Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-01-02
DEsTRUCTGyE FIRE.
Burning ofsn Immense DruE-uousc
Low. R075.OOO.
rBy telegraph % the Dispssch.


ST. Lorrs, January 1.-The immense six.
story brick building of the Richardson Drug
Company. on the northwest corner OF Fourth
street and Clark avenue. was reduced TO
ruins in forty minutes sitter > O'clock this
morning. The building ironted l20 feet on
Fourth street and ran back on Clark avenue
200 ieet to private alley, aud back Of this
was a three.storv substantial brick ware
house used by the hrm 10 store explosives
and highly.combu-tiule goods and oils. The
building WAS built in 1850, and was COM
ple.e with al modern Improvements
The fire was discovered at 2:20 A. VI. and
q general alarm was turned In. So fierce vas
the 6re that five minutes after the alarm was
turned in the buildings across tno street
we're smoking and we're about 20 burst into
flames. Every few minutes terrible cX-
plo,ion would dclouatc throughout ihe
buildings and graceful curl- 81 fire,
many feet in height and diameter,
would lean high into the air and sum
mon the reyellmg u0ter. Of New ears
night 10 the scene OF deduction. When
every pane oi glass was out OF the building
tongues OF fire leaped OUT, and HEIR hest
made the narrow street shepl Tor the gal-
liant fremeu, who tOii5i with bursting
burnins hose to save the property. Their
coats smoked sud their hauds were blister
cd when exposed e. the glare. AMI many
dropped the lines and sought The shaie OF
the adjacent building. The entire six loors
were ded with combustible goods, great
portion oi tht stock being extremely inllam'
mable. The ifst i0or was occupied by the
accounting depar, meBt, in Which about POO
b1ok.keepcrs, clerks, anf salesmeo were
employed. aud contained also some show
IT,. .aoenN Natr given nm
10 eundrles, Of which an immense stock
Of costly goods were carried. On the
thlrd floor were pants and oils. and this
story was also used for packages. The
fire seemed 10 get An early hold on the third
floor and the flowing oils dripping thr19lh
the drst two stories supple the fountain OF
the fire, that played lr IN The basement clear
10 the roof, defying ali the arlin -! Efforts TO
check its costly flOw. N0t enough lines of
hose could have been laid around the build-
ing 10 have saved h, 50 speedy was the
.presd os the Ire. and the few hfemen who
for minute or tWO at a time brayed the aw-
[ul beat had bnt a dozen streams 10 combat
a half dozen acres oi blaZing oils, molten
iron. and flaming gla.s. /. was i magnificent
and awful sight from the first two minutes
after its discovery until after 3 o'clock, when
the bulldog collapsed aud there was no.
thing more 10 burn.
The Richardson Drug Company was the
outgFowth OF a business founded forty years
ago by James Richardson, ts present presi-
dent. Vce-President joseph &. Richardson
and Secretary james Richardson, Jr.. aTe
sons Of the founder Of the house. MF. John
Nohat. manager OF the suEdries' department,
had a Iroprietary Interest IN The concern, as
mad one or two other attaches outside Of the
Richardson's. The building was ,recfed
several yesrs ago at a cost OF $4,000. The
corner was occupied for some time by a
paint and oil firm before the Richardson
Drug Company moved up from north second
street. Il was one OF tue largest wholesale
drug houses In the country, and It's drug
gistS sundncs department was the largest
in the connLry. Bulldogs IN close pr0x.
imitv 10 the fire were scenes Of tremendous
excitement. The Ebler House, place
AZ 200 south Fourth street, occupied bJ
boardnls. va. the scene of a panic.
The screams Of the frightened women and
men rushing - and fro from room TO room
after their friends created much terror. Fis
naly the hremen came 10 their assistance,
aud all occupants were safely rescued.
Woesss masfnierade store. 201 south Fourth
street, was destroyed. AT 2:l0 o'clock the
avenue. in which was row on three-story
brick bOardiDg-hOuses, was also scene OF
fright. The occupants bad only time O. es'
cape. One scene OF great excitement was IN
the liVery-slabie Of Scott IL Lynch, at Alb
Elm street, which structure extends south
to Clark avenue and in rear Of the drug
building. When the stable was suddeDlv
lighted I'D from the flames OF the burning
building tue horses became panic-,tricken,
and when it was attempted 10 take them ont
the animals stood trembling With fear, and.
ss characteristic OF their nature, would not
leave. The lremen fouod Il necessary 10 goad
them on by beating them with stakes.
snoyels, Whips, and anything that was 1t
hand. After much effort they we're tsken
from the stables and Il was Immediately
occupied by nfemen, who ran hose through
10 Clark avenue, and thereby placed several
streams Of water on the fre. At $50 o'clock
toe most exciting epoch OF the bre occurred,
when several great explosions OF benzlas
and other explosive drugs occurred almost
simultaneously with the falling aud crashing
OF she southWe est corner OF the building, en-.
dangering tie life OF all hremen
/ on that portion OF the work. The heavy
eornices snd espplng>stones on the
top story began TO crack on the waverlng
walls. and the firemcn had only time to e.
cape from impending danger, whes with q
sudden crash that portion Of The building
fell, throwing burning fragments across
| Clark avenue and setting Dire to Misler's
bakery. q two-stor; brick, and an adjoining
! building on the southwest corner OF Fourth
street and Clark avenue. and covering the
eatire intersection of the streets with the
\ fiames and smoke. IL was expected that :
panic would occur ia the soutbers Hotel.
which IL within almost hsif a square OF the
| drug buiIdiag. but the guests were quietly