The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-23
SEVENTEENTH STREET FIRE.
Southern Manufacturing COmpany'S Mill
Destroyed.
STREET CAR AND TRUCK COLLISION.
.,,ner Embellishments In Great Danger, But
SaVed-foss and Insurance
Estimated.

vary disastrous fire occurred in the lower
lection Of the city last evening, originating in
Che large coffee and spice mills of the South
am Manufacturing Company, Mr.. +. g.
Itch Jr.. president. JIG south Seventeenth
,.~cct The building with its valuable ma
..binery and tho contents was totally de
eiroyed.
Il is thought that the fire originated near
tbc embarrassing apparatus on the top floor
In the rear Of the building, and the flames
made considerable Roadway before they were
discovered by the Waterman. who turned in
the alarm at 1l:05 o'clock. The second alarm
oocurred ct 1913 o'clock.
The building was hanked by Davenport q
Norris large wholesale grocery on the south
..le and the Union Brokerage Commits
..on and Warehouse Company on the other.
Roth OF these were in much danger, especi-
,lly the former, As the wind was blowing to-
ward the south.
FIRST ENGINE
No was the first engine on the ground,
and took its position on the dock.
Alter the second alarm the three sixes"-
,ounded for the second time in the city-was
,grped ~ and the entire department came
out except Engine and Truck 3. which have
leen Transferred 10 Engine-house and Truck
house 1. SO as TO be more centrally located
and protect the city.
me fire burned brilliantly. and the scene
ar,mnd the dock with It's shipping. the tres
tlewlthitS shifting tTains-was beautiful, look
inc from almost any point like the landscape
in some big theatrical play.
The dock being conveniently near furnished
mater for Engines /. 3 3. 1, and z. These
,lsyed streams on the front of the building.
whilo the other engine worked from the rear.
The HAYES truck of Hook ana Ladder Com
ranv No. worked splendidy IN front OF the
huiiding which was fOm stories high. The
adder was extended in mld-air until as high
AZ the house, and several active and brave
tremeu assembled and shot a stream on Dav-
export 4 Morris building and thereby
.hecked the further progress OF the flames.
BADLY SCARED.
The alarm was turned in from box 219.
corner of Seventeenth and Dock. and this
.iussd all merchants of that locality 10 come
mt 90 see If their property was in danger.
Davenport T. Morris with their clerks and the
Union Company with their force were soon
on the ground. and at once realizing the dan
ger began % move their valuables out At
least fifty men were thus employed while the
fremen were fighting the flames
Al "a quarter 10 II OclOck-Or less than
three-0uarters of an hour after the alarm
thlpf Eullef, OF llt Sdlu ne lclI
that he had the fire under control and the
flames had begun to subside. At o'clock
This morning they had been entirely eX-
tnguished During the latter part
IF the fire. when the flames had
been gotten under complete control, apOrtlOn
OF the rear wall fell il struck "A shed Of
Davenport 81 Morris and Immediately set fire
n H. The flames were quickly put out and
stream Of water was stationed there TO pre-
vent any burning of the property.
THE COMPANY.
The Southern Manufacturing Company has
been in existence about eight months. Mr.
Eetert g. Leigh IS president, James
Morris. vice-president, c. Il. Robins, sec
retsrv and ". r. MoultOn, manager. The
cap,tai stock was $4,000 and the principal
shareholders are Mr. T. G.. Leigh, Davenport
Norris. l.. c. Younger, a. Blair Sons
and others.
The house belonged to Davenport d Morris,
and was fully insured.
There were two roasters in the house and
another was 20 have been put In to-day. The
boiler was stationed III the rear OF the build
ing on the lower floor.
The company did q large business in cof-
fees. spices. baking-pOwders, &c, and only
week before last increased its insur-
ance $4,000 The company saved all of
itsipapers books, &c. Though the fire
was burning with incredible swiftneSs IN
other parts of the building the other seemed 10
be Stunned by the flames. A constant stream
Of water above this place kept the FIRE from
reaching it, and it is not likely that the COM
pany will suffer more than an Inconvenience.
The house Of the Union Brokerage Com
pany of which Mr. John Adams Is manager,
contained lard, coffee. meat and other grocer
los. 1t caught once or twice, but no damage
was done 10 the property.
MANAGEMENT OF FIRES.
The great confusion and immediate danger
al a demons =
quite clearly the need for better management
Of fires on the part of the police department.
In all cities 10 is the rule TO put up ropes and
keep back the crowd for some distance from
the fire. Ii is said that this was the custom
here some fifteen years ago. There is certain
Nv necessity for IL now. The crowd was not
only in danger of falling walls or tlmbers. but
in several instances impeded the progress OF
the hremen by blocking the way. One man,
whose name could not be ascertalned, was
shocked by falling electric wire.
LOSS AND INSURANCE.
The building is owned by Messrs. Dayen-
port ~ Morris. and fully insured in the Lon
don and Liverpool and Globe Insurance Com
The loss of the Southern Manufacturing
Company is fully covered by insurance The
stock was insured for $4,000 and the machin-
cry for $40, 00O
The insurance was placed with the follow
ing companies.
Georgia Home Insurance Company. stocks 1000
stocE'.... 'O.l ................,... 1000
Virginia fire and Marine Insurance Com
pany. stock and machinery ............. $500
Armstrong Insurance COMPANY stock. 1000
ery.-...'.-'...'."......... -. 500
chinerv 900
National Insurance Company. machinery. 800
National Insurance Company stock. 1900
Hartford Insurance Company. stock. ..... 1000
Hartford Insurance Company machinery 1000
Germania Insurance Company, machinery 1900
Germania Insurance Company, stock. 1000
Iotal.......... ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS $4,000
The building was entirely Quilted II is es-
umated that the three houses, all of which
Ioiu are worth about $4,000 or c35 900. and
tle burned house was therefore. worth about
10000 or $4,000. covered by insurance.