Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-06-09

ed on this continent. The first move
ment towards its organization was an
act passed in 17G9. In 1770 land was
purchased for the erection Of buildings,
and upon it was erected those which
were destroyed by fire Sunday night.
The plan was furnished by Robert
Smith, of Philadelphia, Pa, and is
dated April 0, l770. The dimensions
given were 100 feet by 3S, and two
stories high. 1t was completed by
Benjamin Powell, contractor, in Sep
tember, 1913. The first patients were
received on the 10Th Of October, 1913.
DR.. James Gait was appointed the first
"keeper " Of the asylum, as the super
intendent was then called.
The grounds Immediately enclosed
and improved cover about six acres, but
there is farm Of nearly 800 acres at
tached.
WHAT WAS SAVED.
The houses burnt were the original
asylum, with the improvements that
were placed on them years ago. None
Of the modern buildings were injured,
and il was said by DR.. Moncure yes
terday that he had no doubt but that
he could accommodate all the patients
by crowding them little.
Very little Of the furniture was
saved. but all Of the records and papers
pertaining to the asylum were in another
building, and of course were not hurt.
Amusement Hall, the male department,
and in fact all the modern buildings are
uninjured. The stores and commits
saries are also safe.
LOSS AND INSURANCE.
Competent authority places the loss
at $50, 200, including furniture and
everything, and the insurance at
100000, mainly covered by policies
held in the Mutual Assurance Society
of Virginia. represented here by Mr..
II. A. Claiborne.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS.
The crowd stayed near the fire
watching it with great interest long
after they knew that it was impossible
to put the fire out without aid. The
telegram to Chief Taylor was promptly
answered by his seeing Chairman
King, of the Fire Department,
and the detailing of Steamer No.
3 BROAD street,, and hose-carriage.
The Chesapeake and Ohio railway
authorities had fiat and caboose-car
ready in a short time, and at LAO
o'clock the relief train shot out from
the Chesapeake and Ohio depot, En-
gineer Hall on his seat and Conductor
j. II. Mickey in charge. Of the Fire
Department there were on board Z. p.
Snead, second assistant engineer, in
command; Captain j. R. Shepherd,
Captain R. B. Burton, and A. L.
Lynch, A. p. Tyree, Joseph Hefiiey,
F. +. Moore, Joseph Pizzini, r. Dun
ford, j. j. Loterzo, George Shewbridge,
T. d.. Tally, Frank Summers, James
B. Horner, p. ii. Kesler, W. II. Tay-
lor.
At 3 o'clock the engine was standing
at the Williamsburg depot, horses,
men, and machinery all in good plight for
work, having made forty-eight miles in
ono hour and fifteen minutes. Unfor-
tunately not single preparation had
been made to disembark the steamer and
horses, and the Richmond boys had to 90
up in the town, secure timber, and
make platforms before they could move
toward the fire. II was two hours be-
fore they started, but they were soon
at work after the trouble Of getting off
the cars was over. The hot walls and
smoking Goals Of fire were all that was
left for them to attend to, but they did
this we'll. DIR. Moncure furnished the
boys a good breakfast and treated them
very Hospitality. They got back to
Richmond late in the evening.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS.
Mr.. II. A. Atkinson and Charles
Millhiser, Of the Board of Directors,
came down from Richmond on the early
morning train. They met Mr.. Bright,
who lives in Williamsburg, and it was
determined to hold q meeting Of the
Board Of Directors as early as practi-
cable, possibly Wednesday tomorrow.
DEATH OF MIR. F1GG.
Mr.. Baylor Figg, well-known
printer of this city, but for a number
Of years an inmate Of the asylum, died
there yesterday morning, and his body
was safely removed while the fire was
progressing. He win be buried in VIII
liamsburg to-day.
Hersferd's nrssa Prsparasisn.