Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-12-05
BROAD STREET FIRE.
FLAMES BREAK OUT IN THE RETAIL
CENTRE AND 90 GREAT DAMAGE.

Il
FLAMES BREAK OUT IN THE RETAIL
CENTRE AND 90 GREAT DAMAGE.
Ganss & Co. Burned Out aud the Two Ad-
joining stores Greatly InJured-Fire-
man Hurt-Loss and Insurance.
The alarm Of fire just three minutes be-
fore o'clock last evening was followed
by disaster .he result Of which was more
than $4,000 in damages and serious injury
10 one of Richmond's fremen.
At precisely 6:57 o'clock the bells an
nounced the signal from Box 127. located
at the corner of Second and Broad streets,
and few minutes later the red tongues OF
flame burst through the huge plate-glass
windows Of the establishment Of Ganss a
Co., The Bee Hive" No. 1l3 east BrQau.
IA portion of the apparatus OF the FIRE
Department made quick response, though
the nature of the fire was such that IT was
| immediately imminent that other aid would
be necessary, and a second alarm was senS
| in from the same box at 1908 o'clock, and
| three minutes later a special call brought
! out Steamer No. 6, while another special
| call at 7:l0 accounted for the arrival few
moments lhter OF StedueT NO =.
CARS STOPPED AND LIGHTS OUT.
Owing to the apprehension of danger 10
| the fremen the two ten was sounded
at TIA o'clock, which cut of the force at
| the power-houss and put out the heavy
| lights and stopped all electric cars IN tue
| city.
This state of affairs lasted for more than
an hour and was a source Of great incon-
| yenience TO the pedestrians who were
| eager to reach the scene of the casualty.
| The cars were stopped upon the streets and
| in many places blockaded the passage of
| the horse-cars 80 that there was no trathe
| along these lines.
THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE.
The lack of transportation did not keep
! the people from hocking to the vicinity OF
| the burning building, and thousands
| iammed Broad street between First and
| Second, while hundreds filed the alley TO
| the rear.
1t was not long after the alarm when
| every single member of the Board of FIRE
! Commissioners could have been seen upon
| the grounds. The department was Judi
! ciously managed after reaching the scene
| by Assistant-C t-Chief-Engineer Sheppard.
| who was in authority IN tho absence OF
! Chief Fuller, who is out of the city.
TIE BUILDING Quilted.
|
| the first alarm the three-story building oc-
| cupied by Ganss Il Co. had been com
pletely Quilted by the flames and only the
| hull remained.
! The enormous stock of notions and
! fancy goods had been entirely consumed,
! aud the fremen were then devoting their
| attention to the two adjoining structures.
| The ground-hoor of the one on the east
! side is occupied by Craig's Academy or
| Fine Arts, end in the second story IS the
| establishment or Clement Brooke Il Co.,
who manufacture ladies' underwear. The
! building on the west of GansS Co. is oc-
| cupied by d. Buchanan as a jewelry store.
| The flames spread to the roofs OF Dotn OF
| these, ana it was terrible battle that
! Javed them from total destruction. There
! seemed to be great difficulty in keeping
! tha fire from getting into the centre of
| these buildings, and especially that occu-
| pied by Craig and Brooke d 20.
| REMOVING THE CONTENTS.
Messrs. Craig and Buchanan, with their
! assistants, succeeded in removing most OF
| the contents of their stOre-rOoms, and the
| damage TO the stocks will not exceed
| 81 500 each. Mr.. Craig was insured for
| "a 900 in the Virginia Fire and Marine In
| surance Company, and 1t IS understood
that Mr.. Buchanan's stock was, also
covered by insurance. ms gentleman
-esided over his store, and his household
furniture was considerably damaged by
smoke and water.
HE ALMOST sUFFOCATED.
The loss Of Mr. Brooke, the shirt-manu-
facturer. whose plant occupied the two
upper floors above the Academy OF Fine
| Arts. is heavy, as his whole stock was Sc
riousIy damaged by water and smoke as
we. az by falling Goals from the ceiling OF
| the top floor
| he thought Of bis dog that was fastened in
q room on the third story and went to turn
| the almost asphYXiated canine out. In
| few moments there was report that the
shirt manufacturer was in the building in
| a sufocated state. number Of hremen,
| accompanied by Captain Angle, OF the
police force, went in and returned with Mr.;
! Brooke, who was then seml-c0nsclous ana
| suffering from the effects of the smoke
which filed the house. He was soon
all right again.
SHUTTER FALLS on A FIREMAN.
While the ire was in its most ferocious
stage an iron shutter fell from one Of the
| thlrd-story windows in front of the build
| ING, striking Fireman Charles Hagner upon
! hls shoulder, severely fracturng the part.
! The wounded man was thought 20 have
! been killed and would have been
| had his head been three inches further TO-
ward the falling missile. lie was placed IN
a carriage and taken 10 his home on west
! Marshall street, where medical aid was
| quickly summoned and the sufferer was
/ given all possible relief. His injuries,
| while not dangerous or critical, are very
| serious.
NR. BURKE AND PGzlINTs.
"Pizzini's." which Is just two doors west
OF the burned building, was a regular
passageway for the fremen, and while
| much Jury was done TO the stock, Mf.
! Burke, who. by the way, is one Of the Fire
| Commissioners, was IN good humor' ana
had prepared huge bowl OF punch whicn
was placed at the disposal Of tho ire
fighters. This was timely and thoughtiul
for the men who did the work had 70 wade
| in water almost 10 their shoe-tOps.
The contents Of this place, st0re-hx-
lures, etc, were insured for 5000, as fol-
lows: Liverpool, London ard Globe,
| 81 800; Germauia Insurance COmpanyt
Sl.5OO: tools and fixtures, 1880; specla.
insurance on FIRE works, $500. Mr.. Burke
thinks the stock Is slightly damaged by
smoke.
THE ORIGIN AND DISCOVERY.
Just how the fire originated will pro-
| badly never be known. The establishment
| of Messrs Ganss * Co. was heated bY
furnace. The first discovery appears to
have been made by Mr.. Sizer, who IS con-
| nected with the Academy OF FINE AtiS,
! whose attention was attracted Wnlle
waiting on a customer by roaring noise.
When he turned his head he observed .
reflection upon the back windows. He
went 20 the yard in the rear and found
| that tie whole end of the building occu-
pied by Messrs. Ganss x Co. was ablazo.
il was several minutes later when the
alarm was turned in, as the key TO Box III
could not be found for some Little time.
| THE INSURANCE,
Messrs, Ganss Il Go. value their stock,
W hich is a total loss, at S35.0O0, and on 1t
| they have the following insurance:
| Julius Straus, agent
| British American Assurance Co.'S $500
| Western Assurance Company. 4OOO
Glens Falls Insurance COmOany.... 1000
| German Fire Insurance Company. 1000
'Tlo.o... OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. .''O. .. $500
| George ID. Pleasants Son, agent
| Sun Fire ONCE. .......... ,,........... liOOO
nepa Company Pio.o o 1000
! Howard SWinefJfd, agent