Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-06-04
SWEPT BY FLAMES.
PARKSLEY, on THE EASTERN
SHORE, IN ACCOMAC COUNTY.
The Whole Business Section OF n
Pretty and Thriving Town De-
stroyed-The Loss Some 100000.
The Insurance Small.

PARKSLEY, VA. June 3.-(Special)-
Parksley. one of the prettiest and most
nourishing towns on the Eastern Shore
Of Virginia, was to-day destroyed by fire.
Between and o'clock I'm the afternoon
L. Inman's barrel-factory was found 10
be on fire. The wind was blowing strong
from the southeast, and the flames soon
spread 10 the main business block OF the
town. The Inhabitants. recognizing that
the town was doomed. did what they
could to save their goods and furniture,
but the flames leaped from house 10 house
with such rapidly that but little was
saved.
QUICK WORK OF FLAMES.
In less than an hour and half almost
the entire business part Of the town was
reduced to ashes. Twelve stores. three
warehouses, the post-office, and about
ten small shops were destroyed, entailing
a loss OF about $1,000, on which there was
only about $1,000 insurance. Many per-
sons lost all their property, saving only
the clothes they were wearing.
The store and hotel Of Stanley j. Lewis,
were saved by spreading blankets on the
roof and porches and keeping them satu-
rated with water. The fire swept up
Dunno avenue. the main business street
Of the town. destroying everything from
the hotel 10 the store of Edward r. Parks
& Co., which was saved by being sepa-
rated from the other buildings.
The losses as far az can be ascertained
are as follows: James II. Hickmans
storehouse and stock Of goods. A5co-no
insurance. Louis +. Humans storenouse'
stock OF goods, two Darrel-houses. and
Office. Si.0O0-no insurance; Lewis x Pate's
miliners, store and stock. s. Jo0-insurance,
$500: ID. H. johnson a Sons large store,
with stock OF -four, hay. &c, S6,000-in-
surance. 1900: c. c. DiX's storehouse.
S60o-no insurance; T. II. Mears's, green
grocer, stock, s50O-no insurance; ID. II.
Johnsons barber-shop and shoe-shop
s300-no insurance; :. T. Jones's store
house and hall, 81 .250-insurance, $500; VIII
lett 4 Bonnewell's stock Of groceries,
S00-no insurance; Albert T. Mearss bar
rel factory and stock. 2,00-insurance,
800: Pate & Mason's large store and
stock Of dry goods and general merchan-
disc. S2G,000-insurance, 5000; DR.. 4. d. r..
Ewelrs drugstore and post-office, $500
no insurance.
There were in all about twenty-five
buildings destroyed, including the post
office, with all its contents and records.
The large hall over -. II. JOhnson's store
was used by the Baptist Of Parsley.
They lost their organ. seats. and other
furniture. on which they had no insu-
rance. There are only four stores left in
the town.
SEEN FOR MILES.
The smoke OF the burning town was
seen for many miles around. and hum
dreds Of people came from the surround
ing country 10 look al the ruins.
Louis f. Hinman, one Of the heaviest
losers. had allowed his insurance TO ex-
pire at noon to-day.
This IS the fourth destructive fire that
has occurred I'm Accomac since last Feb
ruary. Wdchapreague, Accomac Court
house, Franklin City. and Parksley have
all been visited by fires i'm this period, en-
failing total loss OF nearly $4,000
Parksley Is situated in the centre OF
Accomac. on the line OF the New York.
philadelphia, and Norfolk railroad. and
is about u years old. II is beautifully
laid out, and set with shade-trees. Many
Of its inhabitants are enterprising north
ern people. The fire originated in the
barrel-factory OF /. f. Human, which
stood I'm the rear Of his store, and was
accidental