The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-08-02
New York Tribune of resterdnY.l


buildings In Cherry, Water, and Pike
streets were destroyed yesterday by fire
which was remarkable on account OF its
rapid progress and its oyerpowering heat.
a small puif Of smoke from a seventh-story
window OF the mills was noticed by per-
sons in Water street at 11:15 \. VI. Five
minutes later smoke was pouring. from
every window on that floor. An alarm had
been raised inside the mills by John Show
er, a workman, who was on the seventh
iloor near the Water-street windows. He
saw flames burst out suddenly beneath n
fannmg-machine for cleaning wheat. The
building was supplied with means
for cXtiuguishing fires, and there was
an arrangement on each floor by which
an alarm could be sounded. Shower gave
the required signal, four beats on gong,
and the workmen in all parts Of the build
ing were informed Of the fire at once
There were several workmen on the seventh
floor, and they were Joined quickly by 9th
ers from above and below. John T. Heck
er, the superintendent OF the mills, who is
a son Of the senior member Of the firm OF
George V. Hecker & Co., was in the office
on the second floor when the alarm was
sounded. He went Immediately TO the
seventh floor and directed the workmen in
the attempt to check the flames. The plugs
were pulled out Of several lines OF fire-hose
from a tank on the top floor, and several
tire-extinguiSheTs were taken from their
stations and put into service.
RAPID SPREAD OF THE PLANES.
The eXertions Of the wOrkmen were USE
less, however. The flames spread so oquick-
ly that the men were thrown into disorder
They were obliged TO run for their lives be-
fore the fire had been burning five minutes.
The floors and partitions in every part Of
the mills were covered with layers of flour
dust, which burned like gunpowder. Bags
Of flour, baking powder, and compressed
grains were heaped on each floor. Feeding
upon these highly inhammable materials,
the fire mounted TO the roof, through the
eighth and ninth stories on the Water-street
side fthe mills faster than man could climb
a ladder. 1t reached tout in the direction
Of Cherry street with equal rapidity. There
was very little time allowed for the work.
men to escape from the upper portion Of
the burning building, and for time II was
uncertain whetherall had escaped. Several
tinsmiths had been at work on the roof.
They all managed to escape by running
down through hatchwayS on the Cherry
street side Of the mills.
A fire-alarm was sent out from the box
at Pike and Cherry streets by order OF
Elisha Seely, the superintendent OF the
shipping department, while Superintendent
Uecker and the wOrkmen were making an
Intellectual attempt to check the flames on
the seventh floor. Engine Company No. Q
arrived first in answer to the alarm. The
linemen had carried hose as far as the
sixth story Of the mills, when they were
met by the panic-stricken wOrkmen. An
effort was made to turn the flames at the
sixth story, but the firemen. were obliged
TO retreat i'll few moments, and 1t
was with difficulty that they saved their
hose. The foreman OF the company sent
out a third alarm as soon as he recognized
the danger Of the situation. Later, when
Chief Bates arrived, all the engines below
Houston street, sixteen in all. were sum-
moned. The 1iremen were confronted with
blazing building eight stories high, eX-
tending from Pike slip, distance OF 100
feet. in Cherry street, and having a con-
Meeting wing nine stories in height, which
extended to Water street. The immense
structure overshadowed four-story build
inc at Pike slip and Water street, which
was a stOrago-hOuse used by the firm. The
height OF the mills prevented the firemen
from throwing water on the flames from the
street. and it would have been madness Tor
them to place ladders against the walls
i'm the hope OF pouring streams through tne
windows. The heat OF the fire was so
great that no one could live near the walls
The flames had crept downward rapidly
until the mills seemed ready to burst with
imprisoned fire. From the roof TO the
cellar bright glare shone from every WIN
dow AT 1890 A. NJ. The walls shook at
intervals as though the buildings were
ready TO fall. Firemen who had been STA
TONED in Cherry and Water streets were
Obliged TO retreat before they had got their
hose in position. The water tower had
been raised in Cherry street, but before the
stream from its nozzle had begun TO play
with any force orders were gwen 10 have
II dragged back into Pike slip.
FALLING OF THE WALLS.
Chief Bates saw that it would be impos-
sible TO save the mills, and gave orders ior
the firemen TO get out OF the way Oh thc
threatening walls and pour streams upon
the adjoining buildings. His orders were
NOT oheyed too soon, for ut 1875 large
norton OF the Water-street wing Tell WIN
a terrific crash upon the four-story corner
building, crushing 1t under the heaVy
weight. Such rapid destruction seldom mas
been witnessed at fire in this city. "A
cloud OF dust and smoke mounted far up lhlo
the air. for time obscuring the view. On
the Cberry-street side the flames were still
rising high above the roof The wind was
blowing strongly from the direction OF the
East river, and a sea OF flame was qrlNcn
across Cherry street against a numDer oi
old houses OF varying heights. Inc IN
mates OF these houses had taken night,
leaving all they possessed behind theih.
Tbe direction OF the wind favored the
homses In Water street opposite the mills,
and pike slip was so wide that the Duila-
mos % ON the east side Of the slip were not IN
serious danger. uo
On the west Of the mills, however, were
some buildings which the firemen were
,'1,yerless 10 save from destruction. Next
- the mills was a three-story brick struc-
ture extending from Water street TO Cher-
-, w. s,reet . distance OF l50 feet. Next 10
10, there were four-story tenement
house at No. 19l Cherry street, ana Two
story shop at No. ass Water street. ciose @
m the tenement house and shop ana TOW,
sr;no far above them, stood the sailors
Exc6ange Building, which extends tnrougn
tha hIoek from Water street 10 Cheir!
street sn II formed barrier where the nre-
man conld hope TO check the adyancine
| flames Exciting scenes were W.ness-
ed In the streets near the burning 1s,, ganu,
| ing at noon. Women ana cnl' hmu'ss