Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-08-11
FIRE IN PETERSBURG.
PLANNING MILL AND SEVERAL STA
BLEs BURNED.
Narrow Escape from Death-A Negro
Man Killed on the Railroad-The
Effects of the Heat ON Man ana
the Crops.
the Crops.

PETERSBURG, VA, August 10.-(Spe-
ciaI)-The big planing-mill on Union
street, in rear Of the Albemarle Hotel
and very near the Tobacco Exchange,
owned by Mrs. Robert Clark, was
destroyed by fire this afternoon be-
tween the hours of l and o'clock. to-
gether with a large quantity Of lumber.
The loss will aggregate some thousands
of dollars, with only an insurance or
1880 on building and machinery, divided
equally between the London and Liy-
erpool and Globe, the Sun, and the Ma
tional OF Hartford. The fire is supposed
to have caught from the engine. The
spread Of the flames was so rapid that
the whole building was soon ablaze'
and the efforts Of the department had
TO be confined mainly to saving adjacent
property. Fortunately there was little
or no breeze stirring, else the destruction
Of property would have been much
greater. A wind from the south would
probably have caused the burning OF the
Tobacco Exchange and the Albemarle
Hotel. As IL was. a number or smalI
buildings near by were destroyed, IN
Guiding the stable with contents of Mrs.
Robert Clark. In this stable was two
fine horses. one Of which was burned 10
death. The other was safely removed.
The blacksmith-shop OF Mr.. o. f. Mat
tox the stables OF Mr.. Morriss. Mr..
Shortt. Mr.. Smith, Mr. Bartlett Roper,
Mr.. c. L. Alley, Mr. NJ. r. Saal and
Mrs. G. y. Romaine, I'm the immediate
vicinity were all destroyed, and con-
siderable loss entailed thereby. with only
partial insurance. The flremen worked
under great difficulty I'm a natural tenn
perature Of 100 degrees, greatly inten-
saed by the heat from the fire, and
several OF them were nearly overcome.
Mr.. II. 7. williams. residing on Byrne
street. was Frustrated by the heat, and
Il was some time before he could be
resuscltated and removed to his home.
NARROW ESCAPE FROM DEATH.
Mr.. T.. j. Armstrong, an old and we'll
known citizen and manufacturer, mar
rowly escaped being killed this afternoon
He sustained injuries which viii cOnine
him 70 his bed for some time. AT the
time Of the accident he was superlntend-
ing some alterations I'm building on
old street. which IS TO be used as
machine annex TO the AppOmattoX
Foundry, I'm which he Is largely inte-
rested. While traversing the second
floor OF the building he stepped upon
the bricks OF an old hearth. the support
Of which had been weakened by tearing
away the ceiling Of the room beneath
The bricks gave way, and Mr. Arm
strong fell through TO the floor Of the
first floor, q distance of twelve feet or
more, and was very painfully bruised and
hurt. He was unconscious for some time
but finally his groans were heard and
brought him assistance. He was a!most'
covered by the bricks which fell upon
him. II is feared that he sustained in
ternal injuries.
KILLED ON THE RAILROAD.
r. c. williams (colored) was run over
and killed by a train on the Petersburg
railroad yesterday morning near Mt. Airy
shops. 1t is supposed that he was Killed
by the south-bound Atlanta special
about 1 o'clock A. NJ. or by the north
bound through train, an hour and half
late. The body was found terribly mutt
lated about the breast and hips and a
basket of provisions which the unfortu-
nate man was carrying home was found
on the side of the track. The belief is
that williams had been drinking too
freely and that he went TO sleep on the
track.
PERSONAL AND GENERAL
Mr.. Henry Peyser. a well-known print
er. OF this city. was Frustrated by the
heat to-day, and for time was seriously
ill.,
Mrs. Eliza r. Spotswood to-day trans
ferred by deed to the Petersburg Rail-
road Company the lot on Washington
street. opposite the First Baptist church.
This is the lot on which the railroad COM
pany will erect their handsome new
freight depot.
The effects OF the hot weather and the
drought are being severely felt through
out this section. The corn, peanut, and
grass crops, particularly. are damaged.
Among the gentlemen whose name has
been mentioned In connection with
the Democratic nomination for Congress
In this district Is Captain A. r. Hobbs.
OF Prince George, a lifelong Democrat
and whole-souled gentleman.
Mary Ellis (colored) was seriously in
jured at the Norfolk and Western rail-
road depot tonight She attempted to
lump of the colored excursion train,
which was leaving for Norfolk. and was
thrown down on the wooden platform