Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-10-14
A MAIN STREET FIRE.
A SMALL BLAZE IN THE DISPATCH
BUILDING CREATES EXCITEMENT.
steamer No. 3 Turns Over and Two Fire.
men Are Injured-Damages Slight
in 10th Instances.

Tho alarm of fire yesterday morning
from Box No. 81. Thirteenth and Cary
streets, created considerable excitement
In tho central portion of tho city, as it
proceeded from the ncighborhood Of most
OF Richmond's large Wholesale houses.
The cause of tho alarm was the dis
covery of small blaze in the fourth story of
tho DISPATCH building, which was OBJ
served by gentleman who was walking
down Main street.
One OF the officers Of the Dispatch Com
rany, after locating the fire, ran % Box l3 Dust
across tho street from this oricc) to turn IN tho
alarm and thought he did 80, but he had only
opened the box.
"A few minutes later, no response having been
made TO what had been supposed 20 be n call 10
the Fro Department, some one pulled Box 81
hhh steamers Nos. and were on the scene in
few minutes.
Tho gentlemen nj the Office had practically OK
tinguished the fro before the apparatus ar
rived and Ii only remained 10 turn on a small
stream from one OF the city water plugs, 80 that
neither OF the engines were used. Tho coinicc
Is supposed 10 have caught from defective fiuc,
which IL located In tho rear Of the side wall.
me damage was only about S25, though had
mo IRE occurred u few hours earlier the result
might have been far moro serious
STEAMER TuMBIEs ovER.
When the alarm was sounded steamer No g.
from the BrOai-street engine-hOuse, also started
IN response Engineer Davy OBricn and Extra-
hrlNcr william Hays were on the engine, the
Haltcr occupying his regular scat In front. Scve
raj vehicles were In front OF Garbers transfer
ONCE, at the corner of Ninth and Main streets,
dhu III order 10 cyaie striking one OF these IL
was necessary TO make short curve The
Nhees OF the engine became fastened In the
su"ci-car tracks In some manner, md the
steamer toppled over, throwing both the engi-
hccr and driver 10 the ground with great veloc,-
". 1he steamer badly diiigurei
several pieces Of tho machinery being broken
ara both men painfully hurt. Mr.. Hays re-
ceiyot severe bruises about his knees and was
tlghily injured about his face and arms.
lhgincor O'Ericn was cut about the head and
bruised about tho body, though his injuries wore
not very painful Both were taken into Car
bers, whore medical aid was summoned. They
were soon able 10 walk about, and Driver Hays
went home, whore he will remain until his
bruises are sufficiently healed Tho Engineer
followed his engine 20 the rcpair-shoIs. where
he superintcnded tho work Of STRENGTHENING the
rear axle, which WAS badly bent In the casualty.
THE DAMAGE ABorT 800.
The affair attracted hundreds Of people upon
the street, ami much speculation was INDUCED
in as to the amount Of the damage to the
steamer. Many thought the handsome machine
was almost totally wrecked, but Mir John Frisch-
korn, president OF Board Of Fire Commissioners,
stated that the cost TO put the engine in its
former condition would not exceed $40 or 900.
Chief Puler thought the damage 10 the steamer
Ntlil it AbOul SlDV OF SlED. Inc ftltl-Fhist
was broken ana several small pieces Oi ma
chinery were bent or snapped. but the injury
was IL no particular serious or difficult to repair.
TIE srEED or THE TEAM.
The accident caused some comment on the
rate 0f speed at which the team was moving.
Several persons who slw the steamer rs II
passed down Ninth street assert that the horses
were going at rapid callOp. Others state posi-
lively that the team was not going too last ana
that the driver had his horses under perfect con-
=. tl.s..s .4f
~ the enaine turned over Tho DISPATCH re-
porter asked Chief puller what he Ind learned
upon this point and he replied;
81 have nad "a few individual reports upon the
matter 10 which YOU refer, bat they vaiy-One
will say one thing and another another. Ny
most reliable informant states that tho engine
was not going al rapid rate OF -peci. anu that
the driver had perfect control of his horses. Inc
place where this accident occurred II one OF the
most difficult in the city 10 make turn, cspec-
cially with a hcavy-loaded vehicle |, Of course.
expect that the affair will be- further invcsii-
sa;ed, but as far as l can learn tho driver and
the engineer ietOially bamecss.'
MUST BE CAREFtL.
"Have You not several times instructed the
employees at the Broai-Strcet cngine-hOuse 70
be very careful In driving and never TO 20 too
fast inquired the reporter Of the Chief
THAT instruction has been given al every
ongine-hOLse IN the city IL Il constantly being
given. and 1t Is thoroughly understood that the
drivers must be careful III going to and coming
from fires
Tho chief said that Driver Hays was only
slightly hurt ami that he was expected 10 re-
turn to work to-day.
HOW To TURN IN An ALARM.
Tho Fire Commissioners have not yet finished
putting up The new iire-alarm boxes which were
recently adopted by the board, and the coisc-
dueuce il that a few OF tine Old and deceptive
boxes are still in use. These latter. when open
cd deludc the person giving the alarm into The
belief that THIS is all that is necessary aud that
the alarm IL communicated 70 the FIRE Depart
mont This il because o! the ringing of little
cloctri--bcll. 1OcOnmuricatc with tho depart
menf il l. necessary tot pail down the lever N the
rox. which rings the gong IN The fire-ahrm
Office. -
Tho nov boxes open by n key and 4 little
brass hook Is pulled % turn in the alarm. This
macnine docs not hcve the little bell which fools
the public by its ringing.