The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-02-26

the northwestern tower. was the last
portion of the edihce 20 succumD 20 tae
flames j finally collapsed at a:4o cioCk'
and the ton or more Of slate with Wuscn
10 was covered fell with loud. numbering
noise into the seothlns mass OF names
below.
David Parsons. the old janHor Of the
church. said he made "a fire IN the boiler
room about O'Clock. Every mnk was
then an right. and he was Jpn the church
constantly. until the time the hre broke
out The first intimauon be had Of any
danger was when Or. Hatcher cahcd ms
attention 10 the smoke.
PROBABLE ORIGIN.
Parsons was of the opinion that the fire
originated in the bOiler~rOOm but he cC.Ld
Mr. J. 81 Biair. Of FourauTeon-Price
Company, said. About O'Clock ] was
sitting at my desk in the rear or lhe
store. when / saw a man running alohs
foushee street toward Grace street bap-
tist church. The next moment "a"
Dr. Hatcher run over 10 Harlison's drug
store. and then / looked out OF the
window, and saw the iiames bursting iiola
the southeast tower of the Caurch. a
/ rather remarkable 1act about the nre
1 was the rapidity with WLich the suut-
/ tire Vas consumed. Had II pcth
frame building, instead OF q brick one.
{ the FIRE could hardly have burned fastef-
I In less than an hour after the IRE was
| discovered nothing Tcmaii ed Of the
church but the north and east walls, the
+ weston tower and large portion OF
the Uaus ON the so~th aud west. hr.
| Williams family were driven out OF their
| home by the extreme heat, and all that
was saved was piano pm" fmt or lhf
furniture. Mr.. Grecnuee's residence
when 10 caught fire was soon fXtngulsh-
a. and was not damaged &c any ex-
tent.
The fire was enc. Of Tho most stub
{ born that has ever occurred I'm this city,
and II was not finally eXtinguished until
a late hour last night
THE 1NSU RANCE.
The insurance on tne church amounted
/ TO $4,000, and was placed through Messrs.
( Peasants d Crenshaw, as follows:
] building and S666G6 on furniture.
/ In the Agricultural ST Watcrtown, \.
/ y, $1,000 on building and S533.3j on fur
I uiture.
] I'm the Royal Of London. SG4JS.57 on
/ buiidnC and Sf07i.33 ON furniture
I ln the sun. OF London 5000 on build
/ ing and SNi3.33 on furniture.
ln the Hamburg Bpmen. Sf@0 on
/ building and SGGG SO on furniture
! The organ was insured for $500 in
/ the Virginia State Insurance Company,
! which was paid last night.
OTHER DAMAGE.
| Tine house of Or. j. w. Williams at
! no. q east Grace just Tnder the shadow
| of She walls OF the church. was thc first
| 20 catch fire from the burning building,
I and the roof was almost entirely de-
! stf0yed. The ffemen at once turned
! their attention 80 the building and sue
/ ceeded In eXtinguishing tie flames. but
/ not before the contents OF tue house had
| been practically ruined by water. Dr
| Williams. assisted by many willing vOun-
/ tecrs. worked hard 10 save his furniture
! bot only succeeded 80 getting ont his
| piano. a short time afterwards the
| eastern wall of the church fell with
| tremendous crash, and crushed I'm the
/ kitchen and rear portion of the house
| Tr Williams was unable 60 estimate
| the damage last night but il will amount
/ ance
Next to the residence Of Dr. Williams