Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-31
FIRE ON MAIN STREET
Phillips & STEMS CHM Store and
Contents Burned Last Night.
OTHER BUILDINGS DAMAGED.
One of the Nest Startling ConfiagrstioDs
In Recent Yoars-Loss S75. 900, Nearly
Covered by Insurance.

Covered by Insurance.
For the first time in years there has been
a destructive FIRE on Main street in the
vicinity Of the post-office.
Phillips & STEMS crockery store-both
stock and building-is total wreck, and
the loss is not much short of $4,000.
But for the fact that the house was one
Of an iron block the damage would neces-
sarily have been much greater, as it was
this fire-proof material that saved the re-
mainder of tho row from destruction.
And even rs it was there was an uncer-
tainty for several hours as to whether or
not the flames could be prevented from
spreading.
But at o'clock this morning human
skill and improved inventions had tri-
umphed over the most dreaded and re-
morseless Of elements.
About five minutes past 10 o'clock last
night smoke was seen issuing from the
rear of Phillips. & STEMS crockery store,
1913 east Main street, just opposite the
post-ofiice.
ALARM TURNED IN.
Policeman Farley says he was the first
person TO notice the smoke, and that he
Immediately ran to No. engine-house.
Cary street between Ninth and Tenth and
gave the alarm. Several of the men came
around with the hose-carriage, and plug
stream was at once put on.
At this time there was only small circle
&c S., orcv,J IN ;poanIaecapt lamp in
the cellar, and undoubtedly the conhagra-
tion originated from this source. One Of
tho fremen ran back to the house and
pulled in an alarm from Box 81.
Policeman Redford fastened to Box 49,,
opposite the Dispatch office, and attempted
to pull in an alarm, but the tinkllng of the
bell, this station being of the non-inter-
| fering make, showed that an alarm had al
| ready been turned in from some other sta
| ton. He returned to the store and with
the assistance of several citizens broke IN
| the front door.
DELAY THAT WAS FATAL.
Mr.. Claggett came mp with the KEYS
about this time, but they were not needed.
! The doors, however, were thrown open
| and the fire located.
All the while Private Watchman Smith
/ Zens, among them UiSpdtCh reporter. were
waiting patiently for the arrival of the fire
/ apparatus. When it did come IL was be-
| tween zen and fifteen minutes from the
| time Policeman RedfOrd attempted to pull
| in the box at Twelfth and Main. This de-
! lay was fatal. The fremen laid 1t on the
policemen and Uice resd.
When the department arrived considera-
| BILE difficulty was experienced IN breaking
| =. A / NAH.,, fltu uvag
plished the inside was found TO be ablaze
and roaring like o blast-furnace. The
| flames shot up the hetchway used for the
| elevator, and in a few minutes the fire was
| on all four floors.
! Steamers 2, 3, and 7, and HOOk-and-L Lad
| der Truck No. responded on the hrst
! alarm.
SECOND ALARM.
As soon as the Chief arrived he ordered
q second alarm to be turned in, and sub
| sequently Engines No. / and 6 and Truck
Nc. were called by private signal.
The contents Of the cellar were Grated
! goods and the smoke sent forth was sitting.
| This combined with the lnsccessibility of
the flames rendered the work Of the
! department very labOriOus and 10 great
| extent Intellectual. Slowly but surely the
confederation gathered headwey, and By
1890 the whole cellar was one mGss O
flame. There was no way Of fighting the
fire in the front part of the cellar except
by raising the glass pavement IN front oi
| the door. This required a great deal OF
time, and finally when it was done the trC
had nearly burned through TO the main
floor.
BURNING BAGE BRIC-A-BRAc.
It was just about midnight when the
main floor ignited. For a moment the
| n IA 49,, ha t,,oupifipaDf btjc- "a -lg11i
! md rare wares of different kinds, anC
when at this moment n strong stream OF
water was turned on the precious article;
there was crash fearful to hear, and II l:
safe 10 say that in five seconds As many
| thousand dollars worth of damage wa
done. The second. third. and fourth
! floors in their turn fell prey to the relent
less clement The building was one Oh al
iron block of four. 80.
which adjoiEs it on tho east, IS Of the same
material. II was this which prevented
further spread Of the flames IN that dI
rectiOn.
BURNING FOR HOURS.
For over an hour the fire burned steadily
| Floor after floor fell IN, the rafting o
millions of fragments OF glass and china
ware demonstrating the damage that wa
being done.
Near I O'Clock this morning when the
fomes were at their height, IL looked aS Il
all of the block must go. The flames crep
along inside the roof, and it was only by
the cutting Of numerous holes, careful
watching and hard work that the flame
were chiefly confined 10 the one building
As it was the upper portion OF L. Is. lay
lor's crOckery store, winch lS next u
Phillipsl& Stem ON the west. was consldera
bly, damaged.
gathered long ere this to behold the un
wonted spectacle OF fire IN the heart o.
the city.
PEOPLE IN DANGER.
Ropes were stretched across the stree
about fifty feet from either side or tn
burninr building to prevent the too nea
approach of the multitude TO the detrlmen
of the working of the department
AZ the time when the fire was at it
heiCht the iron-front near the tol
was frequently red-hOt, and grave fear
were entertained as TO its ability to with
stand the intense heat. When several ex
perts stated that if any OF the front fell l
would carry that of the other three build
ipes. CAPTAIN Angle ordered his men t
clear the street even on the pavement Op
pOsite. where up TO this time the specta
torg had been allowed TO remain unmolest
ed. The rear of the building was .guarde,
by Captain Hulce with his Third, ,distric
men. who were brought down in. force {
watch for thieves who might feel tempter
by the exposed condition of the contiguou
stores.
HOW THEY WORKED.
All this time seven good streams Of waite
were PLAYING on the building. The Haye
truck was in use on Main street and di
splendid work, throwing water into all tn
upper stories at will
Numerous holes were cut in the roof
and parts of ceilings were pulled down a
far as three buildings away from the on
on FIRE.
The firemen did noble service, maxim
their way through the smoke, which wa
dense. in all the stores in the vicinity
pulling out windows, examining roofs, an
using their utmost endeayors 10 preyen
I nf