The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-11-12

StoPpage for which there is No Compensa-
tion-The Fire MysteTy-About $50 Hands
Thrown Out Of Work-List of Insurances.
Between and 3 o'clock yesterday morn
ing 4 large portion Of the metropolitan
Iron-Works (William +. Tanner & Co.,
propriotors), located at the northwest cor
ner of Canal and Seventh streets, was de-
stroyed 10y fire.
The flames were discovered about 4:3O
O'Clock, and two alarms were turned in at
the box at that corner, and very shortly ai-
forwards the entire Fire Department was
on the ground. There was abundance Of
water at hand-m plugs and i'm the canal
and numerous streams were ut once put on
the burning building, but with 10 effect
other than saving adjoining property. The
fire originated on the second floor in the
l. which fronts Canal street near Seventh.
and spread towards Cary street, destroying
the two main buildings and all that the
buildings contained.
TIE LOSS.
The absolute loss will be more than $780,
600, upon which portion OF the works there
Is an insurance Ol SJl.UUu.
\ consequential loss, for which there is
and could be no adequate compensation,
consists in the destruction OF the firms pat
terms and machinery.
The patterns were The careful accumua-
ton Of the works for sixteen years, and
had been supplemented 10y many purchased
/ from Rahm's foundry. No money can I'M
mediatclv replace them. The machinery
J. L. earfa ~
cannot be duplicated within twelve months,
and there is very little that can be restored.
All OF it is practically worthless now.
SAVED, But WET.
The foundry, the bOiler-shOp, and the
smiths shop, the Office, and the drawing
room were all more or less injured by wa
ter, but work can be resumed in them in q
short time.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE.
As to the origin Of the fire nothing is yet
known. At one time during the progress
OF the flames il was the opinion Of many
that il had spread from the fire-boX OF the
boiler, but yesterday morning il was found
that the kindling in the box was ready for
lighting-just as il had been arranged
Thursday night for the resumption OF
work Yesterday morning. The fire, there
fore, did not start from the engine. Mr..
SNYDER, the private watchman, was in the
machine-shoD an( wound up the clock at 4
O'Clock, and all WAS right then.
NOT Az INCENDIARY FIRE.
Colonel Tanner does not believe that it
is a case Of incendiarism.
The firm employed about two hundred
and fifty men. many Of whom are ont
- Int A. n to-
enterprising. and, besides, have too many
orders ahead, 10 waste any time. They
will probably resume at once, with such
make-shifts as will be possible.
THE BUILDINGS.
The two-story corner building was owned
by DR.. J. ID. Pretlow, OF southampton
county, Va, and O.. \. Congdon, Of New
Jersey. This loss is about covered by i'll
suTance.
The three-story building adjoining the
Office was owned by the firm.
The walls OF the buildings arc standing
In part, though they were damaged severe
" by fire AID water.
ONLY the buildings on Seventh street and
at the corner Of Canal and Seventh were
injured. The other buildings back OF these
were not touched. but they were in dan
ger, as were the great cigarette-works OF
Allen Il Ginter, corner Seventh and Cary
streets.
The books and papers in the office were
nearly all removed i'll time 70 be saved
from damage by water.
The firm OF William L. Tanner * 60.
consists OF Messrs. William L. Tanner, V.
c. Newton, and Alexander Delaney.
BEGINNING OF THE FIRE.
The Tenth-Street Hose Company was the
first TO arrive on the ground, and had on
two streams when the steamers came to
their help. There was a considerable
breeze from the south at the time, and It
was rs much as the Fire Department could
do TO save the back buildings and the build
inps on Seventh street between the Office
and Cary street.
The fremen who were first on the ground
are pretty sure that the fire originated on
the second floor of the corner building.
They suggest as probable that it started IN
the room where carpenters work Is done,
and that il burnt its way down through the
floor 10 the machine-shop. When hrst seen
by the firemen the flames had pretty iull
sweep upon both floors.
KISDNEssEs.
There had been no fire on Thursday III
the room i'm which the flames are supposed
TO have originated.
The Tredegar Company yesterday offered
Tanner & Co. the use OF any OF their shops
while they are preparing to start anew.
Other establishments have also made IKE
kindly offers.
TIE INSURANCE.
The insurance on what was DESTROYED
was 400. 600. The buildings, tools. hX,
lures. patterns, finished and unfinished nsdo
work. drawings, &c, are insured Tor sIVS'-
so3. Is in the following companies;
-. ......s 5,22s 10
Virginia c.Ate' .......... 5,22s 40
Connecticut Fire, Of Hartiord''''''''' S'55s *
Royal insurance 5.22S IS
Rrftfs America. sss'..'''''''''' g0oa <
Merehants aud Mechanios..'''.s''''''' y'55S *
~. M burls- BrCnen. .sssf''''-.''''' olG n
XirgIuia Fire and harine.....'.''''''' SS'55S *