The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-12-10

ADD 1T o NAL PARTlCCLARS-THE HOWARD
HOUSE AND TWO OTHER LARGE BUILDINGS
TOTALLY DEsTROYED-L0sS FIFTEEN TO
TWENTY THOUSAND DOLLAhs-HARD WORK
TO SAVE TIE VILLAGE, &C.
correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.I
SOUTH Boston, December 8, 1880.
Between 10 and III O'clock last night that
most stirring OF all alarms, d" Fire! Fire -
broke in upon the quiet citizens Of Sontb
Boston. Instantly the streets were filed
with anxious and excited people. The
Howard House was on fire. All that strong
arms and brave hearts could do was INSULT
cent to arrest the angr, flames, which, from
the combustible character OF the building,
spread with astonishing rapidly, and in a
few minutes the whole building was en-
vel0ped.
The effort TO save the furniture of the
hotel, though well organized, and executed
with more than usual calmness, was, how
ever, only partially successful, owing prn.
|cipaily to the peculiar construction OF the
building. Eyerybody-the colered as well
as the white people-wOrked molly. MIR.
Thornton Easley was the last to leave the
hotel. and great fear was entertained at one
time that he had lost his life Ia attempting
10 remove the furniture. He, however.
escaped unburt. The near proximity OF
The hoteltO the "Flag" warehouse made
that huge building prey TO The devouring
elements, as also Glenn's large tobacco
prizery. The large force which by this
time had gathered, some from miles
around, was divided. and an effort made
to save the stock Of merchandise OF Owen,
shepherd d Co., whose store was under
the hotel, and the TOBACCO stored In the
warehouse and priZery. Nearly ali the to-
bacco in h0esheads was saved, but a very
large quantity Of loose tobacco was lost. A
small portion only of the stock OF Owen,
Shepherd IL Co. was saved, and that greatly
injured in rough bandling. When the
3. Flag" warehouse was enxeloped, great
tear was felt lest that the entire village
would be desti Dyed, as a number of build
ines in different portions of the place caught
ON fire, and but fol the cool aud deliberate
efforts and iudiciOus management Of Messrs.
y. J.. Lawson, Major II. A. Edmundson, Il.
r. Wifkerson, John Smith, w. w. Ward.
Henry Il. Edmunds, p. Hunt, and others
whose names cannot recati, yet de-
serve 10 be written among the brayest
OF the brave, the consequences might
have been much more appalling.
Nessrs. T. NJ. Terry, Willie ID. WikersoD,
Thornton Easley- Sidney Norwood, and
Jack Faulkner deserve special mention.
The recognized managers directed the pull
ing down of the Dickie House, which
Was the next building TO the prizery. aud
the only possible chance Of saving the en-
tire place. This and the remarkable still
ness OF The night saved Boston, Had this
building caught, the flames would have ex-
tended 10 the bank building, and thence on
to the depot, while 1t would have been ut.
a. Rlx inn. c. 10 IN AtaIh
sons, the new drugstore, and the other
buildings on iower Main street. Jeffress's
new store Was evidently saved BY Messrs.
Il. Nj. Terry and others. who Knocked off a
portion OF sbngles, and from apertures
thus made s2tArated tue roof with water. |
This plan WAS also pursued at the sore OF
Hunt d Egmunds and S.ebbiDs's prizery. |
think can safely say tkat no place In !
Virginia or elsewhere Is Ia greater need OF
IN organized book-and ladder company than |
Boston, where in cases. like this, OF the great |
st emergency not even ladder can be bad. |
The Ere ofiyiasied In defective fue OF |
be hovei. and had evidently been burning |
q the attic for some time before Ii was dis /
oTered. IL YVES iadeed fortunate for the |
,o2rders-' and guests OF the hotf that the |
Tx broke out al such m early hour OF the |
Igbt, as quite number Of them had not |
eiared--y ct seversi were preparing 10 do
o. Mr.. jack fauIkser made very narrow |
sespe. His bedroom 1as Ia the rear OF
)Wen. Shepherd & Co.'S store, and be was
Weakened oniy after the upper portiou OF
be bulldog h:sd fallen In.
The hotel. valued Ut $1,000, was owned
y Msior ii. A. Edmund>on; Insured IN
lew York Home 1or $4,000.
The Flag warehouse, IS 900. partially
Insured; GIenn's p,sxery. $1,000, partially !
psured.
Mr.. II. @. Houard, proprietor Of the
Toward House, lost from BLOOD 10 u. 800;
q insurance. ~ =, 5.
Tee total loss by The fire IL estimated at
'ow tl1, 900 10 100000. Not more Than 8
'ird Of ibis amount Il covered By ipsu-l