The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-12
KINGAN & co. BURNED OUT.
Pork Packing Establishment Totally De-
StrOYed This Morning.
ESTIMATED Loss AND INSURANCE.
Thought TO be the Work Of an Incendiary-
Suspicious Character Arrested
Well Managed Fire.

kingan d Co.'s pork-packlng estaIisnment,
1927 and 1929 Cary street, was destroyed by
fire early this morning
The first alarm was given at twenty-three
minutes after midnight by some one who, in
passing the building, noticed smoke coming
out of the third-the top-story windows.
The alarm box fortunately was on the same
corner as the building, and the advance guard
Of the fire department, steamers Nos. and
and truck No O. was soon on its way TO the
scene
When it arrived, however, the fire had
grown and smoke and flames were coming
out ot the building on all sides.
Chief Fuller. realizing the serious condition
of affairs, determined 10 take no chances and
at once-thirteen minutes after the first
alarm-sounded a second call, which brought
out engines Nos. 1 and and truck No !.
Nine minutes after special call made No.
steamer hitch up, and at 1888 the last call
the three skies, as the fremen term it
brought out all the remaining apparatus in
the city.
WORKING HARD.
Meanwhile the fire was raging and growing
hotter and hotter, but the fireman worked IN
earnest, some with hoze nozzles in hand, while
others scaled the ladders of adjoining build
ings to prevent the flames from spreading. IL
was apparent that Kingan Il Co.'s establish
ment could not be saved. and 50, while all
efforts were made TO extinguish the fiery mass
therein, due attention was given to surround
ing property.
II. Wallerstein & Co.'s house, with its stock
of butter dried fruits. &C.. was in the great
est danger, being only separated from Kingan
d Coz by narrow alley. Firemen soon got
on the rrof, and though the burning sparks
were blown by the breeze in that direction,
they held their ground and -esisted every ad-
vance made by the dread element
T. f. Stages planing-mill, next door to the
pork packers on Cary street, was also looked
after. and the combustible material therein
was kept from catching atire.
UNDER CONTROL.
Until about half past o'clock the flames
roared and reared. and the hams. shoulders
and other bits of table food disappeared only
to satisfy the hungry flames, and it was not
certain that other buildings in the neighbor-
hood were not in jeopardy. About that time,
however. it could be seen that the water and
the fremen were doing their work well, and
the flames began to subside.
How the fire caught no one seems to know
but it was evidently the work of an incendiary.
Mr. John 5. Munce, manager of the house.
says that 1t was closed yesterday evening,
as usual, about o'clock, and the only fire in
the building was in the smoke-house, which is
separated from the rest of the estab-
lisbment by an iron door While the fire was
raging policeman arrested colored boy,
about fourteen years old. in rear Of the South
ern Railway Supply Company store, which is
near by, on account of his approximations,
and it is believed that he had something TO do
with the confagration. He will be before the
Police Justicefthis morning and questioned
closely. Another boy was with him, but
when he saw the officer coming he ran away
and could not be caught.
ENGINES POSITIONS.
During the fire No. engine did duty on
Fifteenth street between Main and Cary, No.
2 at Fifteenth and Main, No 8 at Fifteenth
and Dock, No 4 at Cary and Fourteenth, No.
3 at Thirteenth and Cary, No.
on Cary street near Fourteenth. No. 2
on Cary between Fifteenth and Sixteenth,
and trucks 1 and IN front of the
building That the fremen did excellent
work no one questions. The neghborhood,
as most citizens know. is tbickly built with
wholesale houses. and that the flames
were so skillfully confined to the one
in which they originated reflects credit
upon the department With its stock
of fat meat it was next to impossible to save
Kingan & Cos. house. and this morning
passers- by will see only the four walls OF the
building standing The inside was completely
burned out.
Although the hour was late, business men Of
the neighborhood thought their property was
in danger after hearing the second alarm
sounded, they left their beds and came TO the
fire in great numbers. Solue few ladies even
attended.
LOSS AND INSURANCE.
The building was owned by the Davenport
estate and valued at about $4,000. II was
insured in the London, Liverpool and Globe
Insurance Company.
The stock was insured for $50 900, which is
believed to fully cover the loss, in the Royal
and Northwestern Insurance companies. both
Of which are represented by Mr.. Howard
Swineford
All valuable books and papers were locked
in the vault in the rear and safe in the front
office. and il is thought escaped injury. Of
course it was too hot in there after the fire
was put out 90 ascertain.
Mr. Munce said he was positive that the
fire did not originate in the smoke house and
there had been no fire in the building for sew
eral days except the gas light in the front
Office. and that had been extinguished before
closing.
Kingan & Co. have been in business here
for several years, and is the main house OF
which the Indianapolis. Ind, slaughter and
packing houses are branch.
The building was occupied at one time by
A. Y Stokes as a wholesale grocery and pro-
vision house 1t was built in 1865. and was
considered one of the strongest and best built
houses in the city The walls are very thick.
and the doors were of solid oak. The firemen,
therefore, experienced great difficulty in
entering.
Triad IN Oman a Safe