The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1880-02-11

Two Fires.

Ro0NEY's BCRTAL-CASE FACTORY on FI8xK-
LIN STREET PARTLY BCRSEp-Loss, THREE
| THOUSAND DOLLARS yICTOR'S MILL BURN
| ED-Loss, SEVEN HUNDRED D0LLARs-AN
OFFICER OF TIE FIRE DEPARTMENT SERIOUS
LY INJURED.
At ten minutes before 12 O'Clock last
nigh. cries Of "Fire" were heard coming
from the direction OF Franklin street near
Twelfth. A messenger was sent from the
Dispatch Office TO ascertain the cause, while
n representative Of this paper waited at Sta
lion l3, corner Twelfth and Main streets,
with the door open ready to give the alarm.
In an Instant IL became known that the fire
was in the building No. 1905 Franklin
street, east OF Twelfth, occupied by the
Richmond Burial-Case Manufacturing
Company-Arthur Rooney, president.
The alarm was sent in, and in brief time
several lines CT bose were laid off, the doors
forced open, and streams playing upon the
fire, which appeared to have originated on
the second floor, and made its way up to
the main floor above, on Franklin street,
and TO the basement or cellar below, used
as a trimming. room and for the storage
OF unfinished furniture. The whole build
ing was filed with dense black smoke,
through which the firemen went with their
streams until they were compelled 10 stop
from the intense heat. The building seemed
to be on fire from front TO back, and the
smoke poured out OF the windows and from
under the roof. Soon ladder from the
truck was raised to the roof, the upper win
dows opened, The building ventilated, and
the streams taken out in order 10 ascertain
the exact location OF the fire. This was the
work OF few moments, the respiratOr re-
Gently presented TO the Truck Company
being used TO great advantage. The men
went upon the roof with their torches, and
the light shining through the smoke led TO
the belief that the fire had burst through
the roof, and the streams, which were
playing in the street, were at once directed
upon the light much TO the amusement OF
the crowd below. The smoke soon cleared
away, and Chei-Engineer Taylor, having
ascertained that the fire was practically OUT,
took away the streams. Later on, how
ever, while the firemen were engaged in
removing the beds, one OF the shuck mat
tresses burst into a light blaze, and water
had to be turned on again, which was done,
and the flames eXtinguished.
The loss will amount TO S3 900.
Mr.. Rooney could not give last night all
OF the companies in which his building and
stock are insured, but he remembered
1000 in the Liverpool and London and
Globe; $4,000 in the Mutual; $4,000 in the
Queens; $1,000 with Aliriend's agency,
probably the Philadelphia Fire Associa-
ton; 81 900 with Gordon Il Pleasants.
The Chief Engineer and his department
are certainly entitled TO cOmmendation for
the creditable manner in which the work OF
last night was done, and they will no doubt
receive it.
While this fire was in progress the fire.
men discovered a bright light in an casterly
direction, and (as was beieyedD somewhere
near the city Jail. Soon the bells sounded
Station 90, corner Seventeenth and wash
ington streets, and the Chief sent out
Steamer No. and hoSe-clrriage. Steamer
No. had already gone out, and the truck
followed from the Franklin-street fire. The
second fire proved TO be the burning OF the
framed stable and part OF the storage
house (Victor's old milD occupied by
l.. HeDna, near the corner OF Sixteenth and
Washington streets. The stable was pretty
much consumed before the alarm was given.
but the old mill was put out before it bad
been entirely destroyed. valuable horse
was burned in the stable. Mr.. Hennas loss
will amount 10 about 500.
AS the Hook-aud- Ladder truck was driven
I'D to the latter fire Mr.. George W. Lee, the
tiIler-mau, was thrown from the pilots seat
and seriously injured. The truck crossed
ditch near where the apparatus Stood and
the sudden jar caused him to lose his bal.
ance. No bones were broken, but he will
probably be unfit for service for some time.
lie was taken home in the Chiefs tire-wagon
and physician sent for. Mr.. Lee is val
liable officer and very worthy gentleman,
and his injuries are regretted by host oil
friends.