Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-07-19
SWEPT BY FLAMES.
The Richmond Grain Elevator De-
strOyed by Fire Last Night.
rUELoSS VERY HEAVY
.a.,,v purned-Tho city Gen.
' ,r.,,, neutrality-suspicious. Com
bustion tho Theory

M p;o,mond grain elevator corner
4 seventeenth and NashlDS'o" ~ &C. lac,
g.. swept ou, Of existence y
night .-,ne3 several shan
"oUs 40 ,o,,deroe and Grocery-store OF
MI'. ann, H,~ va. one Of the biggest hercest,
me "'' ,especis the most alarming
hud l' ''. .o witnessed in Richmond for
.r,. lrb, aroused the city geneTaily ana
n ,..or.ra AZ hour constant stream oi pco-
80 mod along every avenue leading 70
/ 80. s,cne. while dense crowds we're pscEeu
o,aI Mills that overlooked 1t.
~. Loat was intense. even az distance
"a a-o varis from the elevator ana 'he
,.atrr supply. taken rs 1t was from a f-i"cn
main. was entirely inadequate.
Tbe bnlding on the ground plan was
,5Gx75 feet: man elevation, 13t ieet 10 ioi'
of cuuola lowest elevation, SO feet, me
loiler-roon. winch was also ourheu' ""'
about 3OX2O feet
COST or THE RUuDiN4.
The Structure was erected about 1851 ~
n cost % some $50. 200. and was punt OF
wood covered with corrugated IRON.
Tndi the lst Of last June It wa, wa,
orynrd and operated by the Richmond
T..vator Company. At that time IL
US transferred 10 the control OF the
Gesqrcokc and Ohio Railway Company
lpf some few of the Richmond stock-
holders did not part WITH thelr .i.. stock.
Nr. G.. T.. Huntington is salu 10 oe I"iESlS ~,
i,5.bmopd officers Of the old company
VIZ Colonel John B. Purcell. president,
and Nessrs. John Branch, a. ,. BuiOrd'
Jolu Ellett and g. A. simpson. dlrectors'
a. the time Of the FIRE the elevator con-
tanned from fifteen TO twenty thouSahu "a
bushels Of grain. which was the remnant
oi the old stock, and belonged prlnclpaiiy
o. local dealers. a..
The fire originated in the top OF the
iu,Idinp on the corner of SeVcDteenth
and Washington streets and is supposed 70
I've been caused by spontaneous com
Tbe building was insured for about
100000 on the blanket-pollcy pian, anu
tbis the railroad company CONSIDER iuiiY
covers the loss when the deterlorati9n IN
tie value of the structure ~ consiucred.
iTle GRAIN In the elevator is valued at
Gbout $1,000. ,.a, ooo
Six empty crippled cars, valued at 1880.
and covered hy insurance, were destroyed
and two coal cars badly scorched.
The west-bound passenger train sche-
luled 10 leave at 1915 was DELAYED about
thrty-hye minutes and mace the run oy
ylilo the fire was still burning hercely.
1he wind however, was blowing the
flames from the tracks, and the engineer
ftt his way very carefully.
SAVING TIE CARS.
As soon as the fire broke out shifting en-
p.nes were sent to the scene. and by the
heroic efforts of the firemen and railroad
r..u long trans of cars tracked near the
llruing building were saved.
The building fell in about half-past 10
O'clock, sending tremendous showers OF
epsrks high up into the heavens. to be
carried by the wind IN every direction.
one of the striking sights of the fiie was
I. see Il burning train of cars hauled out.
Tne house and grocery store OF Mrs.
Sal.au, which was situated on the
opposite side of Seventeenth street from
TIE elevator. caught from the heat. Inc
loss Is estimated ~, 200 and Is fully covered
'bv insurance. Great delay was expert
crc,9 in Getting the department 10 the
ire by reason of the fact that Box iSl was
turned IN twice and Box As was turned III
instead of 49,
Sir. Matthias Kelly, new member of
Hose Company No. 3. was severely burnt
about his hand and arm, and Mr.. Cordrey,
of Steamer No. 2, was overcome by the
heat. and had TO be taken away by his COM
rsdes. II was reported that MIR. GRIMES,
secretary of the elevator. had one OF ms
legs badly injured by piece of falling
timber.
During the progress of the fire and when
the crowd was most dense the elevator en-
cue began 20 whistle. This caused the
CIV to be raised that the boiler would
hurst and mad rush was made. IN which
ah,ile child was severely injured.
The Office of the elevator on Washing
tn street. opposite the building, was par
tlliv burned but the books and papers
were saved.
Considering the locality, the rapidity
Vrh which the flames made progress, ana
tle myriad Of flying sparks. 1t IS matter
oi wonder that great deal more property
Wa not destroyed.
So vivid was the blaze that Mr.. Frlsch-
IN. who hives near Seven Pines. was at
tlact,l by IT and came TO the city.
li was impossible last night TO get de-
tailed statement IF the insurance. MIR. T..
l.. Mlrlend said he had $4,000 on the
building and machinery, divided equally
between the Home, OF New lork, ana tho
PltuiX, OF London.
Me National Linseed Oil Company's
warehouse Davenport * Morris - Is
e4atgd about 100 yards from the site of
tie elevator, and was several times
Thought 10 nave caught fire from the
4 .rg sparks. but was saved by the careful
Ntrl oi the operators. who dampened the
of ot the structure with "a stream from a
piy4t fire apparatus.
40 GA, time II was thought the fire
would sweep all the framed buildings IN
t.- vicinity, and "A number of household
ortcl were moved by residents into the
s'I .tts
40 intervals a solid sheet of fame ex-
tended across the railroad tracks.
Three alarms were ,urDed IN besides the
Signals from the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
W locomotives.
.Ac clcctric-wires in the neighborhood
vre cut, leaving Seventeenth street IN
cl-kuo as far rs city lighting was con-
eell-i aud several Of the electric-light
poles were burned.
OTHER FInEs.
Naile the eleyatOT-tire was IN progress
au a.4rn WAS turned IN from Box IS. situ-
s;,l 30 The corner OF First and Cary streets.
Il Was occasloned by the bui ning OF house
NJ lao cast Byrd street. occupied by q
CO Ted woman. Two engines and one
is-ce, tle remainder OF the apparatus LETT
A ile central portion of the city, re-
sl udDd. The flames originated from a
stove lu a rear room aud were extinguished
utluto ANY portion OF the department ar
I''A The damage was only about $40.
an alarm was turned in from Box rs yes
tef-y about noon to the house occupied
~ 5eurle Ford. 4l7 north Thirtieth street
Aht irc was caused by a spark from the
cl'uuey. Damage trihing.
4 CHILD SMOTHGRED.