The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-20
DIED ~ THE FLdNES.
A Negro Man Loses His Life In Fire Sun
day Night.

day Night.
At $40 o'clock Sunday evening Superin-
tendent Thompson. who was on duty at
department headquarters, noticed blaze
issuing from the roof OF 4 building on
Ninth street between Main and Frank
lin. He Immediately turned In an alarm
from box No 2l3. a quick responce was
made by engines 3. 4. and Z, and truck
company No l. Five minutes later
second alarm was turned in, to which
engines 2, g. and truck 2 responded. me
flames proved 10 be on the centre Oh
the third floor OF the brick three-story
double building Nos. 26 and y north
Ninth street known as Wikinson's Han,
When the firemen entered the building
they found the fire raging fercely, but
after a sharp fight succeeded in subduing
IL.
The building continued to burn for
nearly an hour during which time the
flooring Of the third story was burned
through in several places, while the
flames broke through the roof and CHAIR
ed and backened the walls of the rooms
considerably.
Much havoc was wrecked with the
furnishings Of the lodge rooms in the
rear occupied by various orders, among
which are lodges OF the Knights Of the
Golden Eagle. Iron iMoulders' Union,
Tin. Sheet Iron, ard Cornice Workers
Association. Improved order Of Hep
tasophs. Odd-Felows. order OF Tonu,
and Knights Of Honor.
Died in The Flames.
The dead body OF Jackson Jones. the
colored janitor. was found lying I'm an
ante-room adjourning one of the lodge
rooms. The suppostiOn is that the negro
urac nv no q ttfle
considerably burned Jones was seen en-
terlng the building with two other negroes
about o'clock Sunday afternoon. He
was then under the influence Of liquor,
and. il is believed that he accidently
set the place on fire. A board partition
which divided the 1Oxl2 hallway and
which was close 10 gas jet. was probably
ignited by the light being showed against
IT, 1t is also probable that the blaze
started in a wardrobe standing in one
corner OF the hall
A lot Of papers were in the wardrobe
and it is believed by some that the drunk
en- man threw a lighted cigar among
these, thus starting the blaze. Jones was
suffocated by smoke. probably before
the flames reached his body. Coroner
Taylor viewed the body. and as he deem
td an inquest unnecessary. the remains
were turned over 10 the lister Of the de-
ceased yesterday morning. Jones was en-
plOyed as janitOr Of the building for
some time past and was an habitual
hard drinker. He was about forty-eight
years old and unmarried.
The building was owned by Mr.. c. II.
Whitlock who has II insured In the Old
Mutual Assurance Company for $1,000.
The damage 10 the building has not been
assessed, but will probably be about
$500
Concerns Damaged.
The Southern Planter Publishing Com
panys Office which is on the second
floor, was slightly damaged by water.
The files and furniture Of the company
az insured in the Hamburg Bremen
company for 500.
W. II. Mattox & Co., printers on the
same floor. were damaged by fire and
water to the extent Of about so. They
carry no insurance.
Another room on this floor Is occupied |
by Isaac May. the shoe broker who es-
capped all injury The damage done the |
front room on the third floor. used as a /
lodge-rOOm by the Sons OF Sir Walter |
Raleigh and Phil Kearney Post, c. a. r., |
is slight. Mr. b. f. Smith. dealer in |
safes, occupies the store No. %. His |
place is considerably damaged by water,
probably TO the extent of $500 or more. /
He holds three policies in the National,
Of Baltimore. and another in the CONT
mental Insurance CO., OF New York, both
OF which are represented here by 5. H.
Puliam.
The heaviest damage is sustained by
Nessrs Hume. Minor 81 CO.. dealers in
pianos and organs store No. %. Their
place was flooded with water and many
ELEGANT instruments are totally ruined.
They are insured in the Virginia Fire
and Marine TO the extent of $4,000.
The stock Of the Plymouth Rock Pants
20. escaped damage by being moved from
one side Of their store 10 the other by
Mr. II. f. Strudwick. who was present
when the fire broke out. Had he not used
such forethought this company would
have lost considerably
Fireman A. DurNey Of No. engine,
had a narrow escape from serious in
ilrv. While crossing the hall in the
fhird story. he fell through a hole In
the floor but caught the timbers with
,ofh hands thus saving himself from
,oing through 70 the next floor Four OF
his fellow nremen came 20 his aid. and
le was rescued from mis- dangerous po-
5ition.