The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1892-07-19
BURNED TO THE GROUND
RICHMOND ELEYAToR DESTROYED
The Immense Building Now the Property
ofthe Chesapeake and Ohio RAILWAYS
Total Loss-An Immense Fire.

and at II OCloch-One hOuI later PIE
Of twisted irons wrecked machinery and
ashes. That is the story Of the destruction
OF the Richmond Grain Elevator briefly
told.
Alto o'clock an alarm Of fro was turned
in from Station 40. at the corner Of Washing
ton and Seventeenth streets followed quickly
by atecond alarm from the same point Some
confusion was caused by an alarm coming
IN from another station either because OF
another fire or probably by reason Of
crossed wire.
oIHER CALLS.
This was again followed by private call
No. "a. calling out engine company No. 4.
Then while the fro was at its height the
special call 100. which IL an order 10 the
electric light and motor companies 20 turn
on All electrical currents, was also sounded.
2 his with alarm No. 49, caused by
small FIRE near the corner of First and
Carv streets at a still later hour. was
sufficient 10 keep the excitement Of the i'm
mense crowds up 10 a high pitch, and each
new alarm was accompanied by the move
ment of thousands. In the meantime the
FIRE IN the huge elevator was gaining head
way like a whiwind, and In
very few minutes the reflection on
sky hilltop and structure distinctly de-
noted relocation Of the now roaring names,
and those 81 all familiar with the topog-
raphy Of the city at once suimised the point
OF destruction with certainty.
BRILLIANT SCENE.
A more sublime and brilliant scene was
never depicted by DOTe than that presented
by the hilsides overlooking the valley where
the now grandly-sOaring flames shot sky
ward hundreds of feet ano illuminated with
red glare every hilltop and house. as they
stood covered with teeming thousands, as II
gathered in the grandest amphlthestre ever
conceived Dy mind Of man.
In short space of time five steam ire
engines were at work. but II was evident TO
the most casual mind that the great struc-
ture was doomed and the efforts Of the de-
partment were mainly devoted to the pro
lection of surrounding property. In this
thew were fairly successful although the
water supply was inadequate and gave out
o. a very critical time. owing 70 the small
ness of the main in that locality.
INTENSE HEAT.
The heat was intense and prevented the
hremen from getting in fighting distance Of
some other valuable property.
The elevator contained 10000 bushels or
corn. wheat rye and oats IN various bins,
which added 20 the heat of the building made
8 very furnace of the structure. The fire,
which started on the Seventeenth-stre side.
rapidly swept 10 the seven story towers
overlooking the Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
way tracks, and the destruction was soon
complete A large mass of the burning
debris from this high structure fell and
Overlapped the Chesapeake and Ohio side
tracks. on which at a short distance stood
large number Of loaded freight cars. Fifteen
or twenty of these. loaded with coal, hay
and grain in bulk became fuel for the flames
as we'll as the platforms and ties under
them The Office building One-story
frame structure standing on vacant lot
across Washington street was also des-
trOyed in part but fortunately the books
and papers were contained in large safe,
and the loss in this respect was not seri-
ous.
OTHER LOSSES.
Across Seventeenth street stood the frame
store and brick dwelling Of Mrs. O. Solar.
These were soon afre and SO badly damaged
as 20 amount 70 nearly total loss. Much
Of their contents were removed. The loss
will amount 20 about three thousand dol
s lars On the opposite corner stood small
frame house owned and occupied as store
by Mrs. Iopp. This was badly damaged
The undergrad Of F. T. Crump & Co.,
though in imminent danger, escaped with
out loss.
The large building Of the National Lin
seed Oil Company, ID. ID. Cummings mana
GER which contains large amount OF oil
In tanks and barrels was also subjected TO
intense heat. and only the most persistent ef-
forts preventedit from taking fire on thereof.
IFS HISTORY.
The Richmond Grain Elevator was built
bv a Joint stock company Of Richmond
citizens about twelve years ago at a cost Of
ESQ. 900. IL was framed of heavy timber and
covered with corrugated sheet iron
and equipped with valuable machinery
for lifting aud manipulating gram.
The front of the building WAS three
stories high and reached height Of seven
stories in the rear. The height was SO feet
and covered nearly an acre Of ground. The
capacity was 100000 bushels of grain, but
fortunately at the time of the fire
there were only 20 900 bushels in store.
more than four times this amount was
stored there and very large cOnsgnments
were being shipped hsre. one Of the former
directors said that at no time could the loss
have been smaller on grain than Just at tins
season The grain IS supposed to he fully
insured as is usually the case, but no par
tcuars could be learned.
The building was insured when the
property Of the Richmond Elevator COM
pany for O00 Previous TO the sale OF
the building 10 the Chesapeake and ONO It
was operated by this company, OF which
Colonel John b. Purcell was president and
Messrs. John Branch, Colonel A. >. BuiOrd,
John 5. Elicit and G. A. Simpson among
the directors.
During the heat Of the fire the whistle to
the engine in the elevator, whose boilers
had become heated up. commenced dis
NAL footing, and the cry was raised that the
boilers were about 10 explode A pell-mell
rush followed, but fortunately no one was
hurt
The trolley wires on Seventeenth street
were also a source of fear and danger. A
switch and double line of wire existed IN
front of the burning buildings, and though
they were thrice heated and the poles near
" burned through, the wires did not come
down.
THE wATCHMAN's STORY.
interviewed the night Waterman. Dir.
J. M. Bragg. who was on duty ut the time
and had the alarm turned IN. Hesald when
he first discovered the fire 1t was very
small and with the aid u two OF the ele' a.
tor hands tried % get 10 It 20 put 1t out, but
that the smoke was too dense 10 see.
Mr.. Bragg says the fire originated near
the Seventeenth -street door IN the centre
aisle. OF which there were three running the
whole length Of the building, and 10 Whlch
tie grain cOnyeyers. shaped IKE large
suRurs. we're operated He thinks the hre
probably arose from hot box IN one Oh
these c0nyeyers which were IN use duiing
the day
The loss to the Chesapeake and Ohio rail
way IN rolling stock. tracks. etc, IS quite
large. Active measures were taken TO save
the long trains sidetracked near the bUrn-