Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-08-29
FIRE In APAPER-MIL
BIG BLAZE IN THE FACTORY OF The
RICHMOND COMPANY.
The Flames Originate Among Old Rags
from Spontaneous Combnstion-Thc
Property Fully Insured.

Smoke n1nly SayOfed OF Oiu rags Pouio"
from the windows of the Richmond Paper
Company's mills last night.
At 9:22 o'clock when the alarm was sent
in from Box IA the flames were almost
readyt to leap through the windows OF tnat
portion Of the building used to store away
baied rags and where they are assorted FOR
the manufacture of paper.
The mills are at the corner of Eighth and
Arch streets. and the company very wisely
have the portion of the structure IN whicn
the machinery is located separated from
that in which the old raNs are kept.
The night-watchman WIS the first per-
con to discover the fire. He said II was
burning in the second story among the old
RAGS, and every second the flames leaped
higher. until IN few minutes the whole
inside of the house was ablaze.
THR ALARM SENT IN.
There was delay in turning in the
alarm. Finally Dick Leary sent 1t from
Box IA. When il was received at the ONCE
of the Fire-Alarm Department Superin-
tendent Thompson looked from his win
dow and saw the great red tongues OF fire
leaping up in the air. He ran down stairs
and went with Engine No. 3 TO the burn
ing house. When he got there. which was
within FIVE minutes after the alarm came:
nearly the whole building was enyeioped
in flames.
Superintendent Thompson was the first
officer to reacn the scene of contlagration.
and seeing the extent of the fire he did not
Immediately turned IN another alarm.
which was at $3.50 o'clock-exactly eight
minutes after the first one was sent.
THEY Oct TO WORK.
On the first alarm Engines Nos. 2, 3, and
4, Hose 6, ComDanyNo. 1, and Truck Com
pany No. hurried TO the fire. On the Sc
cond Engines Nos. 8 and and Truck
Company No. responded.
Engines Nos. 3. g. and went to work by
drawing water from the mill-race. which
furnishes power for the factory. No. was
stationed on Ninth street IN front of Halls
shop and No. 4 under the Petersburg
bridge.
All the water used was taken from the
mill-race OF the basin.
The fremen saw there was no chance 70
save that portion of the building that was
BURNING, so they went TO work to keep the
flames from spreading. and they succeeded
well IN confning the fire to the rag store
room.
SEVEN STREAMS OF WATER.
There were only five engines at work but
two of them operated double hose and
seven streams of water were kept playing
upon the fire.
The immense amount Of rags stored awav
caused tremendous blaze, which could
be seen for miles around, and 1t was some
time before the flames could be re-
duced 10 the inside of the house,
hut it finally succumbed TO the heavy
streams of water. When the blaze no
longer leaped out of the windows It strug-
gled hard for existence among the rags.
At times it seemed that the firemen had
conquered. but the flames would with
great persistency break out afresh among
the rags, and at times would light mp the
whole inside of the building.
The great volumes of smoke which pour
ed from the mills we're highly favored
with the odor of the burning material. and
was by no means pleasant to the nostrlls.
WILL BURN FOR HOURS.
The walls of the structure were very
little damaged and il is probable the first
floor was not injured by the fire, but oil the
baled rags were either burned or so badly
damaged that they will not be fit for use.
BY midnight some of the tiremen left.
while Others will remain on duty until
some time to-day, az fire among old rags is
ike fire among cotton, it is hard TO put
ont. and it is equally as difficult TO. tell
When IT is ont. II may be burning there
all day and perhaps longer;
The portion Of the building in which the
fro did its work il of brick and four stO-
ries high. The other part of the structure,
in which the machinery is located, is only
two stories.
THE LOSS AND INSURANCE.
Mr.. f. ID. Christian is president, and Mr..
A. II. Christian secretary and treasurer OF
fine Richmond Paper Company. Both OF
these gentlemen were at the fire, but nei-
ther could say what their loss would be.
II was fully covered by insurance. they
said, but as their books were at the ONCE on
Main street they did not know the exact
amount of the insurance.
Several gentlemen who have some expe-
rience in estimating the cost OF houses
gave il as their opinion that the damage TO
the building would amount to between
-. COO and $4,000. The total loss will
hardly reach $4,000.
The buildings on this site have been
burned several times. One was partially
DESTROYED on January Y, 1897. when the
boiler exploded. killing one of the ope-
ratives.
THE ORIGIN.
The fire is supposed to have originated
from spontaneous combustion. Inere Is
no other way of accounting for it. No one
works in that part Of the building. during
the night and fire is never carried there.
IL was burning on tho second toor when
first seen by the watchman.
While the fire was burning MIR. George
Selph, q fireman. was nearly sutfocated by
the smoke which poured from one or the
windows where he was working. lie was
taken out into the fresh air and was soon
able to return to his duties.
NOTES AND INCIDENTS.
It has been many years since such O
crowd of persons were seen at fire in this
CITY. Fullv 10000 were in the immediate
neiehborhood Of the blaze. They climb
ed upon the lumber-piles. house-tops. the
box-cars. and everywhere else they could
find space.
The mills are directly on the line OF the
main track leading TO the Union depot.
and the train from the North due here AT
9:45 o'clock was delayed al Elba station
for over an hour. The postal-wagon was
sent up there TO get the mail.
While watching the fire MIR. Kennedy
Palmer fell down an embankment and re-
ceived severe cut on his forehead.
Several other persons received snght
bruises.
The fremen did splendid work and often
their daring efforts were heartily ap-
plauded.
MANCHESTER AND VICINITY.