Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-04-02
BY FIRE.
THE OLD MANSION AND CONTENTS
on JAMESTOWN ISLAND.
No Means ut Hand to Extinguish
the FIamcs-Thc Outbuildings Es-
cnuc-Tourtb Coufng rntion-Fur-
niture and Personal Property Lost.

WILLIAMSBURG. VA. April i-(Spe-
clal)-The elegant old mansion-house on
jamestown Island. together with nearly
all Of It's valuable contents. was de-
stroyed by fire last night. The fire broke
out In the northwestern corner of the
roof and II Is supposed To haye been
caused by defective fiue. Manager
Bedell with his wife and her sister. had
been here attending church and had re-
turned. and just as they crossed the
bridge leading 10 the Island they saw
the fire bursting forth from the roof.
They hurried TO the scene. but too late
10 be Of any service in saving the build
ing There were in the house at the
time OF the fire three white men and
two servant girls. and one OF the men
happening to 20 out to bring In wood,
discovered that the house was on fire.
COMPELLED TO RETIRE.
Those prt~ent at once ran up 10 the
attic. but found II so full Of smoke that
they were compelled TO retire and leave
the property to the mercy Of the names
as there were no means at hand with
which 10 cXtlnguish IT. No other buld-
ings except the Mansion House were
DESTROYED owing TO the direction OF the
wind II the time. This was indeed for
tunatc for If the wind had been from
any other quarter the destruction "oulu
have been much greater, as thcre are
n large number OF Outbulldinss III clos'
proximity III,
This Is the fourth time the main dwell
in1 on this island has been consumer "S
and IFS blsckened walls kept lonely vigil
over tho island all during that dreary
rprjod. and in 1856. after the property was
,nrcba sod nv Mr. Field. Of New YORK.
The structure which has just been de-
strovel was built. and partly upon tnS
old walls This house was large anu
corrnonlv-constructed building. In shape
=, vas s1uare. two stories, with Two
,rand halls through n. and cohtaiheu
o,gbt rooms. II rebuilt on the present
e,te # viii be constructed on enuI ~
nov walls. as the present walls haNihS II
rart been subjected ID the neat 81 l"uI
fires. are no longer OF any laiue ,
t,.1iir., nurpoees as they now stand
il,,a quantity o. valuable personal
.r,,lrt,, vas stored in the house. IN al
dition to its own tullil'"i''
rare and valuable.
HAD BEEN STORED
49, a,,ic was stored about 5000
yycr,h Of elegant furniture .,,i,,i,
'.h,.o and cold. belonging To the N"I,''
".''.,ti,,, cornanv. This furniture hau
- ,+orod i'm the VIII n house, but W.
~ "a a. the dwelling wntn II Va
rO'',I hat the wharf and house wa III
d,rqar Of being carried away pl ~" 10,
3 T., ono of the rooms were SUI an
.,,,o,ln works on agriculture an" 90
~, mans Il the island. when WIZ
sumcd. ,,. ,,r valued at
s,-- ana other firearms, were a'So
/ stroycd. ,, e,ored 30 bar
49," ~ cod irish POTATOES. en-; ana r'a"!
I -. rio,t and also d large NJ" hea'.' i
,,ttrb likewise. they were uhapic W
/ save. ...,,o>.,r LOSSES
! Mr. redou lost nearly al II his per
! o.,.l rrorartv. including two cdI-l"a's
! -, handsome rew furnitur- tn'l h' i"',
! ,ecantlv purchased. ard when NJ" ,'o,
/ Lsen unpacked. He. however su,''-n '',a
/ g. Zinc, the books and papers peTtai'lhE
u, ~ -,,.rap..uent Of the island. bnt 10
J loin,, so received several ourhs u" ''.
I,rJs which. though painful. are no'
.i,rs Mrs Eedcll lost all Of htr ci''h-
H.. and all Of her wedding presents
! v.nich included much valuable Jr".iIE'
Miss Ida Wolcott. the sister OF .Ni -
Iol.u who was with her on her UP ~
This city. shared The fate OF the olhti -
/ and IS now minus her wardrobe ana o'h',
/ things which she valued hiehly' ana
+ a.nonp the latter a lot Of works or art
/ which she had herself executed
! II is not known whether IN r. - any IN
e,,,.uce ON the building or not, but II -
/ presumed there is Mr. Eedel had Si."
/ ON his furniture but this VIII not cover
ono half Of the loss ne has sustained.
The post-ofice and Adams Express
/ Comnanv's Office were located in the
/ house About 500 worth # postage
! stamps and envelopes wer' burned. To-
| rethcr with the postmaster's cancellation
! sheet for the quarter ending March o.
I 1>oj but no mail was lost Nothing be-
longing to the express company was de-
/ stroVed.
MIR Bcden and family are at present
| Ivin, I'm a tent loaned him by the force
now on the government work near the
! OA church. lie will. however In a day
! or two remove his family here to board
! until better snnagemcnts can be made.