The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-12
LOCAL MATTERS.

FIRE on MAIN STREET LAST NIGHT
About twenty minutes to 10 O'Clock last
night fire was discovered on the third floor
OF the extensive boot and shoe establish
ment OF Messfs. Stephen Putney Il Co.,
located at the southwest corner OF ThIr-
teenth and Main streets. Several gen.
tlemen In ibe neighborhood discovered
the fire, but were for time unable
10 get I'm an alarm. Finally, about
9:45 O'Clock. alarms were sent In at The
same moment from Stations 13, 81, and 81,
and The confusion that eDsued caused de-
lay which was as Disgusting to the waiting
firemen and horses as IL was annoying to
The owners Of the property and the specta-
tors. Some OF the men, notably the Tenth
Street Hose Company, unable 10 divine
where 10 go, stood patiently waiting
with their machine at the door until
they could get clear and distinct
signal from the gongs. At last, after the
lapse OF at least eight or ten minutes, IL
came and following IL the men and ma
chine going to work with proper speed.
The fire had then made rapid and consider
able headway and was bursting out OF the
third story windows in The rear OF the build
ing on the east side. Three good streams
were put into the windows and soon two
more were sent TO the top OF the adjacent
new brick buildings on-Thirfeeotb street,
and great quantity Of water was poured
into the lire. For time IL seemed 10 do little
or no good. but at last the fines were got
ten under control, and the streams taken
out. The fire would undoubtedly have
been sutdued in len minutes after its
discovery had there been prompt
alarm and no confusion; but this seems TO
have been unavoidable, and after all IL was
possibly us well done rs one could reasona-
biy expect. An extension ladder, the in
surance men said, sbonld have been raised
on the TbIrteenth-strett side in order that
the hose might be put into better advan-
tage, but mammoulh telephone or tele-
graph pole, upon which many wires were
strung, occupied the ladder room at the
end Of the building.
The lessons taught by recent fires sugges;
what the Council has already seen, and what
they will no doubt do at an early day-VlZ
thoroughly equip the Fire Department and
change all the present 6re-alarm boxes to
non. Interfering boxes. This done, the men
will have no excuses To offer. and Will
doubtless do good work when called upon.
The building partly destroyed last night
is owned by Mr. stephen Putney, and is
one OF the best in the city.
| The losses and insurance appear TO be as
follows:
Loss on building. tliu0I
Loss sustained by Guard of commonwealth. 50l
Loss on stock Of Stephen Puiney Co..''.' 3'Oo'
TotsI..............................s4,5O( a, 500
! Mr.. Putney's insurance is reported G'
follows:
On building:
4 l., fr
| Howard SwinefOTd's sagepcy............... JOS
Merchants and Mech inic c..........''..... oo'
$4,000
| On stock: oo,
II. Y. Walker & Co. Co........"............'''s 0'oO'
Much OF Putncy & Co.'s stock was re
moved in the early stage OF the fire, and wa
not injured.
The fire appeared to bave originated II
the armory OF the Guard Of the Common
wealrh-cNrt1nly upon that floor; but tb'
officers and members OF the company WD'
had not been away twenty minutes "a meet
ing having been held last nighi) are o
opinion that The fire was either cause,
by a defective fue or originated II
some way in the rear stairway. Tn
members Of the company saved their valu
able silk flag, recently presented by Captain
Spotswood, and other hi9hly.prized arti
cles. They lost their drum. tool-chest
the prize rifle, number OF uniforms, etc.
etc. They were early upon the ground
however, and thus succeeded in going M
stairs and getting out the bulk OF thel
property.