Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-02
A TERRIBLE FIRE.
THE BUSINESS Portion OF THE TOWN
OF sUrroLK DESTROYED.
Five or Six Acres Buraed ovsr-An ExplO-
sion--A List Of the
Losses.
[speclal teIeeram o lhe pIapatch.l

tSpociai toieeram " INC Dispatcn'j
SUFFOLK, Va, August L. Between ii
O'Clock A. NJ. and 8 O'Clock y. NJ. to-day
about five or six acres OF the bcart OF the
town OF Suffolk were burned over, nearly
every busness-bousc and number OF dwell
ings being destroyed. The fire started IN the
warehouse Of j. J.. Webb, druggist, frame
building In the rear OF lsstore, on washing
ton Square. aud which was stored with paints,
oils, &c. Parties in the stores In front OF The
warehouse heard an explosion and imme-
dIately afterwards saw flames coming
from the interior Of the building.
The intense heat doubtless caused the
explosion on some chemical. A large
crowd soon arrived on the scene, and
bncket.aDd-axe brigade was formed and
vigorous (tTorfs were made by throwing
water on the burning building and knocking
down fences, &c. 10 cOniine the IRE 70 the
alresdy-doomed building, but the efforts
were futile. Attention was next turned 10
the saving OF goods IN the neighboring
stores. Heavy work was done, aud many
goods were removed from various business
houses, but IN several Instances The articles
were reached by the fire in their supposed
places OF safety.
THE SUFFERERS.
Washington Square: Joseph j. Webb,
druggist; Allen, Britt & Harfell. dry goods;
large vacant store OF A. 5. Darden; william
Eley & Brother, dry goods; y. Reese, tailor;
Miss juliet benson, milliner; e.. Jones,
restaurant bar, aud residence; Lee Jones,
BARRIERS; A. ). Eley. druggist; Exchange
Hotel; Dr. w. W. Mnrray's office; +. I.
Jordan, ieweller; JOIN SpaTkman, barber
J. T.. Booker, Herald newspaper and
lob office; Ferguson & Co., commission
a k.rrT fftff. II 4Hl Il M
COMPANY, who had offices In the BeT0d
building; post-ofIice and T. NJ. simpson,
confectioner; Fulgham Il Co., boots and
shoes: Merritt Briggs and Y. X. Prentls, at
lorneys al law; w. ID, Wood. dentist; g.
s. y. Holland, coniecti0ner and toys; Joseph
+, Hail, druggist; Parker a. HarreH, psO-
iographers; VI. 7. Primer, ieweller; James
Parker's residence over last-named store;
Academy Of Music; j. w. Rawls, dry goods;
BurRell RiddIck, stoves and tinware; Mrs.
William r. Ellis, milliner; A. A. RiddIck,
insurance scent; w. T.. Lawrence, stoves
and tinware; DR.. r. L. Chopper. dentist;
Misses A. q l.. lfanklin, milliners; :. ;.
H0sier, groceries.
East Washington Street: JoYner, Watkins
& Co.. clothing; X. w. Baker q Co.. furniture
dealers and undertskeTs; II. l.. smith,
county treasurer; John III. Wright a Son,
insurance agents; Willlom Ayers, tailor; I.
w. wilkins. groceries; readng-roOm OF the
Young Mems Christian Association; store
house nearly competed by ii. II. Culley,
contractor, for w. b. Ferguson d Co.; u.
X. Channel, cabinet-maker; Miss Carrie
Parker, residence; NJ. G. Mcnamara. shoes
maker; j. NJ. Bruce and a. l.. Powell,
grocers; Mrs. II. II. Costen, residence;
James Ayler (coIOred), clearinghouse and
barber-shop: John w. COhoOn (cOiored).
groceries aud oysters. John Marshall and
several other cOlored men lost small frame
residences.
Main street: s. W. Ashhurn, grocer;
NJ. Homes g. Son, clothieTs; J. {. Causey x
Co. and Hunter & Gator. dry goods; James
b. Norfleet clearinghouse building, owned
by Mrs. Julia A. :. Wells; Mrs. Virginia
Nortleet brick Office and frame residence;
r. II. smith, residence; John +. Inner
Son, brick Office and residence; Joseph j.
Hall, stOrehouse, occupied by Mrs. George
W. Thomas, confeetlOner. and Frank O.
iogui. general store; Mrs. r. :. Elan, board
ing.house, owned by McSsrs. Darden
webb; William X. Ellis, residence; Mrs.
Priscilla Jones, residence; Wallace Kilby,
dry goods, &C.; DR.. +. d. Phillips, drug
gist: s. K. Dunn. insurance sgent; Misses
l.. and +. Cm0gni, confectiOners; Mrs. ca
tognl, clothing.
Riddick street: John Catogni. restaurant
and bar; II. I. Artman Il Sons, carriage
manufacturers; j. NJ. Butler, carriage
manufacturers; t7yo residences occupied by
G.. Walls and Il ". Mems; j. W. Ballard,
W. NJ. Atkinson, III. T.. Primer, and K. W.
Nelms, ilvery-stables, and Thomas W. Smith,
Office.
The loss is estimated at about $500, 900,
and the insurance may probably exceed
$500, 600.
soon after the FIRE started Mayor Riddics
telegrapbed 10 Norfolk for assistance, and
the appeal was quickly responded 10. Sub
sequently an engine was sent from Ports
mouth, But for the assistance rendered by
these two engines the greater part OF The
town would have been destroyed. The work
done by the fre-addies from Norfolk j.
highly appreciated by our people, rs 1t de-
serves to be.
During the progress OF the fire rumors
were rife thatN number OF persons had been
killed; but fortunately there were no fatal
nor even serious accidents, but some narrow
escapes were made.
This Is the largest conAagratiOn which has
ever visited Suffolk, and is the more distress
ing as il has occurred Just as the town has
recovered from the big fire OF June, 1885. IL
is a sad blow 10 the town, but our people are
acting phiosopmcaIy and brsyely under
their affection. and orders have been given
for work 10 be commenced as soon rs the
bricks are cool. Ashes are plentiful, but no
sackcloth is to be seen.