. Capt. Fuqua, assistant
engineer, who had been promptly on the
ground, caused
A SECOND AlARI
to he turned in, which brought to tie
spot all Of the apparatuSin the city. Al
this time the tobacco inctory Of Mc'srS.
Turpm & Bro, Castle Thundcr, the old
Confederate prison situated Immediately
east of Whitlock's aud adjoining on Cary
street, was in great danger from the
shifting of the wiml, and In spite of all
the efforts of the men aud officers OF the
Fire Brigade, the historic building, fill
cd with tobacco and all the costly mt
chincry used In lbs manufacture, was
cnvclopcd In the flames and doomed to
destruction. Nothing now stands In It's
place but portion Of tie bare walls.
On Eighteenth street, Immediately
north Of Whitlocks box factory, from
which It is separated by narrow alley,
and running 10 the rear of Castle Thun-
der, is situated large brick building
covered witha slate roof. This building
connected In the rear with Turpn q
Bros. by wooden bridge thrown over
the alley, was occupied as n tobacco fac
tory by Jackson Turpin, AMI was on fire
several times, but beyond the burning
ont Of the window frames no material
damage was done TO It. On the
SOUTH SIDE or GARY STREET,
commcnclngnt the corner of Eighteenth,
IRE some framed buildings occupied by
Messrs. s. II. lInwcs q Co. aud Mrs,
Jane King, respectively Ms coal Offices
and lcc-houscs; the fronts Of these
houses were badly charrcd, but owing
to the hcrculcan efforts Of the fireman
and the timely shifting Of the wind they
were saved with little loss.
TIM CoLoRED THEOLOGICAL INSTITUTE,
formerly the old Union Hotel, situated
on the southwest corner of Main and
Nineteenth streets, and running bnck to
the rear of Castle Thunder, was ut one
time In great danger, but fortunately,
WINS not reached by the flames. Had
this large structure takcn fire the flames
would IN all probability have been ear
iied by the wind across Nineteenth
street 10 Mr.. Chas. u. Whitlock'a in-
mcnsc lumber yard, aud the destruction
of property been FIR greater than II real
" Is.
A FALSE ALARM.
During the progress of the fire In
whltlock's mctory M alarm was given
that some one was In the burning build
ing crying for help. This turned out to
be false alarm, and, IN fact, If any one
had been In there, he had no business
there.
TELEPHONE WIRES AND BURSTING nosr'
During the progress of the fire the
men Of the brigade were much impeded
IN their work by the fallen telephone
wires, bat more SO by tho frequent IN
corruption of their steamers FROM the