Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-11-08
PIIlRSBURG'S CONFEDERATION.
Seventeen Stores and Buildings De-
stroyed.
THE IRON FRONT In ASHES.
Less Of Life--A Sad Incl
dent.
I0SS sSOO.OOO--- INSURANCE S3SO,OOO
THE IRON FRONT IN ASHES.
LOSS 100000 INSURANCE S35O,OOO
Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispa,ch.l


CITY. occurred here this morning IN tho
very business centre of the town. seven,
teen stores and buildings were burned ana
the destruction is as thorough and complete
as FIRE could we'll make it. The scene OF
the confagration is on Sycamore street e&-
tending south on both sides OF the street.
and the ugly ruins present scene oil DESC
lat,on which crieyes the hearts of our citi-
zens.
ORIGIN or THE FIRE.
The iron front row Of buildings. among
the finest in the South, stood on the west
side OF Sycamore street. They were. hve
stories high and were an architecturh OF
nament TO the city. They were erected
about the wear 1853 or 80 10y joint-stock
company OF which the late Samuel Drum
mond was the chief, 40 cost OF largely
over one hundred thousand dollars. Inc
iron fronts were made in Baltimore, ana
the buildings when fnished-tve stores
were the pride OF the city. The fashion
able dry-gOOds trade of the city had long
been done in these buildings.
About o'clock this morning the rear
norton of Store No. Of this row, Occu-
pied by NesSrs. George II. DAVIS Co.,
was discovered 20 be ablGze. The rnging
Of the bells and the rolling of the heavy
engines through the streets awoke Inc
people from their slumbers and many nun
dreds. attracted by the bright hght, lett
their beds 10 20 10 the ERE. The store was
heated by a furnace and the fire is believed
10 have been caused by defect IN TIE
heating arrangements. Unfortunately
there were no " dead walls" in these build
ings aud there was little 10 prevent the
spread of the fire after II had gotten
uuder good headwav. The fire department
did noble work. but under the intense hea'
and dense smoke the men wrought under
great Disadvantages. y telegram was sent
10 Richmond for assistance, and COM
panv with an engine, in charge of Captain
Fuller, responded They were unioriu-
nately DELAYED for over half an hour on
the road. but arrived in time to render
material assistance. Their services were
highly appreciated by our citizens, and the
Richmond lrcmen were cordially con-
graduated and thanked by Mayor Collier
TIE FIRES DESTRUCTION.
The flames spread rapidly from the large
dry-goods house of George II. DAVIS q Co.
10 the north and south. soon UnvelOping
and destroying the stores and stocks OF A.
KosenstOck Il Co., VI. VI. Davis a Co.. dry
goods: Plummor a Wheeler, hardware
4. W. Price. grocery q. III. BozeHs PRINT
inc establishment all IN the irOn-iront
store-the large furniture warehouse Of }.
H. Rothert, the grocery stores Of >. ).
Bridgers and Epps Hargrave, and the china
and stove store OF George W. BrOOks-all
on the same side Of the street. Leaplng
across 10 the east side the magnificent Odd
Fellows building, erected IN 1915; the
Western Union telegraph Office, the
stores Of =. NJ. Steward. y. ). Clements,
81. W. Pyne, !. ;. SGabury; and the oflccs
II ". Il. Nichols and David Calender were
swept away. Mr.. Calender Is the agent OF
the Eltrick, Battersea, and Matoaca Cot
On-Manuiacturing Companies. and III his
rooms were stored 100 bales of cloth, all of
which was lost. In the Odd-FelOws'
building were the rooms and the fine
library. numbering several thousand
volumes. of the Young Mems Christian
Association-all destroyed. also, the offices
lost everything. Dir. Stewards residence
was over his store. Mayor Collie w. l..
Watkins q son, aud J. NJ. Taylor 81 fine
Libraries in their legal offices aud all Their
furniture and papers.
