Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-05
BLACKST0NES FIRE.
A TEIRTY.THoUsAgD-DoLrAR LOSS IN
A VIRGINIA VILLAGE.
q Warehouse, Hotel, and Several Other
Buildings Burped-Tho Insu-
rance Good work.



PEyianCRG, VA, August A. blackstone
Is one 81 tue most thriving villages on the
Norfolk and Western railroad, and IS thirty
seven miles from Petersburg, IN Holloway
county, aud Il Is a considerable distributing
centre. as well A. a market Tor the several
counties which are contiguous. This morn
ing V narrowly escaped destruction by Ike,
and at enc time e. seemed to be doomed.
The fire originated ia q large wooden
Duildiug ON Broad street, owned by the
Smith Warehouse Company aud operated bg
thcm ss tobacco slorsge-wafehoUse. II IS
c0njcCtufed that The cause ol the Gfo "a Al
tn0uiahlc TO sparks from the engine used M
this building. o. me flames were fret seen
urOn The roof. Whatever may have been the
cause the fire spread with ligatnlng rapidity.
Aost ot tac bouscs m tOwH being frame
structures. the result was that the
local IRE company which IL not properly
equipped hy any means. wss not able 20 stay
TIE progress 81 thO cOn0agration, and 20 OUT
side heip had TO be summoned. Petersburg
bong The nearest point was fret applied TO
Tor assistance. A telegram was sent 70 The
AUTHORITIES here praying for immediate Sc
s'siancc. j. was represented that tho town
wa, iu danger Of being utterly DESTROYED.
Acting upon tie representation the Nor
folk and Western railroad a. once supplied a
special train, and updcr the command Chiei-
ctloiicc ". Henderson Efnes, thirty fire.
men. With The stram cnairc "a mtTica.n
which vas supplied with about 800 feet Of
hose. no once sct out for the scsue OF the con-
fagratipo. When they arrived. how
ever. the fire was under control. al
ihoug1, welding ~ The solicitations
% TIE citizens 81 Blackstone. they
st one CndcaHofcd 20 yet a stream OF water
upon tbc burning structure I'm this they
were not successful the only watcr available
being such a. VS. % be obtained from TIE
railroad lnnk-a supply altogether made
c'atc f0t the purpose. Luckily. however.
the Glmcs were soon cytingulshed sitter their
arrival
As soon rs 10 became known that the town
vas ou tic TIE CITIZEN. rallied to the assst-
aucc ol the local Grcmcn. 4 Not only This, but
thc farmers To- the vicinity rendered ycOnsn
service, md % them great credit IS duo,
Inasmuch as without The timely aid which
they rendered Is 8. doubtful whether the
town could tqyc been saved. Constructed
a.iii s Tie most ptr, ~ wooden buildings 10
appeared on easy prey TO the flames.
Blackstone ha- nearly l.juJ population
n vas incorporated q few Years ago. and
low enjoy, the administration Of mayor
snd couuCi.mn.
q m.y be added that the flames were so
fierce sod t1r wind so high thai farm build
INK, fI.ly q hell oi q mile from tie town took
fire from toe sparks which were blown in
an directions. Tho warehouse was destroyed
VITA 80 its contents a- well "a the Black
stone Hotel owned by the sgIae company,
and two stores underneath, occupied re~pcc-
lively by Baker q. Williams IS a sh0c-hou'e
Eui 4. I. Cole. general Wrrc11ndl-e.Q r2ler.
The Nane, swept aTouud on Msin street,
destroying zoe store OF George VI. Inlc; tlc