The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-08-01
A BIG PLANT BURNED.
THE DIVE PLOW WORKS DESTROY
ED EARIY YESTERDAY noRNING.
The Fire IL Supposed tn Have Originated
I'm the Paint Shop-A Second 'iar"
Was Turned In BY Chief Fuller

About O'Clock yesterday morning sew
cral people noticed dense clouds OF smoke
arising over the housetops in the neigh-
horhood OF Fifteenth street and shockoe
creek A few minutes later the clang OF
the tlre-bell told what was the matter
The alarm came from box III. and
brought engine companies Nos. z, .. ana
10 the corner of Fifteenth and cary
streets where 1t was Immediately seen
that the plant OF Starke's Dixie Pow
Works was on fire.
The works comprise single-story
brick foundry. with a two-story wood
working shop annexed, the TWO depart
ments covering an area OF fZNl+ rect,
two-story frame building, covered win
corrugated iron, the lower fOor used as
the nnishing-rOOm, and the upper as the
paint-shop covering 42X25 feet, ana a
storage shed in the yard, running nearly
the length of the foundry. Mrs. /. n.
Starke and Mr.. f. ID. Starke are the
owners. the latter being also the manager
of the works. which are located between
Fifteenth street and ShOckoe creek, 'front.'
ing on two alleys that meet al risnt
angles. one running from Fifteenth ana
the other from Cary street.
FIRE DISCOVERED.
About forty persons are employed IN
these works, and they were busy az work
when the fire was discovered. IL o'l5lnae-
shop. and spread with remarkable rapiu-
fly. An alarm was at once turned III. ana
by the time the fire companies reacneu
the scene big tongues OF IRE were leaplns
skyward, and shower OF spar nj -.
falling like rain. endangering all the
buildings in the immediate neighporhood
The nremen were effective from the start
In their fight against the flames, but Shiei
Fuller wanted 10 be on the sate siuS 80
he sent in a second alarm at 500 O'Clock
and engine companies Nos. : and .. win
truck company No. l. were soon on the
scene.
BY this time an immense crowd had
cOngregated and great excitement pre-
vailed. In fifteen minutes, however the
flames were under control. and in hali an
hour they were entirely eXtinguished.
An INTERESTED SPECTATOR.
li,nager Starke. Of the works. was an
interested spectator. He said that the orig
in OF the blaze was a mystery 10 MN.
There was no fire in any OF the buildings
Yesterday morning. so far as any one
knew. until the place was discovered 10 be
in flames. The most plausible theory ne
had heard was that the large vessel CON
tanning varnsh the ingredients or which
are turpentine. gum. and henzine. which
was In the finshingrOOm, ignited sponta-
neously. and he was not inclined 20 credit
that theory. as the varnish was still IN
the tub when the fire was over.
The walls of the building are standing
I'm good condition. and Mr. Starke was or
the opinion that the foundry would be IN
operation again in about a week. The
fire will not seriously interfere with the
business. as the company has two other
plants-one in Hampton and the other in
Newport News.
TIE INSURANCE
The manager, Mr.. Starke. estimated the
damage at 5000. the major part OF which
is on the buildings. The company holds
policies amounting 20 1000 on the build
ings and machinery. The schedule OF in
surance placed with the home office OF
the Mechanics Fire Insurance Company,
J. \. Cook. secretary. IS as follows.
Buildings, 5000, machinery 5000.
stock. Sl.co0; engine and boiler. 500. .upola
and fan. 500 OF the above the Mechanics
Co. Is actually liable only 90 the extent OF
$500 the balance Of the insurance being
placed elsewhere through that company.
Policies in two of the Lloyds' companies
for 5000 each complete the list of insur-
ance.
The Mechanics Fire Insurance Company
is only responsible for $500 of the 500
which they had on the plant, having re-
Insured SOD