The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-12-05
A SERIOUS CONFEDERATION.
\. GanSs 4 Co.'S Stick Entirely Con-
sumed Last Evening.
DRY GOODS BURNED LIKE TIEDER.
D. Bucbaprp, A. r. Craig nm 4 rink =. Burke
Safer From Flames, - noke ana
Watcr-Loss Estimated mt $4,000.

The average citizen had just beg, IN h
evening meal for il was few minutes 0efo
7o'clock when the ON nous alarm was run
in at HEADQUARTERS. Ma oy stopped not f'
tea and toast. but caught mp overcoats an
overshoes and hurried to the scene OF a"
structiou. Wonderful is the large crowd fila
usually gathers at FIRE. extraordinary wa
the crowd that occupied Broad street last
evening.
BY $50 O'Clock FIVE thousand people occu-
pied the space in the broad thoroughfare be
tween First and Second streets. and a. soor
IA maid and sweetheart. father and mother
brother and sister had finished their TEA thel
focked 10 the scene.
CROWD WAS DESsF.
On the north side Of Broad street tho crzwci
was dense packed IS II were like the Traditional
sardine. Passage through this resistless ness
of humanity was we'll nigh impossible, ana
toes and feet were trampled upon with abais
don painful - many. Negroes with theii'
tobacco tainted clothing touched elbows with
men occupying high social rank, WINE ever
and anon pretty debutantes and young ladies'
who are social stars appeared IN the great
tbrong like pie acts IN the blue heavens.
At the corners OF First and Second streets on
Broad the crowd was Just as eager TO witness
tho fre-feud's work of destruction. On
Second street. however, On-lOOkers wero
a
smoke. and at the corner OF FIRST gentle
eprinkling from the hose msdo everybody
imagine that 1t WAS raining. anu those who
who were fortunate TO own umbrellas raised
them with considerable ascrity.
CLOUDS OF SMOKE.
While those proceedings were being enacted
dense clouds Of black smoke, lnternlngled
with the bright glare of flames. issued from
the building occupied by Messrs. NJ. Ganss 81
Co When the department reached the building
about q moment before 7 O'Clock unlnter
rupted flames were ascending heavenwaTd
from the windows of this dry-goods store.
Both front and renr seemed to be in the grasp
of the hre-hend. and IL became Immediately
apparent to Chief Fuller that the force sum-
moned by the alarm would be totally made
quate to cope with such serious cJnilagra-
ton.
Promptuess at times Is worthy enactment
and Chief Fuller. approaching this fact
ordered second alarm to be sent in at 03
O'Clock The first alarm broughtto the scene
of the fire steamers from Brook avenue and
Third street between Broad and Grace, and
The hook-and- ladder truck from the Broad
street engine house near Ninth street.
MANY ENGINES.
The second alarm carried 10 the confagra-
ton steamer No. g. which is stationed on
Broad between Ninth aud Tenth streets. and
q special call few moments later brought to
the scene the steamer which is situated on
Laurel street
When these engines and trucks arrived the
valiant chief was still apprehensiye of the
fire. which showed itself in a few moments to
be a stubborn one, and he sent out special
call at ITO O'Clock. which Immediately
broug ht 10 the scene the engine stationed on
Cary street. between Ninth and Tenth.
Two moments later the alarm 1910 Was
sent IN to the electric light companies. and
the briiliancy Of arc and incandescent was
Immediately superseded by intense darkness.
There was. however, enough light upon the
scene to guide the heroic hremen IN their en-
deavOrs 10 save the buildings. and the estab-
lishments adjoining. Ali worked with will.
but Tor fully twenty minutes the immense
flood of water that was being poured the
burning building seemed to have but little
effect.
DISTINCTIVE FLAMFs.
Flames darted out everywhere. In front
and rear the misunderstanding elements
licked the sides of the building with unre- !
lentless fury. firemen upon ladders. upon |
the ground and on neighboring house tops |
threw the streams from the hose with credit !
and bravery. but the mass of smoke that con |
stantly came from the building and the refec-
ton IN the heavens told that destruction still |
existed. and that If the walls alone were saved |
1t would be extremely fortunate.
Perseverance at last won, and the bright
light gradually became DINNER and DINNER.
llremen about the building were as thick as
dead leaves in autumn. and on Broad street
and in the alley in the rear they held the
hose nozzles to the flames with n great dea!
of credit anu heroism Unfortunately, how !
ever. the flames had gotten too great head |
way before the department arrived.
THE ALARM WAS LATE.
There were two or three men at the fire last
evening who sand they saw the flames quite a |
long time before the hrst alarm was rnnr
One OF them was Mr. Dunn. Of the firm of |
Stokes a Dnnn. lie Stated lat evening that /
he was at Fifth and Main streets when he saw 4
4 81.
,he flames ana that 1t was several moments /
before the alarm was turned in.
The contagration began in the rear Of Ganss |
a co. S store. The most dillgent inquiry last |
evening among those interested failed TO re- /
veal the fact as 10 how the flames begau |
Some stated that electric light wires were the |
cause, while others were equally vehement in /
declaring that the stove on the first floor was |
the reason for the contagration.
MANY RuMoRs.
There were many rumors afloat as to the |
fire, but 10 those who inveStigated the affair
thoroughly say these reports were given but
little credence. Several of the salesladies en-
ployed at Messrs. Ganss x Co were seen by "A
TINES representative last evening They
unanimously stated that they left the
store at o'clock, as is their
usual custom that at that time
everything seemed to be all right. and they
could not understand how the fire began. MIR.
Ganss was asked III reference 20 il, and
btdlop lbdt no leit tne store about fifteen
minutes before the fire commenced and
could not attribute any cause whatever for
the contagration save tie destructive work of
electric light wires.
D. BUCHANAN's.
la the next building westward was Mr.. d.
Buchanan, his wife and daughter His son
was closing up the iewelry store when the fire
commenced and Immediately locked the
door and went up 10 aid his parents and sis
ter. Welcome aid soon arrived and the three
unfortunate people who wero lying i'll with
the grip were borne to the street and quickly
conveyed to the home of Mr.. Robert
Whittet at Second and Marshall streets
Dr. ID. Buchanan, when reached by his
son and friends was suffering considerably
from the Inhalation of the smoke but later
In the evening was reported by his son as do
Ing as we'll as could be expected Mr. Buch
anan is fully sixty years OF age and the ex-
cltement and Inhalation Of smoke did any
shing but make him better
AN ACCIDENT.
Another serious accident occurre5 soon
after the IRE commenced. Mr.. Charles
haymer, OF Steamer No. 4, was in the alIev
IN rear OF Ganss Co.'s store. He went there
10 relieve man who had boen holding The
nose and Just US he grasped hold an iron
shutter from third storv ,r,,lo... |