Knoxville daily chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1882, 1882-03-30
THE RICHMOND FIRE.
Graphic Description BY a Local News.
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paper.
From the Richmond Dispatch, Tuesda
ItE8 - - morning.
Since evacuation day Richmond
has had no Sunday anything like
yesterday. As the people were
quietly leaving the churches, aftel
the morning services, they were as
tonished to see graat black clouds O
smoke being driven over the cit,
from the direction of the river
Fol. what seemed to be long time
there was no alarm of fire, but the
evidences of great confagratio1
were so unmistakable that the streets
leading sonthward were soon crowd
ed. and CANDLES Hill, whittier the
greatest numbers focked, became
denseiy populated as if by magic
From that elevated position a
glance told the story. The bridge
of the Richmond and Petersburg
Railroad across, James River was
afre. A spark from the train which
passed over from Richmond at 1907
had fallen and been, lodged by the
wind in some opening of the CORFU
gated iron roof, whence it reached
the woodwork. There, in the WELL
seasoned timber, famed by gale,
the flames started.
The progress they made was per-
fectly astonishing.
One who witnessed their course
across declared that no man could
have run from Richmond to Man
chester quicker than the flames
travelled.
At one time the bridge was on fire
nearly from end TO end. 1t looked
like great molten stream-above it
the smoke, black and thick, hung
like pail; beneath it, the river was
mirroring the scene and dashing over
the rocks to tide.
The ringing of the fire bells brought
out what looked like the entire p, p-
ulation. AS the flames gained foot
hold upon the Richmond side the
excitement became very considerable.
Gentlemen who had left their ladies
on CANDLES Hill and rushed to the
Petersburg. depot in their spotless
linen and soft kid gloves, were seen
to join the railroad employees in pull
ing out the cars which stood in the
yard near henorth end of the bridge.
There were plenty of brave hearts
and willing hands, but in such cases
it is rare that they can be made fully
available.
Sadder than all this loss of prop,
erty, saddest of all, was the killing
of a youth, who, with boys love for
fire, while advancing too near the
burning houses on Sixth street, was
caught by falling wall. This oc-
lrrence, passing from lip, caused a
general uneasiness. Everybody
knew that boy was killed, few knew
w a. boy, and those who had sons at
the fire feared the worst until they as
certained the name of the poor little
unfortunate-Charley Belts.
The fire covered great space of
territory, and those who know the
surroundings of the locality will
appreciate how difficult it was to
fight. It reached some of the luln-
Der piles in the Tredegar yard, and
but for change of wind, which
occurred about that time, the de-
struction of that valuable establish
ment would have been inevitable,
despite the force of hands they had
at work cutting down trestlipg,
removing lumber piles, &C., &c.
When the extent and danger of
the fire became understood, and all
resources to check it were being mar
shalled, it was noticed that the canal
was nearly empty of water. But for
that the Tredegar people would have
early set their own pumps to work.
AS it was, notice had first to be
given and the water turned in before
they could do anything in that di-
rection.
At one time, when the gale was at
its highest, when the great heat was
driving the people back to the canal
bank, and when sparks were flying
into the thick of the town, it really
seemed that Richmond was doomed.
Such was the exigency of the oc-
casion, Mayor Darlington, after
briefly consulting with the chief Of
the fire department, determined to
telegraph appeals to Petersburg and
to Washington for help from their
fire departments. Petersburg could
not be called. The Washington men
got ready to come, when the order
was countermanded.
For the protection of property
Colonel Anderson, of the FIRST regis
ment, was asked to call out the
military, which he promptly did by
sounding on the fire bells the military
alarm fifteen taps.
Most of the men were at the fire,
and many did not hear the alarm,
but the turning out was sufficient for
all practical purposes. Luckily they
were not needed. AS soon as the
fire was gotten under control they
were dismissed, with many thanks.
All the time the wind was blowing
the smoke and SCOT from the burns
ing buildings. it was also raising
great clouds of dust in the streets.
Dust and SCOT went hand and hand
to blacken the faces, to redden the
eyes and to damage the Sunday
clothes of our population. Many
gentlemen of immaculate cleanliness
on most occasions yesterday returned
to their homes from the fire looking
more like chimney-sweeps than the