Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-12-24
RADFORD,s FIRE.
Recovering from the DIsuster-Nas
1t Inccndiarisni.

EAST RADFORD. VA, December o.
CSpecial)-Our people are recovering from
the recent disaster and viii commence
% rebuild at once. a majority OF the
merchants are able TO rebuild and where
once were frame storehouses there viii
be erected handsome, brick structure.
Tho City Council held q meeting yestsr-
day. and it was decided to confer with
property-owners and widen and straight
ca the street. This can be done easily
now, without much expense, and win
add much 10 tho looks OF the place. as
well as the convenience of the public
Nearly all OF the merchants have opened
up their stocks of goods In rooms of any
kind-up- stairs. on side-streets, away
from the depot. and elsewhere-but all
are cheerful. and they are determined
to overcome the present blow. The
heaviest losers are Mrs. y. NJ. Hoffman.
of Roanoke, who owned the Hoffman
House. and tha buildings occupied by
Beames Brothers: George W. Tyler, Mrs.
Hurley. c. w. Mayo. w. ". Darnell.
and Bennett Taylor W. h. Roberts lost
one residence and three storehouses; no
Insurance. G. Chenault Of Lynchburg
lost three siorehouses and two small
buildings; no Insurance; j. Donaldson,
Of Roanoke lost two buildings The
occupied them. So far as l can find out
the Insurance Will not amount to 5000
The rate OF insurance was 1-2 per cent,
and few carried a dollar, either on stock
or buildings. Many OF the merchants
find that a large part of their goods is
unhurt as there was no water damage
and they were able to remove goods away
from danger. 4 number OF firms and
families moved out of their places OF
business and homes. respectively, and the
loss IN breakage and from other causes
adds 10 the amount
The fire was stopped IN it's eastward
progress by tho three-stOry brick build
ing known as the Briggs building. The
services Of the wrecking-car Of the Nor
folk and Western railroad was called in
and the building occupied by L. W.
Clark. jeweler. was pulled down and
carried away. Had II not been for this.
or had the wind been blowing. at least
fifteen more stores and residences would
have been burned. Tho ladies' OF the
city were at the fire by o'clock. and
for hours worked beside the men. carry
ing goods and water. and doing noble
work I'm saving property. Hands that
were unused 10 such work were seen
Juggling immense loads Of goods 10 places
OF safety.
The Roanoke Fire Department respond
81 to appeals for aid. but when the en-
CINE arrived the fire was in a manner
under control The origin OF the fire
Is yet n mystery. Some think II OF in
cendiary origin while others think 1t
was caused accidentally by the occu-
pants IN the second story Of the store
occupied by A. V. NOEL. The fire was
well under way when discovered. but,
with hose and water. could easily have
been controlled. This ward has no wa
ter-w0rks. and the whole supply had to
be taken from wells and cisterns.
II has been learned that Mr.. J. W.
Tinsley, the registrar for this ward lost
by the fire the Observation-Disclosures as well
as all papers connected with the office.
The town had a new registration two
years ago, and the books We're new.
I have learned. too. this morning. that
the Mayor and a police officer were
standing In front of Noell's store not
twenty minutes before the fire broke out
and there was no sign of fire. The opin-
ion is growing that the town was nred
by an lncendiary.