The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1882-05-26
Fires Yesterday Morning.

The Fire Brigade was called out at 300
o'clock Yesterday morning by triiiing
| fire on Seventeenth street, and later by a
rousing conhagration near the intersection
Of Mechanicsyile turnpike and Nenable
street.
Between 3 and A O'Clock tie stable and
carriagc-house on the premises OF Mr.. VIII
liam Cogbil, on Union Hill, were discov-
cred on fire. An alarm was turned In and
the Fire Department soon appeared on the
ground, but owing TO the scarcity OF water
| the engines could not do very effective
service. The flames spread 10 the furni-
| ture and burial-case mandatory OF Mr.
| Arthur Rooney, on the adjoining premises,
which was totally destroyed, together with
large quantity OF poplar and walnut
! lumber piled in the yard. Mr.. Rooney estl-
mates his loss on buildings, machinery,
lumber, and stock on hand at the time OF
the fire at $4,000, upon which he had
90 900 insured In the Fire Association OF
Philadelphia, T. M. Allriend, agent. Mr..
Nicholas Smith, the owner OF the carriage
house and stable, had no insurance.
There would still seem TO be lacking the
most important factor in the city's ability
TO suppress fires--water. This was de-
monstrated again yesterday morning.
L,
placed at the c0faer OF Eighteenth and
Ncnabe streets, and the hose laid OIL up TO
the fire, one thousand feet away. This
was the nearest and most available plug
but there was one more that might be used
(at the corner OF Seventeenth and Nenable
streets. but this would lessen or nearly to-
tally destroy the value Of the other plug,
so small is the main up Seventeenth street.
The steamer went TO work readily and
quickly. and moderate stream was thrown
alternately upon the framed machinc-shops,
lumber. and the brick dwelling fronting
eastwardly on the Mechanicsyille turnpike
and Immediately adjoining the fire. The
heat from this great burning pile seemed
beyond endurance, and yet the men went
into the yard and fought it back and
forth. and really checked the fire
at various times but as fast as
il was put down or lcssened at one point
it became more intense and furious at an
other. II was thought well to try another
steamer, the machine being placed at the Va
cant plug described. The result was that
the first stream dwirdled away TO practi
cauy nothing. This was about the situa-
ton when the rotary engine No. . was
called from Brook avenue and put TO work
at the corner OF Seventeenth and Nenable
streets, and the line of hose stretched for
more than l,200fcct and up the heavy grade
Of Nenablc street to the fire. II was heavy
work, but well done, and very few seconds
elapsed before the power and efficacy Of the
rotary was demonstrated. As this steamer
took all the water from the main. the other
stream was taken of, and the fire subdued
with this one. Many citizens living in
Inf af
messed the futile efforts Of the men Of the
Department, abOring. at times with no
more water than can come from good n.y.
drant. \ pump at the corner OF Nenable
street and the Mcchanicsyillc road was
positively exhausted, the tremen, with
neighboring citizens, white and black,
using water with good effect from buckets,
&C., upOu windOw-shuttcrS, frames, and
adjacent cornicoS. They worked very hard.
The Chief OF the Fire Department drove
up Seventeenth street. followed by Steamer
No. 3 from Broad street near Ninth.
When he got near the corner OF Marshall
street he saw ahead that a deep ditch had
been cut across the street for the intrOduc-
ton OF pipe for new house on the cast
side Of the street. This ditch extended
so near TO the eastern sidewalk that there
was barely room for broad tire to pass
without going into the ditch, and awning
posts were on the sidewalk side. had he
not discovered, by accident, this obstruc-
ton lighted by lamps Out the lamps were
welnigh hid by barrels, the Chief and his
buggy, as well as the following engine,
would have gone into the ditch, the ma
chimes wrecked, and possibly the men
and horses killed.
Again. at the tunnel crossing on Seven
teenth street train Of ears occupied the
street and retarded the movements OF the
Department.
Altogether the men had pretty active
time OF it on Wednesday night-an alarm
at 10:30 from Station II; at $50 from %,
for Il roof-firc at seventeenth and Nenable
streets; and at 3:lj for the Rooney fire.