Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-02-01

day morning at 1915 next door to their
former establishment. Nothing definite
has yet been decided upon by them, but
il is expected that temporarily at least they
will open on Broad street. The store oc-
cupied by them will be rebuilt at once.
NO INSURANCE ON THIs.
Mrs. NJ. d. Wyatt. sister-in-law Of Mr..
George Gibson. Jr., lost quite heavily by
the Phillips & Stein fire. MIR. Gibson. who
controlled the city department, stored
Temporarily Mrs. WAITS trunks and chests
In the top story. In the trunks were laees,
dresses, lewelry, family pictures, and other
heirlooms, and in the chests were large
pieces of solid silver. family plate, and
bricks of silver recently produced from the
mines Of New Mexico. This loss IS estl-
mated at several thousand dollars. without
any insurance.
The heat of the west wall was so intense
that il set fire TO the shelving on the east
side of 4. Il. Taylor x Co.'S store, about
midway. just at this point were the bridal
presents of Mrs. w. @. Irwin, which had
been sent there the previous afternoon to
be packed and shipped to Chicago, all Of
which were destroyed.
BRIEF COMMENT.
II was c o'clock yesterday morning be-
fore the apparatus was withdrawn from
the FIRE.
The debris smouldered all yesterday, send
ing out steady smoke. About 3 o'clock
in the afternoon No. engine company
came around and played on the ruins for
some time, fears of an outbreak OF the tre
oeing entertained.
A Card from the Chief
Chief w. G. Puller, of the Fire Depart
ment. Yesterday afternoon sent the follow
ing TO the Dispatch for publication
aThe statement IN your local columns
that the Fire Department were fifteen
minutes in getting 10 the fire in Stearns
block Is so manifestly unjust to this de-
partmeut that / have been authorized 20
state the absolute facts in connection with
this fire. Mr. n. w. Bailey. engineman OF
No. 7 engine company, Wis passing the
corner Of Tenth and Main streets when he
was informed by youth that there was
IRE in Phillips il Stems. After very
hasty investigation he ran TO hrs quarters,
two squares distant, turned in the alarm
Box bland within five 90 minutes had
his steamer at work at the alley on Tenth
street throwing powerful stream ON the
fire. Within q minute or two more, two
(2) other steamers and hook-and-ladder
truck were at the scene and went TO work
promptly.
1.-THE first alarm was received at the
central Office and recorded by the stop
clock at 1918 p. nj. As soon as arrived l
ordered second alarm, which was re-
ceiyed at 1880 L. Nj. SO there was an In
teryal of only twelve minutes and three
steamers, as before stated, were IN the
rear hard at work several minutes previ-
Gus to the second alarm. AS matter OF
positive fact, the hose-wagon OF NO. 7
engine company had good plug-stream
before the alarm was sent out our whole
first-alarm apparatus was concentrated at
the rear. as the fire at that time appeared
20 be confined 10 that part OF the build
inc. ,ozpM rsoD, ,ba SIGMA, 70 shin,
of the electric current, which was prompt
~ done"
TUE prsPATcH TOLD THE TRUTH.
The Chief is mistaken in saying that the
Dsspatoh stated "the Fire Department We're
fifteen minutes in getting TO the fire." 10
did not saw so. but did say that when it
did come Il was between ten and fifteen
minutes from the time Policeman Red
ford attempted 10 pull in the alarm Ct
Twelfth and Main streets"
No blame was laid on the department or
any one else. The Dtpatch simply said that
there was o delay. and IL Is true that
there was. A reporter was present and
knows whereof he afiirms.
Taking the Chiefs own figures there was
an interval of seven minutes after" the
alarm was sounded, as he saws No. was AT
work within i've minutes and other steam
ers IN minute or two more. leaving only
discrepancy of three minutes between bis
and the Dispmck's statement.
The arrival Of the apparatus did not OK
course refer to No. steamer, as II was
plainly published that this company was
on the ground and at work before ne alarm
ras turned IA.
suppose that this was three minutes
IN imfnoderate ostimate-the full ten min
nutes would be accounted for.
Many people are inclined 10 criticise the
officers OF the department for not getting q
stream on the flames sooner, but this per.
haps does them an injustice, as IL was with
great difficulty that access to the basement
could be secured. The smoke In the build.
Ing was also very dense.
Tho Eieetrie-Light Wires.
n. W. B. Pizzsni, Of the Electric Light
Company. was interviewed In regard "a
tho electric lights having been the cause
A. IA.