The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-09-02
EARLY MORNING BLAZE.
FIERCE FIRE IN ALUMBER YARD.
All the Engines Summoned to Main and
Twenty fifth street-A Bright Blaze
Draws Thousand Spectators.

At l2:4O o clock this morning an dialm
was sounded from Box 81, corner OF
Twenty-fifth and Main streets. A
bright blaze attracted a large crowd
from all over the city. Several engines
responded to the call, occasioned by the
burning of the planning mill and lumber
yard of Hare & Tucker, corner Twenty
fourth and Main streets, and the build
ing of A. b. Cosby, nachinist, which IS
situated next to the lumber yard'
The flames soon communicated TO Dulld
ing occupied by r.. w. Traylor, situated
on the corner of Twenty-fourth and
Main. Mr. Traylor subjects a portion OF
his place TO the Richmond Stove Com:
pany. in which was stored a number or
stoves. etc. The building occupied by
Mr.. Traylor was used as a mica MILL anu
much valuable machinery was Destroyer
by the flames and falling walls Ills
loss will almost be total one, as the
heated element was quick In it's work
and gave no time for anything to be
saved Mr.. Hare could not tell anything
definite about his insurance. lie told me
that Mr.. Tucker attended to that part OF
the business. and Mr.. Tucker could not
be found then. He thought there
was about $1,000 insurance on the
building, and no insurance on the stock:
except some dressed lumber, and small
amount only on that. The building on
Main and Twenty-fourth streets. occupied
as IA mill for grinding mica, caught hre
and was practically destroyed. The fire
was under control by L: 30 o'clock. Al the
neghbOrs were aroused and ready 10
move ont. and the streets were billed
with furniture and utensils, of the more
timid ones.
ABRAvB FIGHT.
Assistant Chief Shaw was in command
Of the fremen and they made brave
fight in the face of the fierce heat AMI
binding smoke from the burning lumber
Officer Pendleton, who was among the
first to see the fire at the corner OF
Twenty fourth and Main streets, says
he saw a puff of smoke, Jet OF flame
and then, as he turned TO run to pull
the alarm. the flames shot high IN the
air The heat was intense.
The structure in which Messrs. Tucker
& Hare conducted their planning. mill
was twO-st)ry building, having front
eye On Twenty-fOurth street OF about
40 feet and running back l23 feet. For
ton of the rear of tn building was only
one story high. All sHy" portlor OF the
walls slccumbed to the fierce flames that
were quick and decisive IN their work.
As soou IA the first fire burst iorth ID
instantly spread, and IL a few mouentss
after the first and second alaruls had
lncn sent ia flames wore in every part
of tie building. Fortunately, the ire,
men could reach the fire from almost all
sides. but their efforts did but little
good. as the inhammable material con
taned in and about the buildings made
ie impossible for the flames to be
sQuelched.
The building occupied by Cosby was
badly burned, and he will lose consid-
erably by the damage done the ma
chinery. Mr.. Hare stated that Mr..
Cosby had some insurance; how much
he did not know.
Traylor was running his mica mill all
Wednesday night, and he may have
been doing SO last night. Information
on the subject could not be found
The families living on Main street west
of the Cosby shop were Threatened by
the flames, and the store Immediately adj
joining was diSmantled of its contents
by a self-appointed corps of salvage men.
4 careful estimate early this morning
places the loss at $4,000. about half of
which is covered by insurance.
Hundreds of people were attracted to
the scene. many coming downtown in
CHS and carriages. 4 hay-riding party
we're among the sight-Secrs.
The fire-alarm box at Twenty-hfth and
Main. sos va policeman, refused to
work when he went there to turn in an
alarm. The box eventually had to be
broken. The apparatus was thus delay
I'd fully five minutes.