The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-06-30

TIRE BUSINESS PORTION OF TIE
CITY DESTROYED-LlNES LOoi
ETC. ETC.
"The evacuation Of Richmond. com
oenccd i'm earnest Sunday night. closed
al daylight ON Monday morning win a.
terrific confagraton, which was hihni,u
by the Confederate authorities wahtohiy
and recklcssly applying the loren TO
Shockoe warehouse. and other bullaiNs7
in which was stored "a large quantity OF
tobacco The fire spread rapidly, ana lt
was sometime before the fire bl-eade
could be gotten To- work. a lfesh breeze
was blowing from The South, ana thc
fire swept over great space in an lncic14-
BILE short space OF time 1897 noon ln'
flames had transformed into desert
waste that portion OF the city bounded
between eth and 18th streets from Main
street TO the river comprising the mann
business portion. We can form no esti-
mate at this moment of the number of
houses destroyed. but public and private
they will certainly number 600 or 500.
AT present We cannot do more than
cnumcratc some Of the most prominent
buildings destroyed. These include the
bank Of Richmond. Traders bank. Bank of
the Commonwealth, Bank of Virginia,
Farmers bank. AN the banking houses,
the American Hotel. the Columbian hOtci,
Dispatch office and iob-rooms corner OF
18Th and Main streets; an that block Of
buildings known as lclNns BLOCK, the
Examiner office engine and rnciliueff
rooms: the Confederate lostOilce de-
partment building. the State Courthouse,
q line Old building situated on Capitol
SQUARE at its Franklin street entrance,
the Mechanics Institute, vacated hy the
Confcd-ratc States War Department. and
all the buildings on that square up to
Sth street. and back TO Main street. the
Confederate Arsenal and Laboratory dh
streets.
AT sunrise on Monday morning, Rich
mond presented "a spectacle that use hope
never 20 witness again. The last of the
Confederate officials had gone, the air
was lurid with the smoke and flame OF
hundreds of houses .WcitcliLs in sea of
IRE.
"The streets were crowded with furni-
turc, and every description az wares.
dashed down 90 Doc trampled in the mud
or burned up where 10 Jay All The govern
ment stOre-hOuscs We're thrown open, and
what could not De gotten on by the gov
eminent. was lcft 10 The people. who
everywhere ahead Of che flames. rushed
IN. and secured immense amounts Of
bacon clothing. boots, &c
Next to the river. The destruction o.
property has been fcaruiiy complete.
The Danville and Petersburg railroad
depots. and the buildings and shedding
attached thereto. for the distance OF
half a mile from the north side of Main
street TO the river. and between sth and
18th streets. embracing upwards OF TWEEN
ty blocks. presents one waste OF sWok-
ing ruins, blackcncd walls and broken
Chlmnics.
"Aftor the surrender Of the city. and
its occupation by Gen. Wctzei about Do
O'Clock. vigorous efforts were set ON foot
TO stop the progress OF the flames The
soldiers reinforced the FIRE brigade. and
labored nobly, and with great success.
The flames east on Main street were
checked by the blowing up of the
Traders bank about noon.
The flames gradually died out 40 var
i0us points as material failed for it 60
feed upon. but ln particular localities the
work Il destruction went ON until TO-
wards or o'clock. when the mastery
Of ,he flames was obtained, ara Rich
1nond Was saved from utter dCsolalion.
loss orr LIFE.
"NVe regret 10 learn that serious loss
of lie resulted from the blowing up oil