The Roanoke daily times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1895-1897, 1896-01-05

eANo hEo yesterday Inc QRDQsOme
building on Jefferson street and Norfolk
avenue, in which the general offices OF
the Norfolk and Western Railroad Com.
pRny were located, Is now q mass of
smouldering ruins. involving q loss of
some fifty thousand dollars or more on
the building alone, besides the destruc-
tion of much valuable office furniture
and of many important papers belonging
to the railroad company.
The first intimatIon that the general
public had Of the fire was the sounding
of the alarm at the engine house of the
Junior Hose Company about ii O'Clock,
and the appearance of dense volumes Of
black emoke IN the direction of the
Norfolk and Western building. In a
short time thousands OF people were
hurrYing to the ecene and soon oil the
available space around the building WAS
crowded with eager and anxious people.
Is was intensely cold md high wind
from the northwest waa prevailing. maxi
ing 1t certain that delays from free ny
of fire plugs and bursting OF hose and
danger to adjacent buildings might be
expected.
The fire originated in the car record
office, on the upper floor near the south
west corner OF the building, where 1t
was discovered by e A. Brand, en- en-
ploye OF that department.. He noticed
smoke issuing from the easement near a
window and gave the alarm.
An attempt was then NJ ade to use buck
cts OF water with which the building
was always supplied; but the appearance
OF flames which by this time had burst
through the roof, caused the alarm to be
sent to the Junior Hose Company which
promptly responded. By this time
the entire roof WAS ablazo and volumes
of black smoke were carried by the wind
ACROSS Jefferson street and into the
grounds Of hotel Roanoke where large
crowd had congregated to watch the
progress OF tho fire and render such as
sissance as they were able.
Shortly after the arrival of the Junior
Hose Company the Alerts and Friend
ships were upon the scene, where they
were joined by the hose companies from
the machine works, and all worked Wig
orouslY In the ice and flames to save as
much of the building az possible.
In the meantime officers and employees
Of the building. aided by the entire force
of the machine works, who ad turned out
en- masBe. snd many outsiders made de-
termined forts to cave the furniture and
records. much of these being taken into
the grounds of Hotel Roanoke and into
the vacant ground west OF the burning
building.
1t early became evident that the
structure WAS doomed and thas only
such of it's contents as could be speedily
removed would be saved. This excited
the crowd to increased exertion and
piles OF books, papers and fixturea were
taken in all directions out Of reach of
the fismes. The wind, however, played
havoc with light documents, until plans
were devised for keeping them In place
with oil cloths, carpets and other cover
ings.
Before 10 o'clock all the upper por-
tion of the building was in flames, with
ten or twelve streams playing upon
them in various directions. The hook
and ladder company also rendered valu.
able services in saving furniture and
papers. About this hour the slate root
began to fall In, followed by chimney,
and before o'clock the wreck and ruin
of the building WAS complete.
When the alarm Of fire WAS hrst
sounded it WAS believed By many people
thst Hotel Roanoke WAS being burned.
a TIMES reporters first view OF the fire
was from the Henry strees bridge about
II O'Clock, just before the arrival OF the
IRE companies and when the flames
were bursting from the roof Of the
building in several places.
Several hundred people had gathered
about the scene OF the fro and within
an hour at least 6, 1000 people had sssem
blsd.
The framen after their arrival worked
bravely fighting the flames, it being
evident that their task was an arduous
one. The cold wind cut like o razor and
frcze the water nearly as soon as It left
the hose, covering the firemen with a
coating OF Ice and forming icles on their
hats and helmets They regarded
neither the cold nor the danger, but
worked bravely az long as their services
were needed. Pieces OF burning paper
were floating about over the lawn at
Hotel Roanoke and towards the Union
depot, while the smoke and steam at
times were suffocating on the east side
OF the building For hours mon and
boys were busy carrying chairs, tables,
desks, books, paper and Office fixtures
to places of safety. Indeed, the sight
was one long to be remembered. being
wildly impressed on all by the high
wind and in.ense cold. After the fire
had done It's WORST the lonely chlmne9s,
broken walls and smoldering ruins of
the once han jsome building presented a
sad picture Of desola.ion and dos RUG
tion.
The reporter in making inquiry as to
the origin OF tho Are found that 1t was
not known as TO how IL originated, but
DR.. ALBERT A. CAMNADAY, :