The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-12-27
FIRES In PETERSBURG.
DISASTROUS CONFIRMATION YES
TERDxY MORNING AND EVENING.
The Building Insured for Two Thousand
Dolisrs-The Parkinson Store Very
Badly Dsmaged-Thc Stock Lost.

PETERSBURG. VA, Dec. Especial
Fire broke out this morning about 5
o'clock In a stable in the rear OF the
store OF Messrs. Mulcaha & Hubbard, on
the corner Of Washington and Dunlop
streets, which was entirely consumed, A
horse was burned TO death n a buggy
and harness with a ton OF hay was con-
sumed. The flames were quickly COM
municated TO the store occupied by
Messrs. Mulcaha & Hubbard, and owned
by Mr.. NJ. f.. Jones. which was burned TO
the ground. The building was Insured fer
1900. The firms stock was valued at
$500. on which they had no insurance.
The shoe shop OF John Allen next took
fire. and this too fell a prey TO the flames.
Allen carried an insurance OF $500. The
store OF Mr.. James Parkinson next caught
and was badly damaged by both fire and
water. A stable In the rear OF the store
was burned TO the ground. Mr.. Perkin-
son lost all of his stock and store FIX
lures, which were valued at 500. The
store was insured for $1,000. A store ad-
Joining that OF Mr.. Parkinson, owned by
Mr.. Atticus Winfree and occupied by
Mrs. Lewis Kenzie, was burned to the
ground Mrs. Kenzie lost nearly all of her
stock OF goods, valued at $500. on which
there was a small insurance. The store
was valued at 1900, which was partly
covered by insurance. Mrs. Kenzie sue
ceeded in saving most Of her furniture.
Shortly after 8 o'clock tonight a fire
broke out In the shoe store OF Frank
II. Wright, on Sycamore street, and for a
time II Looked as II q very destructive
co~nfiagration would occur. The fire was
confined principally TO the rear OF the
building. but how it originated is not
known Mr.. Wright and his family. who
occupy the upper part Of the building as
a residence. were away from home at the
time the fire occurred. Mr.. Wright car
ried a stock OF between $4,000 and $751; 900,
which is literally ruined. as the store was
flooded with water. The store, which is
valued at $500, was badly damaged. Ii
is covered by an insurance Of 5000 I'm
the Mutual Assurance Company OF Vir-
ginia. Mr.. Wright had an insurance of
$4,000 on stock. principally in Northern
companies. The dry goods store OF W. II.
Scott, adjoining. was badly flooded with
water. as was also the crockery store Of
II. Beasley. The losses Of both OF the
latter firms are covered by insurance.
About 10 O'Clock tonight. when II was
thought that the fire department could
UOl HldLdEt the MG dAOut "a Ntl'bidAA was
sent 10 the chief OF the fire department
OF Richmond, asking for help. About IL
o'clock the following telegram was re-
ceived:
RICHMOND, VA. Dec. &c, 1892.
"E. v. Farley, Chief Engineer Fire De-
partment, Petersburg. Va:
Got engines ready. Must We send
them. THOMPSON"
At l1:1O o'clock the following telegram
was sent in reply:
Think fire under control. II we need
you will advise later. T.. V. FARLEY,
Chief Engineer"
The roofs Of the stores OF Frank II.
Wright and II. Beasley are burned com
pletely of and the stores are flooded
with water. The dry goods store of W.
II. Scott and the hardware store OF
Plummer & Wheeler are also badly
flooded. The latter firms carry a stock Of
about Sc. 600; insurance, $4,000. The street
in the vicinity Of the fire is completely
blockaded with people, including many
ladies. 1t looks as If the fire is under
control.
Christmas falling this year on Sunday,
the day was, OF course, religiously OBJ
served, and appropriate services were
held at all Of the churches. The holiday.
however. is being generally observed here
to-day and business is suspended.
In the mayors court this morning a
negro named David Jones was sent on
10 the hastings court 10 answer the
charge Of entering the dwelling-house Of
Mr.. Matthew H.. Parkinson. on Wythe
street. in the night time. with the intent
10 rob and murder the said Parkinson.
Mr.. Parkinson had quite a hard fight with
the negro, who was armed with a pistol.
MIR. Parkinson told the mayor that he
believed the negro would have killed him
but for Mr.. JEFF ellis, a %neighbOr, coming
70 his assistance. Jones was so obstreper-
Gus that the police officer who took charge
OF him had 20 place nippers on him be-
fore he could be gotten 10 the Jail.
The weather for the past two or three
days has been the coolest experienced
here this winter. and yesterday and to-
day there was fine skating on the lake
at West End Park, which was enjoyed
by a large number OF our citizens. The
river is frozen from shore to shore, but
the ice is not OF sufficient thickness 10
admit OF skating.
The Knights Templar Of Petersburg.
with a few invited guests. met at their
Temple at noon to-day and drank TO the
toast. ITO our Grand Master, Hugh Nc
Curdy: From ocean TO ocean, and from
the Gulf to the Lakes, ninety thousand
Templars send merry Christmas greet
ings." The following was the response
sent by the grand master: Christmas is
the birthday of him who is the embodi-
ment Of all Templars' hopes; the ~inspirer
OF that spirit which makes all knights
Templar one, wheresOever dispersed
around the globe" Eminent Commander
James b. Blanks acted as toast master.
Wyatt Jones (cOloTed), a driver for
Captain Alexander Hobbs. Of Prince
George county. left Petersburg Saturday
night for home. He was found near
Smiths mill. in the above-named county.
about 8 o'clock yesterday morning frozen
TO death.