The Odd Fellows had q splondidly-fur-
nished and equipped ball and rooms IN the
building. and many OF the secret societies
held their meetings there. Monroe and
Appomattox lodges lost all of thelrrecords
and paraphernaha rs did also the knights
of Honor, Royal Arcanum, and other So
cicties.
Over 5000 bags Of peanuts stored in Har-
graves store. valued atneaTly 10000, were
burned. There were also storages OF goods
on the upper floors Of some of the ron
front buildings. which We're burned to
ashes.
The losses will probably not fall below
$780, coo aud will probably reach SGOO,OOO.
loss OF LITE.
One Of the saddest features about the
fire is the death Of Lieutenant George
CrichtOn, of the police corps, who lost his
!.
entered the store of Mr.. Epps Hargrave
with the son of the latter gentleman with
the hope of saving some money. Just as
he was about leaving no was caught at the
door by falling debris and buried out OF
sight. His rescue was impossible. HIS
body was subsequently recovered, burned
TO a crisp. His head has not vet been found.
Biz. Crichtcn was gallant and efficient
officer. He leaves a widowed mother, a
widow, and six children-the youngest
only about eight days old. A subscription
was very promptly started for their relief,
and everyb BODY is contributing literally TO
II. Mayor Collier has issued an address in
their behalf and will receive subscriptions
for their benefit.
BIoToUs CONDUCT.
Soon after the news of Lieutenant
Crichton's death a negro named John
Brewer was heard TO remark III the vicinity
that CrichtOn ought to have been dead
and in hell" five years ago. His conduct
caused intense indignation, and he was
promptly arrested and taken TO Jail 10y the
Chief of Police on the charge OF attempt
ing TO incite riot. And 1t was fortu-
nate that the arrest was made 80
quickly. Brewer was subsequently taken
before the Mayor, who imposed q
fine Of 800 and required bond
of $500 for his good behavior. The
defendant acknowledged the charge, and
said he was sorry for his conduct, but the
Mayor told him that his regret came too
late, and that his language, occurring at
the time it did. might have caused blood
shed and very serious consequences to the
community. Brewer took an appeal from
the MAYORS decision, and his bond was IN
creased TO 81 900. At later hour another
negro was arrested on similar charge
and is still in jail.
INCIDENTS.
Tho whole burned district is q mass Of
smouldering ruins which 10 will take weeks
to remove. The walls are all being taken
down as q measure of safety.
A portion of the Hotel Gary. on Tabb
street, was badly injured and Is not ten
antable.
A frame dwelling in the rear of odd-Fel-
lows building, owned by the Boiling estate,
and occupied by Mr.. j. Finley Mcllwaine,
was destroyed. Insured for $1,000.
THE INSURANCE.
The following Is full list Of the in
surance as accurately as il can DO obtain
ed:
Mutual Assurance Of Virginia.. II.
Rothert. $1,000; S. 5. Bridgers, 5000; a.
Rosenstock Il Co., 5000 George III.
Davis n Co., 5000: A. w. Price. 80. 900
Epps Hargraye 81 600: George w. Brooks.
$4,000; p. NJ. Steward. $4,000; Odd-Fel-
lows building. $4,000; Boiling estate,
$4,000: dwelling. ~, 200 total, $50, 100.
London aud Liverpool and Globe. II.
Rothert, 800: M. NJ. Davis x Co.. Si2.-
800; Plummer a Wheeler. $4,000 A. w.
Price. 81 600; G. w. Brooks, $1,000. Odd
Fellows Building, $i,OOO-total, $23. 500.
Virginia State--A. Rosenstock Il CO.,
$1,000; George Ii. Davis q Co., s. 900: NJ.
NJ. DAVIS d Co. 81, 800; A. w. Price, 81 900
total. $500.
British America-A. w. Price, $500 /;
Young Mems Christian Association. $500
total, 81 900.
Virginia Fire and Marine Rosenstock &
Co.. $4,000; A. W. Price, 81 500. G. III.
Eozel, $4,000; p. ii. Steward, $5O0-total,
$4,000.
Hartford Fire Rosenstock Al Co. "a. O00: