The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1895-10-19
VERY STUBBORN BLAZE.
FIRE IN T.. n. T4ILOR'S CHINA
STOLE HARD 70 SJBDUE.
Six Engines Were on the Scene and the
street-Cars Were Delayed for Hours.
Loss Large; Covered by Insurance.

The most Stubborn fire that the Rich
mond Fire Department has had to con-
tend with In long time broke out yes
terday afternoon In the basement of No.
1913 east Main street. At ] o'clock pass
ers-by noticed smoke Issuing from the
door OF the store above the cellar. which
is occupied by Jackson Brandt a Co. and
the mutual Guarantee Building and Loan
Association, and upon inquiry were told
that a tire had jusl been started In the
furnace underneath md that IL was
working badly. 1t was not until 2:30 that
the discovery was maze that a fire was
raging in the cellar. The blaze started
from "A defective Hue. and no one knows
how long IL had beeA burning.
Next door TO the store. under which
the blaze originated. Is the establish
ment Of the T.. B. Taylor Company, deal
ers In china, glass ware. etc, ana the
cellar. beneath which was a sub-cellar,
extended the length OF the two stores.
and was pretty well-hlled with unopened
cases, containing Christmas toys. lamp
chimney5, and other china and glass
ware.
VALUABLE BUILDINGS.
The block IN which the fire started
contains some OF the largest and best
stocked stores in the city such as Saks
x CO., the Boston, and o. III. Berry x
Co, and great excitement was created
when it was found out where the ire
was
At 1886 an alarm was turned in from
Box 81, which brought out steamers 3. I.
and Z, and truck No. !. but the Chief saw
at once that more engines would be
needed and he sent i'm another alarm az
PAS, and then a special call, which soon
brought upon the scene steamers 1, ?.
and 3. and truck No. >.
Entrances were quickly effected for
the streams from the hose by prizing
up the covering over the cellar doors
opening on the Sidewalk. As soon as
this was done dense clouds Of smoke is
sued out. but the blaze was never allowed
TO make IL appearance, for the firemen
poured streams OF water upon IL from
both front and rear. and after about
four hours hard work. succeeded in
drowning II out, and confined all the dam
age done 10 the goods in the cellar and
suh-cellar.
srREEr-CARs STOPPED.
Main street. from Tenth to Eleventh.
was blocked with an immense crowd Of
people, and ropes had 10 be stretched |
across the street 20 keep them from in !
terferng with the work OF the fremen. |
The street-cars bound west were delayed |
for several hours. while those going east /,
could only get as far as Ninth street. |
and made their trips FOR some time be- 1
tween the West-ind and that point.
The Guarantee Building and Loan AS
ISOLATION, finding that the smoke was
20 dense that they were unable 10 trans
act any business. secured quarters i'm
mediately opposite, and their business |
was only DELAYED about an hour and
half Some Of their furniture was injur-
sd. but the loss was fully covered b. IN
5urance In the Virginia State Insurance
;ompany.
Jackson Brandt < Co. suffered more
severely, the partition which fenced or
ls office being broken TO pieces In &C.
moving a desk, but the loss ~ ccvcrel
By insurance.
The damage done the stock OF the J..
3. Taylor Co. Is hard e estimate, ~
the goods for the most part were "a
Unopened cases, and II is not certainly |
lnown whether ali OF their contents are
A total loss. II is safe 10 say how
,yer that the damage done will run We'll
Ip into the thousands.
THE INSURANCE.
The firm carried insurance amounting
o $4,000 on the whole stock In the store,
placed with the following agents: J. Is.
Moore. Peasants * Crenshaw, Virginia
ire and Marine. George D. Peasants &
o.. John W. Gordon, Montague & CO.,
nd Howard Swineford. A large proper
ion OF this was with J. b. Moore
The building belonged 10 the estate OF
he late Franklin Stearns, and the dam