The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-03-27
NARROW ESCAPES
oc Men from SufTocatiOn nnd or
Houses I'm the Heart OF tho
city from sparks.
MAIN INCIDENTS.
Scenes at the Fire. or Candles Hiii'
and About the Bridge Ruins.
THE INSURANCE


Since evacuation-day Richmond has had
no Sunday anything like yesterday. As
the people were quietly leaving the churches,
after the morning services, they were as
tonished to see great black clouds OF smoke
being driven over the city from the dircc-
ton OF the river. For what seemed along
time. there was no alarm Of fire, but the
evidences OF great cOnfiagrati0n were so
unmiStakaLle that the streets leading south
ward were soon crowded, and CANDLES
Hill, whittier the greatest numbers Hooked,
became densely populated as il by magic:
From that elevated position glance told
the story. The bridge Of the Richmond
and Petersburg railroad across James river
was afire. 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 corrugated iron roof, whence
il reached the woodwork. There. In the
well-scasoned timber, famed by gale,
the flames started.
The progress they made was perfectly
astonishing.
One who witnessed their course across
declared that no man could have run from
Richmond TO Manchester quicker than the
flames travelled.
A SIGHT.
At one time the bridge was oil fire nearly
from end 10 end. 1t looked like great
molten stream-aboye il the smoke, black
and thick, hung like pail; beneath it. the
river was mirroring the scene and dashing
over the rocks 10 tide.
The ringing OF the fire-bell, brought.out
what looked like the entire population.
As the flames gained Il foOthOld 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
SUNDAY linen and soft kid gloves were
seen to join the railroad cinployes in pull
| lng out the ears which stood in the yard
near the north end Of the bridge. There
were plenty of brave hearts and willing
hands, but in such cases it Is rare that they
con be made fully available. Here, how
eyer. a Dalace-car and number OF other
ears were saved; but train. mostly
composed OF new ears from the Tredegar,
I standing on the Tredegar trestle, was
left 10 its fate. The intense heat drove
tbe fjrcmen back to the depot, and the
flames sped before the wind along the
river and along the trestle-work toward:
Sixth street,
THE BrRNr DIsTRICT--A YOUTH KILLED.
Resides the railroad bridge, there were
DESTROYED seven factories and stemmefies,
Uobson's stables, eighteen tenement
houses, the Vulcan Iron-Works, great
deal oS wood and coal Gn yardsl, and
treslle-work, and Smiths grist-mill, In
Richmond, and the Kaoln Works, Just
built, i'm Manchester.
All OF the property destroyed in Rich
mond was west Of the bridge with the ex'
ception OF the grist-mill; that and the
Kaolin Works were on the east OF the
bridge.
Sadder than all this loss of property,
saddest Of all, was the killing Of youth,
who. with boys love for fire, while adj
yancing too near the burning houses on
Sixth street, was caught by falling wall
This occurrence, passing from lip 10 lip,
caused a general uneasiness. Everybody
knew that boy was killed; few knew
sohdt boy, and those who had sons at the
fire feared the wo.st until they ascertained
the name of the poor little unfortunate
Charley Belts.
STOPPED AT THE THDEGAR.
The fire covered great space Of terrific
~. and those who know the surroundings
OF the locality will appreciate how difficult
it was TO fight. 1t reached some OF the
lumber piles in the Tredegar yard, and but
for change OF wind, which occurred
about that time. the destruction Of that
valuable establishment would have been
inevitable, despite the force of hands they
had at work cutting down trestling, re-
moving lumber piles. &C., &c.
When the extent and danger Of the fire
became understood, and all resources to
check Il were being marshalled, 1t was no.
tlced that the canal was nearly empty OF
water. But for that the Tredegar people
would have early set their own pumps to
work. As 1t was, notice had first TO DC
given and the water turned in before they
could do ANYTHING in that direction,