The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-11-08
DISASTROUS FIRE
BREAKS OUT IN PETERSBURG
YESTERDAY MORNING.
sixteen Houses Burned-tssIstance Sent
over From Richmond - Losses Over
Gallant Oficer.


Gallant omcer.
PETERSBURG, Va. November T. Spe
cial Petersburg is in mourning to-day
The business quarter of the city is in ashes
and valuable life has been sacrificed.
The handsOme-t block Of business houses
in the city is situated between the intersec
tion Of Sycamore street BY Tabb street, anC
thence south 90 Washington. ON the wes
side Of Sycamore was "A block Of buildings
constructed out Of iron and brick, ant
known as the
IRON FRONT.
On the oppOside side Of the street were
other buildings quite as important in theiI
way. The fire utterly destroyed them, and
SiXTEEN HOUSES
were lcvelcd 10 the ground. leaving a gaI
which II will take many months 10 restore.
THE ORIGIN.
Was this great calamity the work Of an
inccndarys Time only will reveal this.
Certainly great mystery is involved in the
whole sad business The fire broke out in
I the dry goods store Of George III. Davis 4
Co.. in the iron front II was first noticed
/ by young man named McGec. and the
flames were then burning brightly on the
second floor Of this establishment. Mr.. Nc
I ffHf illUfU III III tlbiHH Is ~ I'0-
sible. and the fire department responded
quickly. II was impossible, however, to
CHECK THE FLAMES,
although the department did heroic work.
To the south of Davis Il Co.'s store was
the dry goods establishment Of NJ. VI. Davis
a. Co.. Next came the hardware store of
Piummor 4 Wheeler. and last in the south
crn end Of the block was the wholesale gro
cery store Of
A. ". PRICE.
Mr.. Plummer's establishment contained
powder in addition 10 hardware, while
Prices store was choke full Of inflammable
material. a large stock Of whisky being in
cludcd therein. 30, realizing their inability
30 cope with the flames. it was decided TO
TELEGRAPH TO RICHMOND
for assistance. and this was done without
DELAY. Meantime the fire spread with fear
fu rapidity. and the heat was 80 intense
that the local firemcn fought under odds
which were overwhelming. The local ap-
paratus was utterly inadequate. although
iircmcn. policemen and citizens joined in
the work. The
WHOLE TOWN
was alarmed. and as the fire crossed 10 the
opposite side Of the street, the flames over
In pping the interval between, a feeling Of
despair took possession Of everybody who
watched the course Of the c0nilagration.
ASSISTANCE COMES PROM RICHMOND.
About 7 O'Clock a special train arrived
from Richmond, bringing Chief Puller.
fwenty-threc nrcmcn and two engines.
They at once went 10 the scene Of the fire.
but unfortunately IL was found that the
hose used by the Petersburg department
was not adapted 10 the engines brought
over by the RichmOnders. Not discouraged,
however. the Richmond boys went braNely
to work. and rendered invaluable ala under
the direction of Chief Eanes, who had the
cooperation of Chief Puller.
FIRE EVERYWHERE.
Leaving the western side Of Sycamore
street. the flames first attacked the general
auction store Of Z. :. ~eahury. This was
about 4.3O. Thence the wind blew them in
southorly direction and cut wide swath,
swallowing the general agency Of the Bat
lcnsoa and MatOaca cotton manufacturing
companies. wherein was stored valuable
goods.
TIE ETTRICKs AND MATOACA MANUFAC-
TURING COMPANIES
have not been working full time Of late. but
recenflv they have had large orders. and
were giving employment 10 a large number
of operatives. The SycamOre-strect cstab-
lishmcnt was simply used as depository
for Goods. and at no time contained very
l,r.se stock. The agent. Mr.. -. Calendar,
could not furnish a list of losses to-day.
rnr "1NDEX-APrEAL" OFFICE
was i'm danger several times, but 10y active
w0rl. AN trouble was aNcrted. Two banks
were in the vicinity:
IHE NATIONAL BANK
and the Petersburg Savings and Insurance
Companv. Neither sustained any loss, ana
although there WAS demand for money
This morning there was no run on either oil
thnm. The managers of both banks take
honefll view Of affairs. and are confident
that there will be no unusual cessation OF
business on account of the coniiasralion'
THE TOBACCO FAIR.
Despite the disaster the managers Of the
Tobarc0 Fair will push their project To
successful completion. There Is an abund-
auce of money on hand. and the zeal of those
interested will not be abated IN any respect.
The subscriptions haVeall been paid in. and
the details have been 50 perfectly arranged
that nothing can now stay the progress OF
the enterprise.
CRICuTON's DEATH.
Lieutenant Crichton met his death under
peculiarly sad circumstances. lie went INTO
ihe store occupied by Epps llargraNe. IN
company with a young son oi ihe laltcI,
who was anxious 20 recover small sum Oh
money. which was supposed 10 he III the
safe. The trip was made under lhe mos,
pprilotls circumstances. and the object ol
ihe visit having been accomplished. .the
Lieutenant and his charge started 10 make
their way back out OF the burning building.
They had almost reached the door when ihc
WALLS BEGAN TO TOPPLE.
The Lieutenant. with remarkable courage.
seized Young ilargraye. and. with the as
sistnncc of Chief-Of-l'Olice Henderson Eanes.
oot the boy safely out Of the store, and Just
a. he himself was about 10 pass through
the door. he was struck by a falling beam
and crushed TO the floor. 1t was impossible
IN rescue him. and he met his death there.
His body was recovered about 0clOck' pul
il was i'm "A shocking condition ana entireIy
untee0gnizable. The head had been burned
from the trunk. Lieutenant Crichton ieii
his family in destitute circumstances. ana
n subscription was starred for their rellci'
ARRESTED FOR RIOTlkn.
One Of the startling incidents Of the morn
inc was the arrest Of John Brewer, negro
caterer. ON the charge Of attempting 10 III
cite "A riot. Brewer II well known III refers
hur, where he is employed by The most
understood. was of such a violent character
that il was thought best 10 take him mo
custedy. He was refused bail and commit
fed 10 The city jail for hearing before
Mavor Collier. lie j. reported to have said
about Crichton that ''he ought to have been
li,led i've years ago" Mayor Collier nned
HIM 400 for using incendiafy language.
brewer appealed, and was bailed III ihe
sum Of $1,000.
THE INTENSE HEAT.
II was almost impossible Tor person 10
stand within two hundred yards OF lhe ire'
80 great was the intensity of the heat. Inc
flames overleaped the street on either SIDE
and al times presented the appearance ei
nm arch of lire. Several of the iiremen were
badly scorched and many of them had mar.
row escapes from topping walls. one oi
Them was rescued at great risk aiter he hau
been Knocked down by perfect shower oi