Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1892-10-27
F0RD'S HOTEL AFIRE.
FLAMES BREAK OUT IN THE BOILER
ROOM AND 90 MUCH DAMAGE.
Three Ladies' Brought Ont OF the Build
ing Uneonscious-Aii Other Guests
Escape Injury-Loss Covered.

Just before IL o'clock last night the guests at
Ford's Hotel who were sitting around the of1ce
were startled by the issuance from tho wash
room, at the eastern end Of that apartment, OF n
dense volume Of smoke. A second later and 1t
was observed that Gre had broken out in the
boiler-room Of the building, and that flames
we're rapidly forcing their way through the
structure.
Quickly and quietly the night-clerk dispatched
servants 70 awaken all the guests, and an alarm
was sounded from Box 124. located at the Broad
street engine-house, calling out steamers nos.
ana and truck No. i. minute later another
signal was sent forth from the same station, and
two more engines and another truck were hur-
rying 20 the scene Of tho fire.
SCENE or WILD EXCITEMENT.
For half an hour tho widest excltement
reigned. and IL looked "a II the big hotel would
De totally consumed. The fiery tongues had
forced their way through four floors and were
ieaping and bounding toward the clouds above.
People were running Unfortunately into one
another Ia tho effort TO secure their baggage OF
70 see II their friends had gotten out safely. Five
persons had 90 be taken out OF the barning
building by the tremen. Among these were
tlvee ladies' who had become exhausted aud IN
sensible from the effects Of the smoke. Nr. and
Mrs. John W. Powell we're occupants OF apart
ments on the top floor and we're brought down
the ladders OF the Hayes truck by the fire.
fighters. Mrs. Powell tainted while she
and was taken 10 the residence OF friends near
by. heroic act Was that Of n lady who rushed
into burning room and returned with BABY
In her arms. several gentlemon we're also COM
mended for their bravery in endeayoring 20 save
the lyes and property Of others. Captain Frank
Cunningham lost his hat while bringing out a
burning trunk.
THE WING ALMOST RUINED.
The flames we're furious and it was a long time
before the nremen got their streams into play
la ~ house.
which were the kitchen, pantry, Laundry, ana
dining-rOOm, on the two lower nOors, ana sleep
ingroOms constituting the three upper stories,
was N a short while almost totally ruined. Four
streams of water were tarned into the fire. one
Of these being carried right through the Office OF
the hotel, ana In half an hour the hames had
greatly diminished. The Railways throughout
the building looked like rivers, aud men waded
around With their pants rolled up 70 their shoe
tops.
THE DAMAGE CONSIDERABLE.
The actual damage 70 the building by hre Is
not great, but the furniture, wearing apparei,
and interior decorations IN the injured part OF
the house suffered considerably. Tho COOKING
apartments, pantry and lhundry-room were
almost totally ruined.
When the fre was first discovered Mr. Ford was
at the Theatre. Heimmediately went to the hotel
and got together all the vsluables and papers
outside the safe aud had them locked up. While
he was performing tl'i, yery necessary junction
DISPATCH repUr,cr question nm "a 70 tne
Insurance upon the building and furniture. lie
SMILED and said DOhieiy, eau only tell you
that there is insurance TO cover all damage on
bOtn' lie afterwards stated that II was impOS-
sible 70 approximate the damage, thou.h
it will certainly bo $4,000 to 3d.
coo. There are policies covering the
iUrniturs 70 the amount Of Sl4,50O, which Hero
placed through Julius Straus n Son as follows:
western Assurance Company, of Toronto, Can,
s4,jOO; Commercial Union Assurance Company,
Of London, $1,000; German fire-lns1ranco
tgmnquV- n RalflmDrn.
on tho building PLACED through Nessrs. straus e
Son amounted TO $500, aud was as follows:
German Fire-lnsurauce Company OF baltimore,
S2 500; British American Assurance Company,
q Toronto, Can, $4,000; Glens Fails Insurance
Company, OF Gens Falls, y. Y, $4,000. There
is quite a large amount OF insurance upon hoth
the hotel and the furniture which Is in other
companies aud placed through other agents.
The FIRE WELL HANDLED.
II WAS considered very fortunate that the nro
did not occur at later hour, as IL would then
have moro greatly imperilled the lives Of the
guests. As IL was it WAS deemed almost mracu-
lOus that no one was hurt and that the nro was
SO well handled.
Wnen Mr.. A. B. Eddins, who roomed on the
fourth floor, heard the alarm and opened his
door dense volume OF smoke rushed in, aud he
found Mrs. Hutzler in tho hall half sunocated
and daZed, and with her baby In her arms. he
hurried with them 10 tho fre-escape, and aftoF
taking the baby TO the ground IN safety, went
bs and brought Mrs Hutzler down.
There was good deal OF thievlng during the
progress Of the Ore, and among the victims was
Mrs. Irwin Wesiger, who had pair OF hand
some diamond earrings stolen.
FIRE IN THE COUNTY.
rVhtle the Ford's-Hotel lre was in progress Il
was observed that some building in the county
vas also burning. All the Information that could
be gathered about the second fire was that the
house anre was somewhere beyond Oakwood
cemetery, In the county.