Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-09-11
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.
THE BRiDcEWATeR BUILDING At
ROANOKE CONSUMED.
a Fight With the FLAMES to Save the Adj
Joining Propcrty-IIcavy Losscs
and Small Insurance.

ROANOKE, VA. September 10-Be-
tn cen IL and II o'clock on Sunday jet
OF fsme was discovered Issuing from d
window OF the Armory OF the Roanoke
Light Infantry, In the third story OF the
southern wing OF the Brldgewater build.
ing. at the corner OF Church avenue and
Henry street. The fire alarm was quickly
turned in. and the entire Fire Department
responded promptly, but 1t was plainly to
be seen that the brick-case structure,
which was as dry as Undertook, was
doomed to destruction. Residences ad-
joIring the building on the north and
west and fronting on the east and south.
were threatened. Hundreds OF men and
boys began emptying them OF their con.
tents, while the fremen fought to keep
off the flames.
For an hour or more the battle ragged,
says dispatch to the Baltimore Sun,
and II was not until the walls Of the
Bridgewater building tumbled in that sur
rounding buildings were regarded as
saved. The lower floors OF the Bridge
water building were occupied by mer-
chants. whose losses and assurances are
as follows: John NJ. Tinsley & Son,
builders supplies. value 1900. no in
surance, probably one third of stock saved
In Il damaged condition: W. ID. Stuart,
feed store. value $500. insurance $500; Rey-
nolds Tobacco Company. value of stock
not known, manufactured tobacco all
saved, but large quantity of smoking
tobacco, cigars, cigarfactory, and stock
In leaf destroyed, loss heavy; Overstreet
& Thurman furniture, value 5000, in
surance 800
The second and third floors were oc-
cuied by Osceola Lodge and Uniformed
Rank, knights OF Pythias; Roanoke Light
Infantry. Roanoke City High School, Su-
perintendent OF Schools. Mt. Vernon aud
Columbia lodges of Odd-Fellows, Wahoc
Tribe of Red Men, Brotherhood OF Loco
motive Engineers, Roanoke Athletic Club
and gymnasium. and Southwestern
Weekly News. on these floors everything
was destroyed, including the uniforms and
arms Of the Light Infantry, regalia and
papers of the lodges, furniture, etc, of
the High School. the superintendent re-
ports and books. and other property.
The Pythians were insured for 1000 and
will lose $500. but 1t is not known now
that any other occupants carried in.
of the building, the underwriters exactsd
a premium of IL and per cent. on
policies and most of the occupants re-
fused to pay this.
The building, which belong to the Home
Building and Conveyancng Company, was
erected several years ago By the Bridge
water Carriage Company at cost Of
$4,000, and when a new factory was
erected on the lands of the Roanoke De-
veiopment Company it was sold 10 tho
present owners, who expended $4,000 In
fitting IL up into stores, lodSe-rooms,
halls offices. etc. 1t was originally in
sured for $4,000. but one policy for $4,000
expired recently. and had not been re-
newed. The origin Of the fire Is purely
speculative. Some believe 1t was caused
by some Of the infantrymen dropping
cicar-stump on the floor, while others be-
lleye ii 10 be the work of any .ncendiary
in revenge for the part the company
tQOlc i'm tho riot last Spptpmbpr.