The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1884-04-15
HAMPTON.
Another Exciting Fire Burning of the Barn
at the Soldiers Home.

Another Exciting burning Of the Barn
at the Soldiers Home.
correspondence OF the Richmond Dispatch.l
APRIL IA, 1884.
We have had another exciting fire.
About 9:15 O'Clock last night, after all the
churches had been dismissed, and the peo-
pie had retired to their homes, the Normal
School bell and the bell OF st. Johns
church rang out a fire-alarm, calling out
peopie to 8 fire at the Soldiers Home.
when reached the scene the stables and
barn OF The Home were being rapidly
consumed. while the hospital was
i'm great danger. Men were on this build
ing fighting manfully, drenching the roof
with water. THE intense heat almost bis
tered their hands and faces. The Normal
School force was on the ground, rendering
all the assistance in their power, and the
Home engine was pouring several large
streams on the flames. The engine from
the Fort came up, with Battery c, Fifth
artillery, and by the efforts of the latter,
the work of many citizens OF this town,
and the able-bodied inmates OF the Home,
the hospital was saved at 1915 O'Clock
the fire was under control. The invalids
In the hospital had been moved out OF that
building 10 safe place.
I visited the Home this morning, and
learned the following particulars from Cap
| tain Thompson. treasurer OF the 1nstitu-
| ton. The fire was discovered in the car
ria ge-house lust after the 9-o'clOck bugle
sounded. The flames spread rapidly. All
of the horses were sayed except four. one
Of which was gray mare owned and
priced very highly by Governor Wood.
All the conyeyances were saved, but the
feed in the buildings was consumed. The
fire must have been caused by match hav-
ing been accidently dropped in the car
riago-house late in the evening, or else by
an accumulation OF oiled rags, which caused
spontaneous combustion. Ii is not thought
| that il was the work o. an incendiary. The
loss is about as follows:
On stable, carrisge-house and barn....... $500
poar nSrst v na ot; ,; ; ccd 'nn199
\ Total. ...'.s,.....s... e4 ,UOO
Capt. Thompson speaks in grateful terms
OF the assistance rendered by the Normal
School students, Battery G, Fifth artillery,
| from Old Point, and all those who were
present aud put forth their efforts to save
the Home property.
A meeting Of the ex-Union officers and
soldiers OF this county was held in the
clerks Office on Friday evening last to take
steps toward making contribution to the
| Confederate Home. Captain j. Hetielfinger
was called to the chair, and s. L. Biekford,
Esq, made secretary. After the transac-
ton OF some little business the meeting
adjourned to meet at the same place next
Friday evening, when final action will be
| taken.
The young white man arrested last week
charged with an attempt to fire stable
was indicted for misdemeanor by the grand
| Jury late Saturday evening.
am informed by Mr.. Joseph r. Rowa,
who kept a store In the same building In
which the late fire originated, that one
morning about week previous 10 the fire
he found that a quantity O; kerosene-oil
had been poured Just inside the back door
OF his store. On investigating further a
hole was found bored through the door.
Ia which plug had been placed, and there