Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-08-02
HORSES HOLOCAUST.
IT LEAST FORTY-EIGHT BURNED m
THE STREET-CAR STABLES.
The Fire Attributed to Lightning Carried
Into the Building on an Electric
Wire.

It is not vet unorringly settled how the
street-car stables were set afre yesterday
morning further than that the lightning
did the work; but whether the current
from the clouds followed the electric wires
or the bolt descended directly into the
feed-rooms IS a mystery aud probably
always will be.
In that part OF tho building where the
flames were first seen tclcphone-wire en-
tered and also a wire 90 drive the motor
which was used in running the machines
used in cutting feed for the horses and
mules Il is argued with plausibility at
least that the lightning followed one of
these wires and found abundant cOmbusti-
hlos in the hay and oats stored IN great
quantities on the second floor OF the stable
building.
TIE BUILDINGS.
The fire originated in and was confined
10 the stables-a twO-story brick building
gOxl65 feet. which was covered with very
substantial roof Of slate.
The car-eheds and Offices also very spa
ciOus structures. were altogether uuharm-
od and but few Of the cars were damaged
nj all and those only by the hurry IN which
thev were necessarily removed into the
the flames would advance.
Good Judgment was used IN locating
these new stables sheds, and Offices, Tor
the two main buildings were separated by
very considerable space. and across this,
thanks 10 the energetic efforts Of the fire
men, the fire did not advance.
A MIDNIGHT SHOWER.
The lightning's stroke which did the
mischief came in the midst of one OF those
showers for which last month has such
bad record. The fall OF water was very
great and the shock of the thunder and
lightning was felt by everybody IN the
West End awake at the time, and many
who were fast asleep were aroused from
thor slumbers and in some instances per-
sous were shocked almost to lnsenslhlity.
However. this has been frequent expe-
rience TINS summer, and IN tins instance
attracted no special attention. Several
men were engaged III putting away cars for
the night and others were about their
stable duties. but no one was IN the feed
loft, and it was some minutes before the
flames appeared.
DISCOVERY.
Some time after the flash two of the
drivers were on their way home from the
stables. and, looking back-oT, rather,
turning n corner-they saw the flames leap
ing from the roof Of the building. Those at
the stables discovered the fire about the
same time.
The drivers separated, one to turn in
the fre-alarm and the other to 60 10 the
residence of Mr.. st. Armand, near by.
Mr. st. Armand i the cOmpany's super
intendcnt and bad but little while before
gotten home from the stables. and had Just
fallen asleep. When the news was told
him he got mp quickly enough and rushed
back to the stables. His drivers soon
began pouring in from all sides, and, with
wiling and cheerful hands set to work TO
save all the property possible.
Mr. ST. Armand was earnest Yesterday IN
his expression of gratitude to the men.
"HoRsE SENSE"
Horse sense seems 10 fail in case Of fire.
Here IT was with extraordinary difficulty
that the animals could be persuaded TO
bulge from their stalls. and when they at
last consented It was as often as not the
case that they came rushing back again.
Finally it was found necessary to lead
them to the street and there turn them
over 10 men. who undertook TO put them III
the lot adjoining. A great number were
thus saved, but others made their escape
and some of these have not yet been re-
covered.
THE loss.
Tic 'carcasses of forty-eight horses were
counted yesterday morning.
How many more are hidden beneath the
dt6rls no one knows OF can guess for the
present.
The company owned about 2lj horses
and mules, and the average value of them
was 800 II Is believed they have lost
from fifty to sixty. Some of the horses
and mules saved are somewhat burned.
To-day, by which time nearly all the horses
that have gone astray Will have been re-
covered, the company VIII he able 10 as
certain approximately how many they have
lost
The woodwork Of the stables was utterly
destroyed.
The value of the stable building vas
about 5000 or $1,000.
The value of the feed on hand was about
S2,5OO.
Losses on harness and other things, in
Guiding the damaged cars, Will no doubt
foot up II 500 more.
The entire loss will not exceed Slj.0 900 or
SiG.OO and is all covered in insurance III
the agencies of Peyton a Snton and
Cabell a. SHELTON.
THE CARS YESTERDAY,
The running Of cars Yesterday was ef-
fected under very disadyantageous cir
cumstances.
Cars were about fifteen minutes apart
and all of the horses and mules were put
to work before they could be breakfasted;
hut as the day wore on the old stables of
the company on Leigh street near Adams
were fitted up and there the horses and
mules were fed as rapidly rs possible.
INSURANCE.
The entire insurance on the stables. car
sheds. ears, horses and mules, harness,
&C.. amounted to more than $4,000.
The following IS statement OF the
amounts and companies, SO far as they re-
fer TO the losses of yesterday mornings
Through Skelton d Caben: London and
Iancashre-H. l.. Cabell, agent-SS79.25
on building, S2,sl3.6O on horses. and Sl7.59
on harness: Germau-American IL. l..
Cabell. agent - S5S6.17 on building,
81 1,s75.7 73 on horses, and S11.73 on harness;
Hamburg Bremen - John \. Gordon,
agent-S6s2S 80 on building, S2,1s5.22 on
horses, and Sl3.66 on harness sun Fire Of
fice-G. ID. Peasants Il Sons, agents
S35l.7O on building, Sl,l25.H on horses,
and S704 on harness.
With PeytOn X Sinton: In the CONNER
cial Union ~ go on the stable building;
in the Scottish Union and National lnsu-
rance Company, SG2j on the stable build
ing: in the Lion of London, S625 ON the
stable building: III the Scottish Union,
81, 600 on horses In the sun, $4,000 on
horses; in the Commercial Union, $4,000
on horses; on the harness, S25 IN the Com
mercial Union. Sl2. 30 each in the Lion and
Scottish-total. $50 on harness.
Total