The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-07-09
pErE.RsBuRa.

the FIRE THURSDAY si6Hf; NARROW ESCAPE
PeoM A DIaAsTRoUs CAPITALIZATION; THE
LOSSES ASD ASSURANCES HEAVY STORM AT
NIGHT-BRILLrANT ELECTRICAL lLLuhTSA-
TIoH--REsiGNATIoE or A PASTOR.
correspondence OF the Richmond DIspaicp.J
JULY 8, 1881,
The fire last night near the wharf, OF
which telegrsphed the Dispatch, origi-
mated on the second floor Of Mr.. J, Y.
WOODS pIanlng-mill. Mr.. Wood is a large
manufacturer OF window and door. frames:
During the afternoon some hands pad
been engaged fin making glue Ia the nre.
place OF the upper floor, and 1t is supposed
that the embers had not entirely dled out
when the storm OF wind blew up. The
wind came up very suddenly and blew Win
great force. The windows OF the Mill Delng
open, the Goals were blown from the ire
place and quickly kindled into a blaze
among the shayings and other iDfiImable
material about the floor, and II was not long
before the entire building was wrapped In
fire. Mr. Wood lost $1,000 10 lumber, and
81. 600 in machinery. He has policy oil In.
surance in the Watertown Fire Company, OF
New York, for g., 900. The building belong
ed to the estate OF the late Colonel Robert
b. Boiling, and was not Insured. Loss
about $4,000. The large brick warehouse
adjoining, for some time past Hnoccu-
pied, belonging to Colonel BollIug's
estate, is insured In the Virginia
Mutual, OF Richmond, for $4,000. IL
was saved from serious damage. A large
quantity of cottonwood lumber, used Tor
the manufacture Of tobacco-b0xes, aud be-
longing 10 Messrs. Tenant q Co., Venable
II Co., and others. was burned, and 1t is un-
derstood there was very little il any in
surance upon it. The wind swept the
flames from the mill across the street,
gniting and burning stable be-
longing to Mr.. Wood, which was not
insured. From this the fire was COM
munIcated TO the large frame warehouse
OF Messrs. Allison e. Addison-l0O feet
long by 80 feet wide-which was entirely
consumed. A cargo OF fertilizers bad re-
Gently been stored therein, and another
cargo was being moved Into the building.
There was an insurance on the building OF
$1,000 in the Underwriters agency, OF New
York, and OF $4,000 in the Virginia Home,
OF Richmond. The insurance on the house
does not cover the loss. The damage TO the
stock cannot yet be ascertained, though II
is believed that the loss above insurance
will not be heavy. Mr.. George j. Rogers Iost
about 100 cords OF wood which is fully COW
building, belonging TO the MesSrs. Reynolds,
OF Norfolk, was slightly damaged. The
scene OF the fire this morning presents an
aspect OF desOlation and ruin. At one time
during the height Of the fire the roofs OF
three or four OF the dwellings on Boiling
brook street were on fire from sparks blown
there by The wind, and it seemed as though
the lower portion OF The city was threaten
ed with q disastrous conflagratiOn. Holes
were knocked through the roofs, however,
and the flames stopped, and soon men were
stationed on every houSe-t0p In the neigh
borhood to prevent danger. To this and to
the valuable service Of the FiWDepartment
is due the escape from terrible fire.
This morning, from 2 to 3 o'clock, the
city was visited by very heavy rain and
display OF electricity such as has seldom
been witnessed here. The pealS OF thunder
awoke all the people aud fairly shook the
buildings by the force OF its reyerberatioDs,
giving rise to a feeling OF awe in the minds
of all and fear 10 many. SO lar as can be
learned, however, no damage CT consequence
was done. The lightning flashes came In
such rapid succession as to keep up almost
continuous illumination. The storms oil
this season seem to have been OF unusual
violence.
The temperature since the 4th has been
very hot. the range OF the thermometer
being between 95 and 100 degrees.
Rev. Hugh q. Smith, for the past year
the pastor OF the Baptist church at Hicks
ford, has resigned his charge there, and ac-
cepted a call to High Hills church, near
Jarratt's der0t. ROBIN ADAIR.