Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1891-05-23
BURNED
SToREHoUSE OF THE SOUTHERN
MANUFACTURING CO. DESTROYED.
The Stock and Machinery n Total Loss
Fully ENTHUSIASTICALLY the Work
of an Incendi,ry.

Richmond was visited by another &C.
rious fire last night.
The stock and machinery of the South
ern Mannfacturir z Company were entirely
destroyed. entsiling lost of about S55, 900,
which is fully covered by insurance.
ThIs large establishment Is situated at
1l6 south Seventeenth street. near the
Dock and in immediate proximity to seve-
raj OF the largest wholesale houses in the
city.
Like several other confagratons that
have recently occurred IN that vicinity, It's origin
is unknown, leading to the belief that n hre-bug
Is at work n our midst
IL wns about IL o'clock when George Hatcher,
the night vatchman Of the Richmond Ice Com
panyi noticed flames coming out OF the rear OF
the third floor Of the Southern Manufacturing
Company. He Mt once pulled in an alarm from
station 2l9, corner Seventeenth and Dock streets.
FULL OF FIRE.
IL was exactly 1907 when tho gongs in the en-
gine and station-houses and at the DESPATCH
o1ice began 10 record the box from which the
alarm proceeded. Before the "second round
had Htartcd the fire reporter, minus coat ana
vest, gas In buggy on his way 10 the connaera-
tion, the location Of which was plainly marked
by a huge column Of black smoke on which was
reflected the light Of the flames.
Arriving there in something less than three
minutes the newspaper-man found mass OF
IRE pouring from the third floor OF the nye-story
bullying ll8 south Seventeenth street. This
strHture was occupied by the southern Manu-
facterng Company, who do general roasting
grinding, and spice business. The entire build
ing was filled with machinery, and quite a
quantity Of stock was on hand.
APPARATUS ARRIVING.
The reporter had been on tho ground only
few seconds whom the apparatus began TO ar
rive, and before many minutes had elapsed
Steamers 2, 3, Z, and and Truck No. : had
responded and we're hard at work.
As soonl "a the officers Of the department a.
certained tho extent OF the fire they az once--at
l1;l9-sent I'm n second alarm. This brought
Steamers / aud y and Truck No. 20 the scene.
Three minutes later the "three sixes were
pulled In. The effect Of fhis was 10 bring engine
No. 70 the fire No. steamer 20 No 3s house
on Broad street No. truck should hnye gone
10 the same point, but was prevented by an nc-
cident from doing 30.
AL seven Of tho steamers were placed az open
water and were soon throwing water on the burn
Ing building with vim. The fire was princi-
pally in the rear, which is rather inaccessible,
the creek flowing ~ that point, across which IA
tketrestle Of the Danyille railroad. For this
reason great difficulty was experienced In get
ting streams there. Aftor time this was done
and the effect was soon apparent.
ADASGEROUs PLACE.
Just adjoining the rear Of the burning build
ing r. n low wooden structure used by Davenport
x Morris, whose warehouses are next door on
the south. The flames were In close proximity
20 fhs, and had 10 caught Davenport Norris
place would necessarily have followed. IL was TO
prevent this that the energies of the firomcn
were devoted.
TO increase the danger thcre were about 800
barrels Of liquor Just on the othor side Of the
wall, portion of which fell In at one time.
knocking hole In the wooden building and
setting lire 10 10. A wcll-directed stream WAS
az once turned on the burning place with good
effect.
What tended 10 still further increase the un-
easiness was tho fact that separated by an alley
from the burning storehouse, Is the Ras-hCliei
which supplies that luminant 20 the city. Had
the whiskey caught fire. this would hayo followed
with disastrous results.
on THE OTHER SIDE.
