Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-02-13
PETERSBURG'S BLAZE
A FIREWORKS FACTORY AND six
pWELLING-houseS BURNED.
One Hundred Persons Out OF ofEmploymsat.
Lsssss Over $40. 900, and Insurance.
Not Half that Amount.
Especial telegram to tho Dispaschl

tSpeci6i tolcGrom 70 tno p1Spatchl
PzrERsDuRo, Va. February i2.-This city
was visited tonight by one of the
most serious couiiagrstions that has hap
pened in its history, and for time, owing
to the high north winds that prevailed, 1t
was thought that the lower end Of Bland
ford. the section of the town in which the
fire occurred, would be consumed. The
FIRE broke out about o'clock tonight in
the trunk-factory Of Romaine Il Brothers.
formerly the Blandford Cottton-Mills.
When frst discovered flames were is
suing from the second story of the build
ing, and before the department could
reach the scene the building was one mass
of fire. Owing to there being only one
plug in this portion OF the city, the fre,
men were at great disadvantage and
were almost powerless to cope with the
fire.
MASS OF RUINS.
The factory was soon one mass of ruins.
Tho flames soon communicated to large
frame dwelling house on the opposite cor.
ner, which was occupied by four colored
families and belonging to NJ. Levy. which
was soon destroyed, along with two other
frame buildings belonging to MIR, Levyand
occupied by Richard Smith and William
Dunlop (bYth colored). All the occupants
of these houses lost nearly all their house.
hold effects, upon which they had no in
surance.
SAVED HIS EFFECTS.
The next house TO catch was large
| frame house owned and occupied by Har-
yey stanley, colored man. This was soon
burned to the ground. but Stanley was
| fortunate enough to save most OF his per-
sonal effects. The house of bis brother,
| William Stanley, was the next house which
was consumed. A tenement house owned
| by Mary Dunlop (colored) and occupied
by her and Thomas Bowman was the next
| In the rear of these buildings were situ-
ated the fireworks establishment or
| Charles Romano. which consist OF some
| twenty small buildings, each one large
enough for one workman. some Of which
contained quantities of fireworks in differ
ent states of completion.
EXPLODING BOMBS.
Several of these bu uildings were con-
sumed, and at different times bomb explo-
sions were heard, which caused the im-
mense crowd present TO rush forward.
Bomb after bomb exploded IN rapid sue:
cession and rocks went into the air. and
the scene was different from any fire ever
witnessed in the city. The lumber.vard
/
| 100. 900 feet of lumber is now in tlames.
| The man efforts of the tiremen were con-
| centrated in an effort to save the large
| frame warehouse of the Romano Brothers,
which contain large number of trunks
and stock used in their manufacture.
| These efforts so far have proved successful,
although at this hour 1t looks as II that Ii
| also doomed.
INSURANCE.
| II is impossible to learn the amount OF
insurance tonight The factory of Ro-
maine Il Brother is fully insured, so are
also the houses OF NJ. Levy. The stan
| ley's have an insurance of $500 on their
property, and Mary Dunlop S4O0 on hers;
The fire will throw 100 people out OF
work, great number OF whom lose all
their tools by the fire. MIR. Charles 10
maine estimates his loss at $4,000 by the
burning of his frework buildings and
stock, on which he did not have any insu-
rance. Twelve families are homeless by
| to-night's fire.
| LAIER-uNDER CONTROL.
| At this hour Q1:S0) the fremen have the
| fire under hand, and by hard work man.
aged to save the warehouse. The Ro-
maines estimate their losses ut 800, 900,
and their insurance at half that amount.
| Only Yesterday insurance policies expired
for large sum. aud they were negotiating
| to-day to increase the amount that they
had been carrying.
40 CLUE.
There is no clue to the origin of the FIRE
The factory had closed for the day about
an hour before the FIRE started.
| Willie Marks q small white boy, wal
caught bv falling chimney tonight and
had one of his legs broken.