Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-01-06
CEDAR WORKS FIRE.
THE OLD vuENoLiNo BREWERY
BURNED ON SUNDAY.


Several Members Of the Department In
jursd bv Failing wails-Dsmage
Nearly Covered BY Insurance.
The storehouse Of the Richmond Cedar
Works, formerly known as the old
brewery. fronting on the river few hum
dfed yards below the corporation-line,
was totally destroyed by fire early Sunday
afternoon.
Exactly how the flames started is not
known, but they originated in the stable
adjoining the larger building burned. The
alarm was turned in from Station Al, on the
premises, at 1i:2l A. NJ. This brought out
Steamers Church HID and Mann
street, and Hose Company No. (Fuiton).
MORE APPARATUS.
As soon as the officers Of the department
arrived they saw that the steamers on the
ground were unable TO cope with the con-
migration. the whole brewery building
being in light blaze. Private. signals
were sent in for Engines BROAD street,
and (Cary street,. When these arrived
they were put to work on the rlver bank
about fourth of mile from the fire, and
some seventy feet below the level OF the
building. The two machines on the ground
were also about the same distance of.
The owners of the Cedar Works had
placed on the premises. but had neglected
to grade roadway down to the river so
the fre-engines could get to it at close
quarters. Had this been done the fire
could have been fought to much greater
advantage. The rise in the James pre-
vented the engines from getting as near as
they could have done under ordinary cir
cumstances.
HOT AND COLD.
To save the brewery building was i'm
possible. The fremen realized this and
bent their energies to the preservation OF
the factory and out-houses to the north OF
the burning structure.
In this endeavor they were assisted by
the wind, which was blowing from the
north towards the river away from the
other buildings. The column of smoke
was in the air hundreds of feet and could
be seen oil over the city and for miles be-
yond. The flames were plainly visible at
Barton Heights, several miles off.
The men of Steamer Company No. were
ordered on top of frame building about
| fifty feet from the fire. While the flames
were at their height the men were nearly
tenable by the action of No. 2 in kindly
turning on the stream whenever asked so
to do This was very comfortable for
awhile, but when the fire began to die
down the men were unprotected from the
| cutting north wind, which nearly froze
them as it blew through their wet clothing.
LARGE CROWD.
Being a private call and beyond the city
| limits the bells were rung very little, and
| II was some time before the general public
| became aware that large fire was In pro-
gress. When the existence of the f1re be-
came known people fiocked to the scene
in great numbers. The street-cars carried
| twice as many as they could hold with
| comfort to the passengers; carriages. bug
| gies. jumpers and horses were pressed into
\ service, and thousands unable to procure
other accommodations went on foot. The
| approach to the fire from Lester Cor Main)
street was across q gully, over several
fences, piles of slippery blocks. and
| through beds Of mud. Hundreds of peo-
pie fell and slid around in their efforts to
| run, and not few cuts and bruises were
| to be seen on every hand.
The hose was run across the City rail-
way track and the cars could not pass that
point. As consequence cars were run in
both directions on both tracks at the same
time. necessitating frequent transfers.
KIND LADIES.
II was a raw, cloudy day, the ground
was soaking wet in every direction, the
wind was penetrating to degree only ex-
perienced near running water. Under
| these conditions it can be readily imagined
| that when the ladies of Fulton sent their
compliments TO the fremeu in the shape OF
pots of steaming coffee and hot dinner
their action was appreciated as peculiar
| ly appropriate and kind.
BY 2 o'clock the fire was practically out,
and all that was left of the storehouse was
| the foundation and small piece of wall
To have saved the building would have
been impossible. for it was stored with
thousands of tubs and buckets of every
description that burned like tinder in q
blast-furnace.
CASUALTIES.
Foreman Hirshberg and Hoseman Haake,
Of No. Steamer Company, were hurt by
| falling bricks. The latter was badly cut
about the head and bruised about the
body. The ambulance was summoned and
| carried HIM home. Mr.. Hirshberg received
a scalp wound about four inches long. but
remained on the ground for some time
afterwards and then walked home.
Mr.. Gus Millhiser. president of the
Cedar Works, and his father, with colored
buggy. As they started to turn out of
Water street the axle of the vehicle
snapped, throwing out all three only few
| feet from the river. Although the buggy
| turned three somersaults no one was hurt,
brit Mr.. Gus Millhiser lost very fine dia-
mond ring in the mud.
A LONG STRETCH.
At s o'clock in the afternoon some Of the
| fremen were relieved but IL was late yes
terday morning before Steamers ! and
returned to their houses.
The building destroyed was known as
| the brewery" 1t was built just after the
war, and was abandoned after rather
brief occupancy. Later 1t was used for
pic-nics, having pavilion and nice plea
sure-grounds. Hundreds of entertain
ments have been given there; at one time
these were held regularly under the aus
pices of club, the grounds being known
as Scheutzen Park. For some years the
property was owned by David Yuengling,
but was more recently purchased by Mr..
John T. Betz, the millionaire brewer, who
leased it to the oedar-works.
DAMAGE AND INSURANCE.
At the time 1T was destroyed the building
was filed to its utmost capacity with man.
ufactured goods. The loss on the latter Is
put at $4,000
The building was insured for S22, 500, of
which Samuel Ii. Pulliam a. Co. carried
800 900 in the Niagara Fire Insurance Com
pany of New York, and $2,500 by local
company in Philadelphia.
The insurance on the stock is as follows
With Howard Swineford:
Imperial OF London. ts.VCU
Royal SsoU
Northern...-. sssyu
g. d. Peasants d Son: