The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-07-27
THE FIRE LAST NIGHT.
a Small Blaze I'm the city Bank Build
inE-The Origin.

'hk-Ahf VilEihs
An alarm Of fire at 1880 p. NJ. yester-
day from Box -, Twelfth and Main
streets, brought out the department in
short order, and crowds Of citizens hur-
ried TO the scene of the supposed confa-
grafton.
The engines, hook and ladder trucks and
iremen were commercially prompt, but
the location OF the fire was. for at least
ten minutes. in great uncertainty.
Finally the hremen found II in the house
No. 11O9 east Main street, occupied on
the street floor by the City Bank, and I'm
the front Of the floor above by the offices
Of Bradstreet's Mercantile Agency. and
in the rear by the office Of the Rough
Ashlar, the Masonic Magazine.
In a closet TO the left Of the managers
Office Of this publication was found the
fire burning in a pile OF old papers,and IL
was quickly put out after burning the
woodwork Of the closet. This floor and
the street floor were w~ell-soaked with
water, but the damage was confined to
this closet. Mr.. Dunstan, the editor Of
the Rough Ashlar. said he was well COW
cred with Insurance.
Bradstreet's Office was uninjured, be-
yond the smashing Of the glass door by
the firemen i'm their efforts 10 get an en-
trance through the rooms TO find the
blaze. The smoke in the house was
sitting. and the atmosphere like an oven.
The origin Of the fire is unknown. and
the fire itself might have smouldered
along and broken out fercely later in the
nlght, with disastrous results, but for
this prompt extinction.
The first heard Of the fire was a tele-
phone message to fire headquarters that
a fire was burning in the City Bank build
ing. Mr.. Paynter, the secretary of the
FIRE Department, who was on duty. told
the speaker to turn in the alarm al the
box corner Thirteenth and Main. II he
was certain Of the fact.
"Certain?' replied the voice. ''Why
know it. l am here locked in the bank.
and will roast If you don't send for the
nremen"
Mr. Paynter then turned in the alarm.
causing IL TO sound from Box 13, with
results told above. Mr.. Philip Purcell.
one Of the bookkecpers Of the City Bank.
was working there at the time Of the fire.
lie told me that he did not telephone
about the fire. for he knew nothing Of il
till the crowd OF iremen and spectators
gathered at the steps going upstairs
above the bank
Mr.. ]. II. Witty. the manager for the
B~radsueebs office. was early on the
scene. In talking over the incidents OF II.
he mentioned that on last Friday morn
ing. arriving at his office, which is the
front half Of the building. he was told by
some OF the employees that the boy in the
Rough Ashlar office. which is the rear
half OF the floor. had said that an attempt
had been made to fire the building IN the
the night before.
Mr.. Witty went back into the closet.
where the fire was found last night, and
found there a large box OF hay, which
showed evidence OF having been on fire.
He saw at the same time several pieces
Of twisted brown paper. looking as II the
hay had been set on fire purposely.
II had evidently burned, and then been
SmOthered in the box. Mr.. Witty
the matter strange, and intend
ID called the attention Of Mr.. Dunstan, |
OF the Rough Ashlar. 10 It. He |
lid not see that gentleman, however, TIL
night in the postofice, and both pass
ng each other hurriedly, the incident es-
'aped his recollection.
It was reported around the scene OF
he fire that when Mr.. Dunstan came TO
[ last night he remarked that he put
,ut a FIRE In that same place last week.
There Is something mysterious about the
Whole affair. and further developments
viii be looked for with interest.
The building Is owned by Mrs. Ann E.
;rant.
Truck No. I was called to IL house