The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-03-28

NUWD ~ the uk&e0uoO0~ nv -
The following from the Washington ne
p.sblicon Of yesterday shows what excite
nent the news Of the Are in Richmond
sunday caused IN the national capital:
shortly after noon yesterday news reached
this city that Richmond was IN flames;
Groups Of curious inquirers gathered
,esynImr ali the details. The imaginations
~ the 6ucstiouers and the questioned Were
called into rcqnisitlon, and before O'Clock
it was conceded that not only Richmond
,ras : charred mass OF smoking ruins, but
that the ficndish flames had reached out
their glowing arms and caught Danyille,
Petersburg. Fredericksburg, ana all the
other burgs I'm the Old Dominion In warm
embrace.
II was matter OF serious doubt whether
Alexandria was not also q victim to the
devouring element. Such q state OF affairs
was alarming, for the reason that Lent Is
stiIl with us, and Fishtown supplies us
with those bony swimmers that furnish
food for pious speculation. especially when
a hone sticks crosswise In ones throat.
The population were more seriously dis
turbcd, however, when the information
6oated around town that the Mayor OF
Richmond had telegraphed to the District
authorities for FIRE apparatus. Pretty soon
the K-Street engine came rushing around
the corner Of Fifteenth street into the
avenue. closely followed by the truck.
Tho gentlemen who were stretching their
tightly-trousered legs on the promenade
grew suddenly energetic, and before the
abbreviated Fire Department reached Sew
euth street there was E1adly-cxcited
crowd Of hoodlums, Department young
men. and citizens charging down toward
the depot. The reason OF all this rapid
transit was telegram addressed to Martin
Cfonin, chief engineer Of the District Fire
Department, from Chief Taylor, OF the
Richmond Department, which read:
"Flre raging; send immediate assist
ancc."
Fifteen minutes later GAO p. NJ an
other telegram reached Chief Cronin from
Mayor Darlington, which read:
"Can you send us some engines and fire
apparatus at once? We have terrible fire.
More than we can manage"
Mr.. Cronin placed himself In immediate
communication with Commissioner Thomas
r. Morgan, and after seeing Major Twi-
ning-thus securing the approval OF q ma
jority OF the Board OF CONFERENCE.-The
officials took immediate steps to send the
required relief. Engines Nos. and 6 and
the Truck Company were ordered to Sew
enth and the Avenue, and dispatch was
about to be sent to the Mayor, which read (:
"Will send two fully-equipped engine
companies as soon as transportation can be
had"
Before this was sent, however, and while
Chief Cronin and Commissioner Morgan
were hurrying to the depot to get trans
portation, the following message was inter-
cepted from Mayor Darlington. saying:
"Fire under control. If firemen haven't
started, countermand ORDER"
This settled the matter, and the engines
turned disconsolately homeward. The
fremen had no chance to get free ride OF
hundred and thirty miles with prospective
glory and beer when they reached their
destination. The railroad-men were COM
PEELED to forego the opportunity Of telling
tall lies about the way they ran sixty miles
in twenty minutes, and the population Of
Washington were generally Disguised be-
cause all their sweet expectancy OF reading
horrible details in this mornings Repub-
iicoH was doomed to disappointment.