The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-19
EAST MAIN STREET FIRE -
Narrow Escape Of Two fam'ie' 'o"
sufforafion.

fire stubborn from start to ilnish
and quite destructive In Ns charac'er'
broke out last night about ! O'CLOCK IN
,be rround floor Of J. ii. Valentines
auc,ion store. No 1896 cast Main street.
Three engines responded promptly to the
alarm. No 70. and the iiremen were soon
busy nghting the flames and smoke. "A
second alarm was turned I'm a few minutes
later. and four other engines responded.
Ouite a large crowd gathered in front
of the burning building. and they were
soon forced TO move away on account OF
the dense smoke, which rendered half
block Of the street almost impossible.
The fire soon spread 10 the second and
third floors The latter floor was occu-
pied as a residence by G.. r. Phelps and
wife Mrs. Baker two daughters and a
son. They were aroused by some one who
kicked on the door and yelled Fire In
n moment the room and passage OUTSIDE
was dense cloud Of smoke, sitting IN the
extreme. The occupants had not mo
ment to recover any OF their clothes or
wares, but CROPPED their way through the
binding smoke, and barely escaped sur
location. They fed in their night clothes,
and went across the street to the resi-
dence of w. 4. Cheatwood. who cheerfuly
took them in.
Tur FIRF SPREADING.
Meantime the smoke and fire pene-
trated into the store-room of Mr.. George
+. Davis. next door, No. 1888 east Main
street. The flames spread rapidly. ana
practically destroyed the stock of Mr..
Davis. He and his family occupied the
second and third floors of the building
as a dwelling. The dense smoke aroused
Mr.. Davis and family, consisting OF two
daughters and thrteen-year-o son,
from their slumbers. Mr.. Dayis' daush-
ter. Mrs. Hattie Cody. wife OF Lawyer
Cody, of Asheville. n. c., and her TWO
small sons had just arrived on a Nlsit
TO her father at O'Clock in the AFTER
noon. The occupants OF both noors pareiy
had time 10 escape before sunoca'ioh.
Thev found the rear passageway cut of
by the smoke and fire. and their only
means Of escape was through the front
hall. They rushed out in their night
clothes. and barely escaped alive. The
shock and fright was quite trying on
the women and children. They were also
received at the residence Of Mr.. Cheat
wood.
The fremen did effective work through
out. and fought the smoke and fire brave
ly They had the flames under control
about o'clock and the fire was complete
~ extinguished an hour later. The orr
! gin Of the fire could not be discovered.
THE INSURANCE.
The total loss will probably not reach
/ over $4,000. The buildings arc the prop
erty of John Braucr and the principal
| loss on the property Is from water and
| smoke The buildings are fully insured.
| J. H. Valentines stock is badly damaged.
! He has two policies in the Virginia State
| Insurance Company. one for 500 and the
| other for $500. His own stock he values
! at s. coo, and he carried consignments or
| goods of various sorts covered by the
same policies. His insurance may cover
| his loss.
George 3. Davis carried a large stock
Of secondhand goods He had N.lOO in
| surance on stock and household furniture
| in companies represented by w. IL.
| Peasants. His insurance will cover his
| loss a large part Of which is caused by
| smoke and water.
The Mccormick Machine Co. NO lo5i'
suffered heavy damage to their large
stock of machines. twine. etc. by water
and smoke. The insurance Of $4,000 VIII
cover loss.
Alb. Clark & Sons hardware store, NO
1910. was slightly damaged by fire IN the
rear. and water and smoke elsewhere.
Fully insured.