Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1882-03-27

FIERCE FLAMES IN RICHMOND.
Tobacco Factories Rurned-The
Vulcan Iron Works Consumed
Many Poor Families Homeless
Gallant Fight of she Fire Brigade.

RICHMOND, VA, March 26, 1:3O P. M
The Richmond and Petersburg Railroad
bridge over the James river has been en-
tirely destroyed by fire. The flames spread
to several large tobacco factories In the
vicinity, and they are already destroyed.
The fire is still raging with uncontrolled
fury, aided by high wind from the south.
kilograms have been sent to Washington
and Petersburg for assistance, as the fire
department Of this city is unable to cope
with the flames.
LATER.-One of the most destructive con-
aagrations which ever SVisited this city,
second only to that which destroyed the
business portion on its evacuation by the
Confederate army in April, 1865, occurred
here to-day, resulting in great destruction
of property, the loss of one life and several
minor casualties. A number of poor people
are deprived Of their homes and household
goods, and the travelling public vastly in
convenienced by the loss of the main
bridge directly connecting the Northern
and Southern systems OF railways
crossing the James river at this
point. At half past twelve to-day an en-
ploye of the Richmond and Petersburg Rail
road Company discovered q small blaze
near the southern end of the company's
long bridge over the James river, and i'm
mediately started to give an alarm. In
few minutes a portion of the fire depart
ment was on the ground, but by the time it
arrived the fire, aided by heavy gale from
the southwest, had made such rapid pro-
gress that the bridge was wrapped in flames,
and 10 less than half an hour the whole
structure fell mass of ruins into the river,
leaving nothing standing but the granite
piers upon which the bridge was built.
When the flames reached the Richmond
end of the bridge they Immediately seized
upon the large four-story brick tobacco fac
tory of T. NJ. Rutherford & Co, which also
quickly fell victim to the devouring ele-
ment. From that point the fire continued
to spread with frightful rapidity, attacking
and laying in ashes IN quick succession the
large brick tobacco factories of K. A. Pat
terson 81 Co., T. G. Williams IL Co., the
three tobacco stemmeries of J. A. Hutchins,
two stemmeries of G. r. & F. D. Barksdale,
the stemmery of Aborn and Edwards, the
Vulcan Iron Works operated by Bruce q
Archer, twenty tenement houses occupied
by poor people, about 300 feet Of the trestle
works connecting the Tredegar Iron Works
with the Richmond and Petersburg Rail
road, ten new freight cars belonging to the
Tredegar Company, T. 2. Smiths grist mill,
q number of minor buildings, and quantity
OF coal and lumber belonging to the south
ern or Manchester end of the bridge. The
Mining and Manufacturing Companv's
ksOlin works were also destroyed. The
total loss is now estimated at between
$500, 900 and 5000 900, about half of which
is covered by insurance.
When It became evident that the bridge
was in imminent danger, a second and
third fire alarms were sounded, and the
whole fire department called out, but the
VFr f1fk 70 oh alr hn
were entirely futile, fighting, as they had to
DO, against the fierce wind, which, driving
the flames, cinders and smoke into their
faces, forced them back foot by foot from
its fiery path.
At AS o. IA, Mayor Darlington telegraph
ed to Washington for assistance from the
fire department OF that ci'Y, but later, when
the fire was finally gotten under control, an
other telegram was sent to Washington to
that effect. The Washington department
had responded promptly and had embark
ed seversl engines on special
train when notified that its SER
vices were not needed. The fire oc-
Cured just about the time the churches
were being dismissed from the morning
services, and the alarm being Immediately
given by every fire apparatus and bell in the
city, the notification of the calamity spread
with lightniDg-like rapiditY, aud In short
tins the hills and house tops, and every
elevation affording a place of view, were
densely thronged with old and young, white
and colored. The heavy wind added more
than ordinary vitality to the flames, and
carried large pieces OF burning cinders for
long distances, which In some cases set fire
to distant roofs, necessitating constant
watch on housetops to prevent the threat
ened danger. Charles Belts, a youth Of tif
teen years, was killed by falling wall
Two men, names unknown, are reported
buried in the ruins of Patterson's factory
Isaac A. Gentry, bookkeeper in the same
building, barely escaped suffocation in the
building and had to jump from the window,
hurting himself severely.