Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-12-27
BIG FACTORY BURNS.
cHeRooT.WoRks OF JAMES M. BAILEY
DESTROYED EARLY THIS MORNING,
Tho Stock and Machinery Practically . To
tai Loss, and Only the Walls Of the
Building Left-The Loss.

THE large four-story cheroot factory OF
James II. Baily, 1s and Is south Eigh-
teenth street, was destroyed by fire early
this morning
Policeman Hughes. at a few minutes
after O'Clock. detected the flames shoot
ihg out Of one Of the upper front windows,
9nd an hour later the building was a
complete wreck, with only the damaged
walls standing and the stock and ma
chlnery were. to all appearances, con-
simed or entirely ruined.
Although 1t was very difficult to secure
any definite information upoa the ground,
1t IL probable that the loss will reach
$4,000 or $4,000. and that It is partially
covered by insurance.
Not since the burning Of the large es-
Enlistment OF the Allen g. Ginter branch
OF the American Tobacco Company has
Richmond had fire so stubborn, so
furious, so apparently unextinguishable;
and not since then has she had a blaze of
such consequence upon such a fearfully
disagreeable night. Even while the flames
were leaping from the windows Of the
large structure a drenching rain set in.
but neither this no the four steady
streams from the departments hose
seemed for awhile to have much affect
upon the fire.
DISCOVERY OF THE FIRE.
Policeman Hughes was on duty at the
ccrner OF Eighteenth and Franklin
streets about l o'clock, when his atten-
ton was attracted by a sudden reflection
and, turning, he saw a sheet of flame
iscuing from one OF the windows Of the
fourth floor of the factory. He hastened
to the First Pollce-station. and turned
In an alarm from Box 10. A few minutes
later the apparatus OF the department
began to arrive. BY this time the flames
had burst through the roof, and It was
plain that about all the firemen could do
would be to save the adjoining property.
On the north side OF the factory Is the
building occupied by the Richmond Tow
Ing Company Messrs Curtis & Parker.
ship brokers, and others, while to the
south are the large lumber yards of e.
H. Gum. II looked very much as II the
lumber stacked near by would be swept
away, but by the valiant efforts OF the
firemen this was not the case. The flames
were confined 10 the cheroot establish
ment, but this was almost totally de-
stroyed.
NO IDEA OF THE ORIGIN.
No one upon the ground seemed to
have any idea as to the origin Of the
fire. Policeman Hughes said that when
he first observed 1t. the flames appeared
to be confined chiefly in the northeast
corner OF the structure. About ten days
ago the factory shut down temporarily
because OF the approach of the dull sea-
son. and of the holidays. and since then,
II was said, there had been no fire I'm the
building, except, possibly, in the office
Dir. Bailey, the proprietor, lives on Bar
ton Heights, and was not at the fire.
No one present could give any accurate
Information concerning the damages. and
II was with difficulty that any facts at
all were secured.
The Building, which is an old one. four
stories high, and of brick, Is probably
a total loss. II is probably worth about
$500, and is owned by Mr. Ashby Jones.
The stock was entirely consumed, and II
Is thought that its value, together with
that of the machinery, was anywhere
from fl5,Oo0 TO $4,000.
Mr.. Bailey worked nearly one hundred
hands, mostly women and girls, and Is
the successor to the firm of S. j. Dudley
& Co., in which he was partner. About
twelve months ago Mr.. Dudley retired
from the cheroot concern and went into
the real estate business.
Two splendid ladders of the Fire De-
partment were badly burned. having been
put up on the front and side of the struc-
ture 10 enable the flrcmen TO better get at
the fire