Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-09-05
FIRE In PETERSBURG.
THE TOBACCO EXCHANGE AND 3. B.
BHcKwrTH 4 co.'s DRUGSTORE
DESTROYED.
Loss, 5000; insurance, sl9,750-C Chief
Engineer Curtis Painfully Hurt-Demo-
cratic District Convention, &c.

About haif-past O'CLOCK THIS morn
ing fire was discovered in the rear por.
ton OF the third floor Of the Tobacco
Exchange, ct the corner Of Sycamore
and Washington streets. The building,
a handsome and massive brick structure,
was almost totally destroyed. The
debris Of the second and third floors
rest in q confused mass, surrounded by
the bare walls. The street-hoor was
occupied by Messrs. E. R. Beckwith &
Co. as . drugstore, the stand formerly
occupied by Mr.. Joseph Carr. 1t had
but recently been handsomely fitted up,
new fixtures added, and new stock pur-
chased. The store was flooded with
water and almost ruined by fire; and,
by the two elements combined, the
stock and fixtures were nearly ruined.
The handsome showcases were badly
broken by the falling debris.
The Tobacco Exchange occupied the
entire second floor Of the building,
where the daily sales Of tobacco were
conducted. All the furniture, all the
ssmple-boxes, and all the samples OF
tobacco owned by different commission
merchants were destroyed, involving
loss of several hundred dollars and
causing q great deal Of Inconvenience.
There was no insurance on the property
in this room.
The third floor was used for sleeping
apartments and storage purposes. Two
Young men slept there last night, one of
whom arose at an early hour to 60
hunting. Tn, other, Mr.. Edwin Mann,
was awakened some time later by the
dense smoke that filled the house. He
arose hastily and attempted to make
his escape by the stairway at the rear,
but found his exit cut off by the fire.
His only hope of escape left was
through the front windows. This he
accomplished safely by dropping from
window to window until near enough
to Jump to the pavement. He left his
watch and clothing behind.
The Tobacco Exchange building was
the property of the Centre Warehouse
Company, whose property it adjoins in
the rear. 1t was erected about the
year 1870, and was rather a command
irg.looking edifice.
THE INSURANCE.
The building was insured for sl2,-
coo. Of which there is s., 900 in the I'm
perisl of London; $4,000 in the I'm
derwriters' Agency of New York, and
$4,000 in another northern company.
Messrs. L. X. Beck with Il Go. have
an insurance of 1880 on their stock
aud fixtures in the following compa-
MES: Petersburg Savings and In
surance, 1880; Niagara, Of New
York, 1880; Cuthbert's Agency
$1,000.
The total loss is about s25, 900; to-
tai insurance, sl9,750.
No other property in the neighbOr-
hood was injured.
NARROW ESCAPE OF FIREMEN.
Several Of the fremen narrowly es-
capped being buried beneath the falling
walls on Washington street. Chief
Engineer P. II. Curtis was struck by a
piece of brick on the head and sus-
tanned an ugly wound. Another brick
broke two OF the toes of his right foot.
1t was by the utmost good fortune that
others escaped. The walls Of the
building will be rszed at once.
MISCELLANEOUS NEWS MATTER.
Miss Lucie II. Potts is summering
with friends at Hicksford, Greensyillc
county, Va.
Mr.. E. G. Venable, chairman, has
called a convention Of the Democratic
party Of the Fourth congressional dis
trict, to be held in this city on the Both
of September, to nominate candidate
for Congress.
Senator William f. Gaines, Republic
can nominee for Congress, will make
his first speech Of the campaign a
Uicksford on Monday. lie says he will
thoroughly canvass every county.
A meeting of the citizens of Peters
burg will be held on Monday night t
subscribe to the relief Of the Charles
ton sufferers.
The old depot building Of the Norfolk
and Western railroad, in this city, hai
been pulled down to give place to thu
handsome new structure to be erected
at once. A temporary building is be
ing used until the new quarters ar
ready.
Cornelius Holloway (white), who wa
arrested in this city yesterday, charge.
with stealing 8 horse aud buggy fron
Mr.. McDonough, of Richmond, wa
before the mayor for examination this
morning, and was sent on to the Octo
Der term of the Hastings Court TO
trial. 1t is apparent from the prisoner
condition that he is not in his RICH
mind. Officers Of the Jail say TO-DAY
that his mind is not at all balanced
Holloway lived here some years ago
and was superintendent Of the Mer
chants cotton-factory. 1t is said tina
about thirty or thirty-fve years ago b
killed colored man named Joe Rich
ardson, but was acquitted on the grounc
Of self.defence.
REPUBLICAN EXECUTIVE COMMIT
TEE.
1t is stated on good authority to-da,
that q meeting Of the Republican Stat
Executive Committee has been GALE
TO meet here on Monday to consider tn
question of calling another convention
to nominate a candidate for Congress
in this district. At the conference he'll
subsequent to the Convention whic
nominated William E. Gaines, a resc
luton was adopted requesting the Stat
Committee to call another Convention
The opposition to Mr.. Gaines has b
no means quoted down. The action
the committee is regarded with muc
interest. The committee IS compose
of Senator Malone, Colonel James |
Brady, and Mr.. W. c. Elan.
ROBIN ADAIR.
SHOT DEAD.