The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-02-24
The Liberty Circ.
HOW VALUABLE PROPERTY WAS DESTROYED
FROM THE LACK OF \ FIRE DEPAETNENT-A
wATER-sCPPLY NEEDED.
L tnrr1N "a Enhl1Inrv % 1Sso.

FROM THE LACK OF 4 FIRE DErAETNENT-A
wATER-sUPPLY NEEDED.
LIBERTY. Va, February -, lSS2.
To the Editor Of The Dispatch:
! write YOU q short note III reference TO
the confederation which occurred here yes
terdav evening. About : O'Clock yesterday
evening, when the wind was blowing Sc
vercly mostly from the southwest. the
alarm OF fire wa- given. which nj once
aroused the people of our u>ually-quiet VII
lace. On reaching the place from which The
alarm was given it was found that the lire
had caught from stoye-pipe which plo tru-
ded through the roof ~ an old smokc-hOusc.
but then used IL n cO0k-rOOm. and 1t was
at once seen that there WAS no chance to save
il. The building stood near two other old
framed buildings, one Of which was a
kitchen and the other the south end OF an
old dwell;nr-hOu,ca and stOrcr0Om, fronting
on Main street. and formerly occupied by
the late Samuc, Hoffman as dry-9oodS
storcrOom and dwelling. strenuous 81
forts were made 10 stay the fire, bu, all i'm
vain. as the ind was blowing almost q
hurricane. and the citizens hld neither
hooks, ladders, nor waicr-dcep wells
alone 10 depend on. soon the brick dwell
ing-housc. with large Storeroom beneath,
the property Of Mr.. o. j. Bel. caught. and
was rapidly cnvclorcd in danes. Then the
old Hoffman residence, next IN order
as mentioned, the dwelling-hOusc Of
the widow OF the late Major james O..
Hensley CORNER member OF the House OF
Delegates from this county; dwelling
house of Mr.. W. V. Jordan. and dwelling
house II Mrs. :. \. Holt (widOw OF the late
William :. Holt, formerly merchant in this
place.. The residences Of Mr.. Bell and
Mrs. Holt were brick. and the fire was here
stayed i'm its progress because OF that fact.
our Main street runs almost due east and
west. All the dwelling, burnt frontcd
north on Main street. There were num-
Der Of framed ,torchouscs and dwelling,
fronting south on the same street and
Immediately opposite the burnt district
that caught on fire. but by powerful efforts
on the part OF few determined and brave
men the fire was there eXtinguishcd. We
came near losing about one fifth of our
town. The furniture III the dwellings and
stock OF goods in Mr.. Bells store were
nearly all saved from the fire, but very
large part very much broken and injured.
We have not been able 10 ascertain the
amount OF insurance. We suppose the in
surancc will amount probably to some
=, 900 or $4,000. Mrs. Iiolt's dwelling
was not insured at ali, nor was Mr.. Jor-
dams: the other dwellings and stock OF
goods, we are informed, were insured. The
printing establishment OF the Bodford star
located in the Hoffman building, we learn,
was pretty much destroyed.
A good hool-and-laddcr company might
have saved everything except the building
in which the fire broke oft in fifteen or
twenty minutes. The widows whose prop
erty was thus destroyed are i'll able to bear
the loss, and Mrs.. llolt'S was all that she
had. 1t was the most destructive fire the
town has suffered. Efforts have been made
here from time to time to procure water
for protection in ease OF fire and for all
other purposes, but, strange 10 say. it was
opposed by some OF Our largest property
holders. and the efforts were fruitlcss.
our popular. able, and efficient represent
alive in the House OF Delegate, (Nlr. Grit
fin) now has 4 bill before the General ~
sembly with view to obtaining water for
our town. and we sincerely hope he viii
succeed in getting il through. We say to
him now, Go ahead il possible, and don't
come home till YOU bring the law with you.
IIurricdly yours. y. Is. I.