Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-04-04
DESTRUCTIVE FIRES.
IN oINWlpDlE, CHESTERFIELD, sUs.
SEX, AND OTHER COUNTIES.
Houses. Stock, and Cord Wood Consumed
Marrow Escape from Death-sheep
sed Cattle Burned In Fields.

fires IN this immediate section within the
past two days have been very destructive.
large amount of property has been
burned, sheep and cattle have persisted IN
the field, and human beings have Darrowiy
escaped from an awful death. The wind
was very high on Saturday. and wherever
afire broke out in the fields il soon got be-
yond control. On the farm OF Mr. W. 3.
p. Spain, near Church Roads, IN Dinwid-
die county. the hands had been clearing
ground and burning brush on Saturday.
when sparks blown by the wind set fire TO
the adjoining fields. The flames spread
rapidly and 400 cords OF wood were
burned. The flames swept to the al
loiring farm of MIR. William +. Spain.
one Of the old-time Virginia plan
tations remaining in this section, anu fair-
ly enveioped 1t in a fierce circle oil IRE.
EVERY BUILDING DOT ONE.
There were on this plantation fine resi-:
dence and twenty-four tobacco barns ana
servants houses, besides stables and barns
for sta!ing cattle and the storage OF gram.
etc. Every building. save one tobacco
barn. was burned. and all of the tobacco
in the barns and almost everything OF
value on the farm was destroyed. III was
while all on the place were hghting the
FIRE in tue fold that il was discovered tbat
the dwelling was III flames. An ehort was
then made TO save that building. but with
out avail.
RESCUED.
A SICK daughter OF Mr.. Spain was barely
rescued from an awful death. She had
tainted from excitement and partial sufo-
cation and was taken out in on uncou-
scious condition. Mr.. Spain lost nearly all
of his stock, of which he had large mum
Der 1t IS said that large flock OF sheep
which were grazing IN the heies perisn leu
from the smoke and fire. MT. spain Is IN
sured 10 the extent of only $1,000 on MS
buildings. His loss Is very heavy.
GREAT DESTRUCTION N SUSSEX
The forest fires IN Sussex county pre-
vailed on Saturday afternoon to very
destructive extent, and within q radlus OF
twelve miles of Waverly many houses anu
much valuable property we're swept away
Mr.. William Harvell lost his Dwelling:
kitchen, smoke-houSe, DarllS' anu III VI
his personal effects.
MIR. John Holhngswor,h had his barns
and stables burned, with about nifty DuSh-
els OF corn and all of his provender.
Lucy Cox (colored) lost her house and
Edward Spratley (colored) his dwelling
and everything they had,
Mr.. George Il. Burt had his stables ana
about 500 cords of wood burned: He
lives on the line of the Atlantic and Dan
vile railroad the track of which was also
burned for some distance. -.
II Is reported that the fine dwelling and
out houses on the farm of Mr.. James Nor
ris were also consumed with everything
OF use and value.
Claiborne Jones (colored) lost his dwell
ing and buildings, and is left without
anything on which TO live.
1t is probable that much other property
was destroyed IN the same county, OF
which nothing definite has yet been heard.
The fences throughout this section were
swept away, seeming but to add fuel to
the flames.
GREAT LOSS OF LUMBER.
A gentleman who came down on the
Norfolk and Western train to- day reports
the loss of near 500. 900 feet of lumber near
Ford's Depot, in Dinwiddie county, the
property of MIR. 4. w. Chappell, by fire.
DIRE DESTRUCTION IN CHESTERFIELD.
Chesterfield county has also suffered
greatly since noon OF Saturday by forest
fires. and unfortunately there was but ut
tie insurance on the property.
Mr. Robert Ballaugh. residing about SIX
miles from this city, while ploughlng IN
his field stopped a momen. to light his
pipe and then threw the burning match
aside. In an instant the grass was lgnlted
and the wind spread the flames beyond
control, scattering the sparks to various
points. The whole field was soon ablaze
and many thousands OF dollars worth OF
property were DESTROYED. The fire was
blown eastward. burning everything in its
path. Mr.. Uriah Smith lost all of his
fencing and forty cords of wood. MIR. Will
liam Harvell, adjoining, lost thirty cords
of wood.
HoRsys AND cows.
Mr. Andrew Parks. living beyond. lost
fifty cords of wood, all of his fences, his
barn, three horses. three cows. two reap
ers, two wagons. his buggy and harness, 800
bushels of corn. and oil of his agricultural
implements. His loss Is between 80. 900 and
$4,000, without insurance. The fire crossed
Swift Greek, striking " Fruitful farm.
damaging the saw-mlll OF Messrs. Jones ~
billiard and burning about 900 feet of
lumber and $50 cords of wood. Further
onward the old family mansion of the
Dudleys, with all the out-buildings on the
place. fell victims to the devourlng ele-
Inent. Thence beyond. the same fate met
the large dwelling and out buildings on
the Oak. Hill farm. formerly the proper
ty of Mr.. Thomas Friend.
All Saturday afternoon as the fire pro-
crossed anu all Saturday night and Sun
day morning. the people were fighting the
advancing flames. The brilliant lights
from these fires all around the city could
be seen here Saturday night, but no one
imagined the destruction they were
causing. ana tne prODaDlIlLV Is Lue slOry OF
the loss and suffering has not yet been
half told.
ADDITIONAL LOSSES.
Information received this afternoon is to
the effect that several thousand cords of
wood belonging to Mr.. Nat Burroughs, IN
the lower part of Prince George county,
were destroyed by the forest fire on Satur-
day afternoon. Many thousands of acres
OF woodland were burned over during the
day and vast deal of grown. timber IN
jured and large quantity of cord-wood
destroyed.
The residence of Mr.. Bingham. eight
miles from this city, was destroyed, with
all the furniture: also the out-buildngs.
1t is also learned that in DInwiddie
county MIR. 4. Pride lost 800 cords of
wood, and Mr.. Totten. in the same neigh
borhood had 800 cords burned.
The farm of Mr.. John Q. jackson. in the
same county, was also burned over and
the houses thereon destroyed.
citizen of Chesterfield who was return
ing home with ton of hay purchased in
TINS city, passed between the fires. The
hay caught ERE and was burned, the
wagon being consumed with it. The
driver was able to save his horses and har-
ness only.