Adjoining the Southern COmpany's establish
ment on the north Is the Union Brokerage, Com
mission and Warehouse Company. Tho fire.
men worked from tho top OF this building, Hnc
| from Davenport & &orrss, from the front o
| No. lB, and from tho rear. II was mind nEnins
matter, skin well directed against rclentlee'
| element There could be but one result ans
by hllf an hour after midnight II was an assured
fac that the buildings on oithcr side Of th'
| burning one would he saved. Half an hour be
| fOrc this II would have been declared an impos
| sibility
1HE FLAMES VI l.
! A dozen streams wero poured steadily upor
| the flames. The nrcmen gradually camo neore
70 and then within the burning building. Tn,
' iesirod effect Was soon accomplished, nnd by
| o'clock this morning few smouldounR ember
| we're about all that remained 20 tell the tale.
| The loss Of the Southern Manufacturing Com
pany, Of which Mr.. f. G. Leigh, Jr, is presiden
! and G. r. Robins secretary and treasurer, 4
| placed at S2O.0OO-91O,000 on machinery an'
! $4,000 on stock, which Is exactly covered b.
| Insurance, as follows:
on stock: Georgia Home, $4,000; Norwcl
| Union, $1,000 Virginia Fire and Marine
! $500; Armstrong, $4,000; Hartford, $1,000
| Germania, s1,00O-total $4,000.
| On machinery: National, $4,000; Armstrong
| $4,000 Norwich Union, $4,000; Hartford
| $1,000; Germania, $1,000; on coal, slOO-to
| tai, 10000. The damage to tho building wa
about $4,000.
| hold to-day and arrangements Will doubtlessl.
| be made TO at once resume operations.
OTHER DAMAGE
| Although Messrs. Davenport & Norris
warehouses were on Are several times, they sus
| tained no damage worthy OF note. When thu
| flames we're AT their height they started force
! Of men 10 moving quantity OF tea from Tn
! upper 20 the ground floor. Later on the gas en-
| gine was run 10 facilitate the removal OF good
| beyond the reach Of water. Some syrup an,
! hsh stored near the burned house were though
1 possibly 20 have been damaged.
/
| house Company, on the north side OF the spice
| mills, also suffered some from smoke and water
| Most OF the goods, however, stored there Delon
| 10 other people.
The stock consisted mostly Of beef, lard, an
| general groceries.
| All of the buildings mentioned compose on
| block the property Of Messrs. Davenport
Morris. Tho entire damage In this direction
| about $4,000, fully covered by Insurance.
| SAVED THE HORSE.
In the stable Of tho Southern Manuiacturin
Company, in the rear of tho mills, was hors
| bol0n ging 70 them. AS soon as the fire was dis
covered q cloth was thrown over his head and b
| was easily led out. The wagon was qulckl
pulled 20 a point beyond danger.
Several vessels were lying In the dock betwee
Seventeenth and Eighteenth streets, and thel
| masters were evidently alarmed and anxiou
for their safety, for they quickly called up thei
crows, and getting out boats, with lines toWo
the ships TO places Of safety.
pUcKED But NOT DROWNED.
As an engine was driving out OF Eighteent
! street young white man In endeayoring I
! avoid II stumbled over a rope, which was stretci
| cd from the shore 10 a schooner lying oppOsit
| the King ice-house, and fell into the dock.
| Fortunately a yaYl-bOat WAS lying under IN
| bows OF the schooner, and as soon as the ma
| rose to the surface he got hold OF the gunwal'
| Though he was in no immediate danger
| being drowned he was evidently much frtgh
| ened and hallooed loudly for help, begging "a
people on the dockside to Jump In alter MN. =
| no one seemed disposed to do this ne hnall
| climbed into the boat and then gained tho shor
| plThe Richmond Ice Company, whose place IL o
| the south side Of the dock wi hin stone s-thro
OF the fire, put their Oce at the disposal OI the
less fortunate neighbOrs for the storing OF the
| books and papers
greatly pleased with tho vigilance OF his watcl
| man, who within the last few weeks has turne
in two alarms Of fire for other peoples place