The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-01-24
A DESTRUCTIVE BLAZE.
BIG CONFEDERATION At THE OLD
DOMINION COTTON MILLS.
The Spinning and Packing Building Com
pletely Quilted, and the Machinery
Total Observation-Disclosures News.
MANCHESTER BUREAU RIcrDsosp TIMES,
1921 Hull sTRYFT. BEATTIE BLOCK.

talking about the big Allen q Ginter hre
when this side the river was visited by
the most disastrous confiagration for
years past, and large number Of factory
operatives are thrown out OF employment
in the midst of specially trying season.
II was about Ills yesterday morning
when those living in the lower portion OF
the city were aroused by the fire Delis'
A few minutes afterwards 1t was DIS
covered that the Old Dominion Cotton
Mills were on fire, and the flames shot
high into the air and lit up the eh'iIe
lower part OF the city.
The first alarm was sounded ntde
after l o'clock, and the fire-bell on the
Council Chamber building took up the
refrain and aroused the inhabitants OF
the upper portion Of the city.
The Alert Fire Company responded
promptly TO the call, and In few minutes
were on their way to the disastrous scene
| Considerable difficulty was experienced
| by the firemen, from the fact that the
| hose had frozen on the inside, ana thls
had TO be put on the ground and trampled
| on I'm order to crush the Ice.
The plugs were also frozen up, and by
| the time they were thawed and the -FOUR
| streams were turned on the portion OF
| the factory known as Building b. whlch
! Is located nearest the Manchester faper
Mills. was in full blast. The fremen dld
admirable service and worked IKE Iro-
| ians. but II was soon apparent that the
building was beyond hope and would be
totally destroyed.
Mayor Maurice telephoned for assist
ance from Richmond. and engine NO s.
| from Broad street, was soon on the scene
of action. From The Alert Fire Depart
f,ll
flames. and these, with the two streams
from the Richmond engine and those
turned on by the hose of the cotton mills,
made eight streams in all.
For two hours the stubborn fiames held
out against the firemen, and the Man
chester Paper Mills caught twice, but
were soon extinguished with only shght
damage. The large building next TO the
bridge was saved, as was also the onces'
which are next TO an alley south OF the
canal. 49,.
In the clearinghouse there were forty
bales OF cotton, and these were totaiy
destroyed. A heavy loss is the great
quantity Of machinery which was stored
in the packing Most or this was
new 1t was very expensive, and not
piece was saved.
The spinning and picking department
Is a total wreck The building was com
pletely gutted and nothing but the black
ened walls remain. On the ground withif
| these is an immense quantity or ValuaDlt
machinery piled up In chaotic RUNS
The employees of the factory did goo'
service in helping the firemen. Many o
them were on the scene a short TIME
after the fire started
II was only the combined efforts OF I'M
fremen and the employees that save'
the immense weaving department on I'M
right. In this latter building nothlhI
was injured. NJ,
During the fire Mrs. John II. Tale!
nrepared hot coffee for the firemen, AM
Mavor Maurice was busily engaged II
serving 1t out TO the heroic men wh
bravely stood at their posts OF duty
The origin of the fire is unknown. IN
company employs two watchmen' III
NJ them went through building Is apou
o'clock. and found everything all righ'
There was little or no comDustDle matte
in the building when the fire started an
lust how II caught is mystery
Mr.. John W. Arlington, the secretar
and treasurer Of the Old Dominion Cot
, TON Mills. estimates the loss at betwee
6f,v and sixty thousand dollars the III
surance amounts TO $4,000. distribute
about equally in the following companies
American Mutual, Enterprise Mutua
, , Mercantile Mutual, Keystone Mutua
, Paper Mill Mutual (all of PROVIDENCE +
! II. and the Philadelphia Manufacture
Mutual. and the Mutual insurance Ooii
pany Of Baltimore city.
Tho fire is a very serious blow TO IN
{ working people of Manchester. ii WI
throw about ITS employees out OF wor
for the d. sent. Many OF the employt
came down to the mills yesterday morr
u ing. expecting to go TO work as usuai.
The majority OF the employees al
! women. and most OF them VIII resuh
work In the weaving department as so'
&C that can be put into operation, al
e al noes,hle speed will be used to beg
work I'm this department, and the ONCE
hone 10 make arrangements for this VII
IA a week or two.
The male employees Will be put 10 Woi
clearing away the debris. so that Win
a short time the majority OF the oper
h tives will ind employment again.
interviewed Mr.. Arlington yestercf1
:, and he said that the COMPANY w S'o,,,,. = =
IS build as soon as ther airangemeh
r could he made Nothing definite NJ
e been decided upon as yet however
= also stated that the comri ny would ma
n orrorgenenss to give the OF eratives eT
nlovment as soon as possible. and IN
If few OF them would be thrown out
lie work. A.. ,,a,.ord &c
n While at work on the fire Edward ua
$. lagher and Mr.. Joseph Haley we
~ . o'clock while Mr. Joseph Crowder' W
- I,yes az Fifth and Decatur streets, II
- c,tv was carving a hose stream In I
ruirs n falling brick struck him on I
> bead and cut an ugly cash. His should
uas badly bruised in addition. lie W
,oLen irto the Office and the necessa
- at.antion rendered. At late hour yt
terdav afternoon he was getting on We
n nicely. - l., ,.o
y; roo much cannot be said IL praise
" the Alert Fire Company. The men laD'
- ed faithfully from the start, ana 10 I'M
=, effective work is largely due the saw
III ~ the weaving building, as well as |
~ Manchester paper mills. 81,
eu THE scene OF the fire presented VII
NJ az absolute destruction yesterday. Thou
tbe fire was gotten under control abe
o,clock I'm the morning. the shoulder
ru,rs had TO be watched closely all durl
,ha dav, and now and then 1t was nec'
III cary TO turn on stream 10 preVt
them from breaking out afresh' 1T
as who witnessed the fire said that the nan
.. lighted I'D the surroundings tor squal
~ around. and the attention OF many ~
b. ME in Richmond was attracted py
&C furious blaze.
,r. The committee on Keller OF the Po
anpointed at the mass-meeting OF g
sa zens Thursday night, met again yesteru
Il morning at the courthouse.
rs THE matter OF distributing the suppi
and funds In hand was discussed
49, NJ Arthur c. Evans, of the Seco
a. I'D committee. suggested that the We
. 80 d,stributing the funds and stores
ct avoided among the white and colol
naon,e He did not wish to discours
H. prsorL ~ the committees, but belie'