The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1889-08-01
DISASTROUS FIRE.
STREET CAR STABLES IN THE WEST
END DESTROYED.

uet,,een sixty and seventy Horses and
,,,,t,.. uurucd-The Fire Believed To- be
Caused bx Observation-Disclosures ana
Io..cs not Yet Estimated.
A bolt Of lightning was the cause OF
destruction last night Of the city street
car stables and the death of from sixty
10 seventy horses and mules.
SUPPOSED CAUSE OF THE DISASTER.
There was an electric wire which ran
IN the building on the roof. 1t was
not properly connected with anything.
A thunder storm passed over the city
few minutes before 10 o'clock, and II ~
supposed bolt of lightning struck tins
wire and ran down into the interior,
setting the building on ere.
One man who was quick TO discover
the flames said he saw the fire down
below. A stableman said that he saw
the flash. and Immediately succeeding
it a fire beneath the roof about midway
Of the stables.
There was some delay in turning IN
the alarm. which was finally sounded
some minutes past midnight from Box
"A. corner of Main and Harvie streets.
A TIMES reporter saw the light and was
half way to the fire before a bell
sounded.
Engine No. arrived promptly and
had a good road to travel. She got on
a stream in quick order. Engine No. D
had to pull through mud foot deep,
and it was hard work to get to
the plug on Lombardy street
near the West End school-house.
The firemen went to work with VIM.
however, aud kept the flames inside oil
the stables.
All the residents Of the West End
were startled when they heard the rush
Of the fire apparatus past their houses
and still more so when they saw the
streets for squares around Illuminated
with light so bright that they could
read newspaper by it. Many who had
retired hustled into their clothes and
made for the scene.
TROUBLES OF THE FlREMEN.
The building burned is brick struc-
ture about forty feet tall and about one
hundred and fifty feet long. It was
of brick. with a single roof. Inside
were eight rows Of stalls, with capd.
city for stabling about three hundred
horses or mules. This building was
i'm the rear of the yard. The
large brick building, III which the can
are housed. fronts on Main street ana
runs back a long distance. Between II
and the burning building Is the WIND
mill that raises water from well. The
The yard surrounding all the
buildings is filled up with
old railroad iron, car wheels
poles. &c scattered about without any
attempt at order. TIE rains have maze
the ward one puddle Of water or mire
all of which exceedingly hampered the
iiremen in their work.
Luckily the wind wac blowing some
what from the south. and this carried
the flames away from the windmill anC
car building. A portion of the gable
wall fell within ten feet Of the mel
handling the hose, but they kept on at
work as though they were used to tina
kind of thing.
At the hour the fire happened large
number OF the drivers were about tn
car sheds. Others lived in the imme
date neigbbOrhood and quickly ar
rived. A long line OF cars wer'
on a track close TO the burning
building. and they, under the direc
ton of the superintendent, was sool
run out Of the way. Fully one-half O
the cars were in the street, some on AM
off the track and one or two III th
mud inside the yard when the reporte
left.
BETWEEN SIXTY AND SEVENTY ANIMAL
BURNED.
The superintendent and several Othe
persons told the reporter that betwee
sixty and seventy horses and mule
were burned. Policeman Joyner SAL
he saw number burned up himself.
A large number of animals were got
ten ont and driven 10 other quarters
and number, too, were attached l
ears which had not come IN. lh
heated air kept the windmill IN actiy
operation. and at one time the far
caught fire, but stream Judlciousl
used extinguished the flames.
THE ENTIRE BUILDING DESTROYED.
The entire building is completed
DESTROYED, along with much hay, az
Nothing but the walls are left. 1t W;
late hour this morning before I'll
fremen were able to leave the scene.
The street-car sheds and stables al
in Henrico county. just beyond the cit
limits on Main street. Some people q
their way TO the fire thought from Il
reflection that West-End school-hous
which is just one square oil, was
fire.
INSURANCE.
, The property is insured but 1t coul
/, not be learned last night whether Il
= live stock was insured or not.
There will be a considerable dela
H. ,.,nrninl. in rnnninr the hnran car