Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-01-11
FOUR MEN WOUNDED.
THIS THE RESULT OF A FIRE YES
TERDAY ON BELLE ISLE.
Blaze Also at the DanvfIie Railroad
shops and Mt Augustine & BIair's
Warehouse.

same bridge. and the third on Belle Isle.
There is no telling the amount of proper
ty that might have been destroyed had
any ono Of them gotten full headway.
They were all, however, extinguished be-
fore any great losses were sustained; but
on Belle Isle there was fall Of timbers
which wounded four men, one fatally. II Is
believed.
Urying-k X lin NJ the Danville-shops Burned
4 fire occurred at the Richmond and
Danville Railroad Company's shops in
Manchester yesterday afternoon that DID
between ~ 600 and ( 900 damages and
caused great excitement both IN that city
and Oh the business streets OF Richmond,
where the rumOr soon became current that
the entire chops. covering several acres OF
ground and giving employment to hun
dreds OF men. were being consumed.
Just before the bells tolled the hour Of 3
some of the men employed about the dry
ine-kiln detected volume OF smoke lssu-
ing from the top of that branch OF the
great establishment, and one went to the
Office near by 10 give the alarm while the
others set Immediately to work TO detect
the source of tho smoke and if possible TO
suppress the fire. which up 10 that time
was apparently confined TO "a small area III
side of the structure.
LNtINE ffch kltuaiO-'Ds
The railroad company's private. appa-
Tatus which, though not tritiing thing IN
itself. il not sufficient 10 cope with big
fire. was brought into immediate requlsi-
ton, and il was not long before water was
being poured on the tr0ublous element.
The Manchester fire-bell called out the
member of the Alert Company. who were
soon on the spot, and being well supplied
with hose had line stretched from the
plug at the corner Of Seventh and Semmes
street around by the Seventh-street arch
and q noble stream playing on the destruc-
tive element. Owing to the great distance
to be covered by the hose and the circui-
tous route by which it had TO be gotten TO
the scene OF danger the volume OF water
did not flow with as great power as would
have been the case nnder more favorable
services. but the stream was an excellent
and satisfactory one.
CAPTAIN West. master of transportation.
being apprised by phone at his Office. IN
in Richmond that there was danger OF a
serious conhagration. telephoned to Chiet
Puller. of the CITY Fire Department, and
asked if he could not send an engine over.
he said he could. This was exactly at :
o'clock and seven minutes later the engine
WAS crossing the Free bridge. and before
Captain West could walk across the Dan
Vile railroad bridge the Richmond steam
or was on the ground, end being double
action machine had two powerful streams
flowing into the drying-kiln, winch was
soon deluged.
DIFFICULT TASK.
II was an easy matter 10 open the door
and see that the centre of the holder OF
dry material was rapidly being followed
out by the angry element, but 70 get open
ings for the iTcInen TO work through was
found very difficult. the walls being double
Ia Ia l,n VI al a.
both sides and holes knocked through IN,
i'll the laddies could get their nozzles well
within the structure. which was now rapid
w Welding as prey TO the flames.
The fire was gotten under control IN
few minutes. but at 6:l5 o'clock the com
panys employees were still delugng the
charred stuff inside 50 ~ to prevent the
possibility Of a second outbreak.
THE KILN.
The kiln is a long frame structure stu
ated between the large brck-wOod ma
chiue-shop and the river, and is one OF the
nearest buildings 10 the Free bridge Here
the company's timber used in caT-building
and repairs is dried ly means of steam
Z. pipes which run through the lower part of
the kiln or inst at its bottom. Ihefoom
is entirely air-tight Its walls are foot or
more thick, and closely seaied inside ana
out. Between the weGther-bOardng and
the interior ceiling IS filled with cinders,
and the top is made the same way. The
kiln Is in the cOmpanys lumbcr-yard, and
on al sides Of it are grea. piles OF timber.
containing hundreds and thousands Of
feet
Al first il vas feared that the flames
would communicate with the carpenter
shops and other departments near BY but
bv the strenuous efforts of the railroad fire
brigade, members of the Manchester FIRE
Department. and the steam company from
Richmond this was prevented
As soon as the Richmond engine arrived
the crowd felt assured that the flames
could be gotten under control, as was the
case.
ORIGIN AND DAMAGE.
The kiln was filed with lumber nearly
dry enough to he taken ont and worked
up. all of which will practically be lost.
That which was gotten out or not entirely
burned up was so charredthat it cannot he
used for its original purpose.
The origin Ct the fire appears to be some
what of mystery. The general belief IS
that some of the dry timber became lgnited
from the steam-pipes. which were heated
to high temperature. This theory IS
borne out BY the fact that the fire burned
most in the centre Of the kiln.
The damage is placed at from $1,000 10
81. 500. and one of the officials seen last
night said he thought it was covered by
insurance. The kiln Will have TO be rebuilt,
but the stack Is left intact, and It Is not
thought that the steam-pipes are much
damaged.
IMMENSE CROWDS.
The fire. ike the one on Belle Isle at
nipht. attracted an immense crowd. To
see the latter at least three thousand peo-
ple-men, women, and children-walked
ont 70 the west end of Twelfth street, Man
chester where a beautiful view OF the
burning shop could be Obtained. Large
crowds from Ric&nond also assembled az
places from which a good view could
be had OF the fire. The spectacle present
ed when the roof and weather boarding had
been burned from the timbers, which
stood as columns of fire, was one rarely
surpassed in grandeur or loneliness.
The Blaze at Augustine & Biair's.
Precisely at 5 o'clock yesterday evening
an alarm was sent from Box 36, at the cor
ner Of Seventh and Arch streets, and two
engines Immediately responded.
No. 4, which also answers to this call.
was in Manchester at the time.
The fire was in the warehouse OF Angus
tine e Blair, on Ninth street near the Free
bridge. The first floor Of the building was
stocked with barrels of oil, grease. &c. Ii
was in this department that the fire was
burning.
FORMIDABLE FLAMES.
When the apparatus arrived the blaze
was bursting through the doors and WIN
dows and il appeared rs if big confiagra-
tion might result.
Two additional engines were called anu
four streams of water were poured on tho
flames. One hose and hook-and-ladder
company were also put to work.
BURNING OIL.
About $50 barrels of oil could not be got
ten ont of the house, and when the tames
reached this inflammable article they
burned rapidly. and it was difficult for the
fremen to work To advantage.
The fire. however, was soon gotten IN
der control, and was confined to this build
ing. All the oil left in the house was
burned, as was the entire inside OF the
building, leaving only the walls standing.
A large amount of property III tins Sec
ton was in danger OF the flames, and con-
siderable excitement prevailed for time.
THE LOSS.
The building was very old one ana the
loss is principally on the oils.
The damage has not yet been ascertain
ed. but il will be considerably over 81 900,
and is covered by insurance.
The building belonged TO the estate OF