Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-07
I'd EDITION.
Latest q6lBglanS to The Star.
BIG FIRE TO-DAY AT PETERSBURG
Loss Over Three-Quarters of Million. and
Q Policeman Killed.
FUNNY TEsTIMoNYIN THE cRoNIN CASE
HOLOCAUST AT PETERSBURG.
Full Account of the Frightful Disaster
Policeman Creighton Killed.
BIG FIRE TO-DAY AT PETERSBURG
FUNNY TEsTIMoNYIN THE cRoNIN CASE
HOLOCAUST AT PETERSBURG.
Full Account of the Frightful Disaster
Policeman Creighton Killed.

Special Dispatch to The EVENING STAR.
PETERSBURG, VA, Nov. IA most destruct-
i've fire occurred here this morning about
o'clock, which destroyed large portion Of the
business portion of the city. Ten stores were
burned, including the Iron front" building
which consisted of five large fve-story stores.
This was one Of the most attractive buildings in
the south and cost s125,OOO 1t was
erected in 1861 on the site of the old Powell
hotel which was burned in 1857. Among the
other buildings destroyed were the Western
Union telegraph Office and the Odd Fellows
hail. In this hall were the Young Mems Chris
tian association rooms. The association lost
its entire library, entailing loss of over $4,000.
The fire originated in the rear part of the store
of Geo. H. Davis Co., large wholesale and re-
tail dry goods dealers, whose place OF business
was under the 'Iron-front' building. The fire
spread with frightful rapidity. and telegram
was sent to Richmond by Mayor Collier asking
for help. One of the Richmond fire companies
with steam engine and twenty-five
men was sent here at once on q
special train, but owing to some delay On the
part of the railroad company they did not ar
rive here until shortly after o'clock, by
which hour the fire had been got
ten under control and then their serv-
ices were not called into requisition.
The loss by the fire will reach three-quarters
of million, with an insurance of 1850, 000, prin-
cipally in northern companies. The old Vir-
ginia Mutual insurance company had policies
on the property burned to the amount of &c.,
600. The IRE will prove a severe blow to Peters,
burg, and will throw out of employment many
men who were employed as clerks.
LIEUT.. CREIGHTON KILLED.
During the progress of the fire Lieut.. Geo.
Crichton OF the police force was caught be-
meath a falling wall and instantly killed At
the time Of the occurrence he was goidg into
a store which was on fire to get some money
the proprietor. He leaves a widow and six
children. A subscription is being made for
the benefit of his widow and about $500 has SO
far been subscribed.
THE FIRMS BURNED OUT.
The firms in the 'rIron 'front.' building who
were burned out were: A. Rothenahal & Co.,
NJ. NJ. Davis & Co., Plummer & Wheeler, hard
ware, and A. W. Price, grocer. Their stocks
Book, Eppa Hargrave and George Rothert,
furniture company, were also burned. The
stores Of p. s. SeabuOy, P. NJ. Steward, NJ. W..
Pyne and David Calender, on the opposite side
OF the street were also destroyed.
AN INCIDENT OF THE FIRE.
This morning John Brewer, a colored carter,
was arrested for using incendiary language on
the public streets. The substance of his Lam
guage, which was addressed to a large as
semblage of negroes, was that Lieut. Crichton
ought to have been dead and in hell
years ago. The mayor fined him
keep the peace for IL months. He lost an ap-
peal from the mayors decision to the corpo-
ration court and was then required to give an
appeal bond and peace bond of 81 900 each.