The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-01-06
THE BIG BLAZE ON SUNDAY.
INSTRUCTION OF THE OIL D
JAMES RIVER BREWERY.

Two Firemsn IDjursd-Loss and insur-
anc,-Thousands of People Visit the
Scene Of the Cosnagratiou Despite the
Nippinx weather.
The old James River Brewery, together
with its contents, which consisted Of
uooden-ware Of the Richmond CEDAR
Works, was totally consumed by IRE yes
day.
Attention was called to the FIRE by tne
private alarm at the Richmond Cedar
Works, which was sounded at ri O'CLOCK
A. NJ. Hose Company No. 2is on seventh
and Denny streets, but few squares from
the scene Of the fire, and this company ar
irving, found the fire in the Cedar "ork'
stable. north OF the brewery and almost
adjoining il, twenty or twenty-five Zee.
soiItheast frsm long, low, tar-cnversu
frame building, between the CEDAR Mors
proper and the brewery. In TINS OuliuInE'
I rented by the Cedar Works Company, was
stored hundreds and hundreds OF TUBS anu
all kinds OF goods manufactured D! INC
| firm.
sPREADlNh FLAnH's
The fire was fast spreading from one enu
of the stable TO the other, the pltch anu .1i
smoking in this building, ana nortneII!
wind carrying the flames INTO tue mlnuo"s
M the north end Of the brewery. ms was
the situation when engines | and arrived
Much of the ward of the works was nan
frozen mud, and through this No. engine
| had 10 be drawn. The water supply In tne
ward was insufficient, and the engine
was quickly returned to plug
outside. Upon the arrival or the
First Assistant Engineer, and followed
I by the Chief, Engines and were called
and placed on the river bank. FROM lnese
two machines streams were soon playing
threuoh lines OF hose nearly third OF a
mile long and up perpendicular oil over
seventy feet. Engine No. had gone 10
work Immediately upon its arrival at pug
on the CITY railway line. one square south
of the Chesapeake and Ohio track. truck
| No > having been called took an advanta-
0eous position in the yard north OF the hre
and rendered much effective service.
COOLING THE BOYS.
The streams from Engines 2 and were
on the roof Of the framed building used as a
storehouse. already deserted, and OCCASION
ally Captain AtkinsOn's truck stream was
turned upOn the men and kept them cool.
| But for this they could not have stood the
heat from the great building on fire.
The stream Of Engine , VAS on the ground
between the wooden building and the Drew
cry, and suddenly, amid all the Dilndlhg
smoke and steam from he hot bricks ana
fire. a portion of the north wall fell with a
crash, catching Foreman Hirshberg ana
Hosenan Haake. Captain HirshOerg re-
ceiyed a severe scalp wound ana other
/ bruises. and HOseman IIaake WAS Knocked
| senseIess and very severely cut on the head
and bruised about the body. The city am
bulance was called and Mr.. Haake taken
home. Foreman Hirshberg remained some
time to look after his company, and was
then able TO 90 home without assistance
| Approaching the works from Main street,
the main building where operations are
| carried on are first reached. Around these
spacious brick establishments are great
| piles of light cedar, kindllng-w0Od, blocks
| and other pieces of timber. which remain
after getting out the lumber for manuiac-
turing all kinds of pals. tubs, churns, &c.
All this was alarming 10 look upon hen a
fire was raging in the other end OF the yard
THE LOSS.
The loss on the brewery. which was the
proDerty Of Mr.. James +. BetZ, of Phlladel-
| phia. is estimated at $4,000. Mr. BetZ is
represented in Richmond by Messrs. j.
Thompson Brown IL Co., who rented the
building TO the Cedar Works. The loss on
the stable i. estimated at $500.
The stock of the Cedar Works Company
stored i'm the Brewery building was insured
for $34 900, and distributed as follows: I'M
perial Of London. $1,000; Royal. $1,000;
| Northern. s.. 800: Connecticut, $1,000; sun
| Fire. s.. 800: Commercial Union, 5000;
Phoenix Of London, $500. On Brewery
building: Philadelphia local company,
$500; Niagara. $4,000. Total, $4,000.
The later company had reinsured most OF
their risk.
| Mr.. William II. Parrish, the general
manager Of the Cedar Works, said yester-
day that al inventory Of stock in the
Brewery building was taken few days
ago, but the figures had not been added up,
consequently it was impossible TO say Whal
their losses would be.
HISTORY or THE BREWERY.
The brewery, which is located on a line
with Main street just beyond the corporate
| limits. was erected by Messrs. Betz and
| Youngling. The work was commenced In
l 1865 and completed in 1866. The contractor
was Samuel Strong, Northern man, who
located in Richmond soon after the war. 1t
1 was one OF the largest and most costly es-
Establishments Of its kind in the South. IL
was a seVen.stOry building. The foundation
and the two lower stories were built OF
| granite in the most substantial manner. On
| the opening Of the establishment the Messrs.
| Youngling gave an entertainment.
The tiremen are very grateful 10 the ladies'
| i'm the neighbOrhOOd who supplied them
hot coffee and food during their work.