Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-02-01
many inquiries in the line OF his exccu'
HERO o'BRIEy.

HEhO o BhIEN.
When it was seen that the roof ot the
main building was on fire aud likely to
lead to the destruction of the entire IN
stitution q convict named O'Brien asked
leave to 60 mp there and put out the
flames. Permission was granted, and
with broom and bucket OF water he
walked along the ridge OF the roof and
extinguished the sparks as soon as they
fell.
He performed a valuable service, and
az. great hazard.
O'Brien, who is in for attempted safe
blowing in Appomattox, is likely to re-
ceive some recognition for his services.
He may get pardon.
A man named Godfrey, who is in for
killing his sweetheart, also performed
great and valorous service in going IN
and out OF the burning building, point
ing the way to the firemen, &c, &c.
A colorcd man named Iibbs IS also
remembered for his courage and skill,
and Convicts Whitteyter, w. J. Jones,
and McNulty are also. kindly spoken of
by the prison officials.
All that was heard Of Marvin YVES that
he grumbled because he had to get out
of his warm bed and stand shivering in
the yard for several hours. The conyicts
all looked mighty chilly. None Of them
have oyercoats and the air was raw, wet,
and disagreeable, and the blazing bull
ing made a great draught OF air.
INSURANCE.
A representative of the Dispatch ap-
piled to Messrs. John b. Cary & Son
Yesterday afternoon for list of the com
panies in which the Davis Company
holds insurance policies. The junior
member of the firm stated that they
represent the shoe company as brokers
and placed all of the insurance, but that
none OF it is placed in companies repre-
sented by them that holding the posi-.
tion they do they could not for several
reasons give a list of the companies.
The insurance on machinery and stock
aggregates Sl3G,59S, aud Is divided
among about seyenty-five companies
home and foreign. The buildings, which
were the property of the State, had no
insurance on them.
no PAM.
While the fire caused great excitement,
at no time was there what could be called
a panic at the penitentiary.
Superintendent Moses kept a coolhead
and acted with great promptness and dill
gence.
THE PROPOSITION.
If the legislative committee (it now
rests with them chiefly accepts Mr..
Georges proposition, no appropriation
will be needed to rebuild the shoe shop.
The money will be advanced by the
Davis Shoe Company, and they will re-
imburse themselves out of the hires.
Yesterday Mr.. George was OF the
opinion that they had an insurance OF
$50, 900 on their machinery, stock, &c,
and he thought, but was not certain,
that their loss would be some 900, 900 OF
325. 600 more than that Now it appear:
that the insurance is less than 2l37, ,010.
1t is clear that n large number of peO
pie who are opposed to conyict-labol
coming into competition with honest
labor will never agree to rebuild the
shops, as desired by the lessees. Or
this point it is certain that there will be
an animated discussion and close contest
CALLED BACK.
No. / steamer Captain Redwood
Church Hill was called to the peniten
tiary about o'clock yesterday evening,
and the probability was would stay there
all night
The fire III the ruins began to freshen
up and the department, fearing another
alarm, thought best to send the steamer
over.
a negro man named L. j. Cook wa'
arrested on the penitentiary grounds
about noon. He was acting in disOr
derly manner and using language calcu
lated to cause disturbance. He wal
locked up.
MILITARY CALL.
In the remark above that after Chic
Fudua turned in the military call th,
town bells-or some of them-strucl
fourteen oftener than fifteen taps. it i
not intended to convey the impression
that he was in any way responsible there
for.
The Superintendent OF the Peni
Tertiary of all men in Richmond ough
to be authorized and furnished with th'
means to give this call for the military
That arrangement should be made a
once.
LOCKED IN.
After the danger was over the convict'
were sent to their cells and most of then
kept locked up all day. A small detai
was, however, made to pull down walli
that threatened to fall and do damage.
The Davis Shoe Company saved onl,
small amount of their property-only
a few hundred dollars worth.
LARUs BROTHER.
Larus & Brother, who have lease or
large building and work therein {
number of convicts in the manufacture
of tobacco, suffered no loss from fire anC
very little from water The smoke
however, poured into their establish
ment to a considerable degree.
1t is not likely that they will escap,
altogether without loss, but it will no
be large.
The burned shoe-shop stood betweer
the factory OF Larus IL Brother and tn,
main building of the institution.
The Military.
The celerity with which the troops re
sponded was surprising. In eighteel
minutes after the call was struck a squa'
of men, who had reported at the Armory
reached the scene ofactIon under charg'
Of Lieutenant Simmons. Other squad.
followed in quick succession.
General Charles J. Anderson aros
when the fire-alarm was turned in, ap
pretending what the consequence woult
be. and went to the Armory. which h.
reached before the military-call.
As soon rs that had been struck tn
men seemed to spring from the ground,
to use his expression. In an hour
time between three and four hundre'
militia were inside the penitentiary. .
this number about seyenty-ive wer
: colored. who were not slow by an,
means in answering the call to duty.
OF the white troops no one compan.
can wear the crown for soonest report
ing. As the men reached the Armor.
they were formed into squads regardles
OF company and dispatched to the front
/ OF the cOlored companies the STATE
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