The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-05-20
STUBBORN MIDNIGHT FIRE,
A COVBer Shop and a Pi kll Establish
mGlt Destroyed.
ADJACENT BUILDINGS THREATENED.
Only saved by Most Heroic Work on the
Part of the Firemen-Narrow Es-
capes From Death-rhe Dam
age aud Insurance.


pany in Eighteenth street, between Main
and Cary.
The flames made a furious and stub
born effort to sweep away tie entire
block. and there was a time when 1t
looked as il the long red tongues Of ire
would get beyond the control Of the lire
men.
The Richmond Fire Department, In
conaning the flames to the two buildings
DESTROYED. made one OF the most bril-
liant and successful fights that has ever
been recorded in their history. ana great
honor is theirs.
The origin Of the lire Is unknown, but
from interviews with several prominent
officials Of the Fire Department. It Is
believed it was the WORK of an inpen-
diary.
STILL ALARM AT 9IO.
A still alarm was turned in at 9:lO
o'clock. 10 which Engine Companies Nos.
and = and Truck Company No. . re-
sponded. Chief Puiler, Assistant Chief
shaw, and President Frischkorn. of the
Board OF Fire Commissioners. also re-
sponled 10 the alarm. They found
small blaze in Metzsars factory In box
of trash under some steps on the first
floor This they quickly eXtingulshed,
and after making thorough investiga-
ion OF the building lef. the scene.
Az II O'Clock, as Officer q. II. Hughes
len the First station to 20 upon his beat
De- was alarmed by nh" cry Of fire. Has
uly returning 90 the 'lalon he turned in
the alarm from Box 80 at ilO9 o'clock.
10 Ai, call Engine Companies Nos
ana and Truck Company No. respond
ed. chief PuiIer. President Frischkorn,
aud Superintendent Thompson We're soon
ON the scene.
TurF realized az glance the danger
ous locality of the fire. and the flames
having already made great headway
President Fr.eehkoru sent in n second
alarm calling ont engine companies no.
O. Hu1 4 1l truck company No. l. Soon
The block upon which the ill-l2tcd build
ines stood was surrounded by fire en-
f-lnra. frllF compe-ies. frcmen, and
mass or spectators a dozen streams
vere turned uron the flames, and the
gallant nelt commenced At this juno
ture "a gale of wini sprung up from the
south. aud Tanned th- tongues Of fire 80
even greater fury. The firemen worked
lloe demons. hut d.epite their efforts IL
was plainly evident tlat the flames were
too much for them.
REINFORCFf ENTS ARRIVE.
II WIS tuen that Secretary Paynter, Of
the Fire Board. sent ~ 10 the general
office private calls for engine companies
Nos. T. 3. and With the arrival OF these
mucn-uecded reinf0rcements the rrcmen
took new hcart and. under the able di-
recuon OF Cmrt Puller and Assistant
CHIEF Shaw. they again attacked with n
desperate bravery the almost triumphant
flames.
THE men from engine companies Nos
. and mounted to the TOP OF the blind
and sash factory OF &. ". Hardwickc.
and commenced q flank attack upon the
flames. HardWicEes factory Is sepa-
rated from that of Mctzgor Sons by a mar
row alley. which runs through the entire
length OF the block. Next 10 il is The mag
riHrcnt factory of Che United States
Tobacco Company. 10 was with n view
of saving these TWO structures that the
frcmcn made the flank attack. Hardly
bad they gotten upon the roof and turn
"a the hose upon the burning building
than the flames broke from IL with al
most irresistible force Famed 10y the
gale, The flamcs leaped nfty feet INTO the
60
of air would bend over ana almost en-
velop the brave lremcn.
TIE BRAVE FIREMEN.
Again and asain they were driven from
heir stand hy the intense heat which
.coreh.d and bii tered their faces and
lnds. hut as often as they had 10 re-
scat. just So often they .eturned with
logged perseverance, 10 the attack. At
lmes thc flames ieaped into their very
aces. thcn q binding cloud Of smoke
IS 3uld cover them but stiil they stood al
heir post ana kept The streams OF water
'iaylng upon tine building. 1t was a
lgnt between human bravery and endur-
.nce and melc.css element. and tho
oriuer was Victorious
change iu the wind for few mo-
ncnts gave the almost exhausted men
he advantage. and they seized il 10 re-
loublr their eaorts. and with the success
hat IN about twe1ty minutes they had
he flames n this quarter under coatrol.
INFLANMABLE MATERIAL.
The fire along the Eighteenth-strcot
front WaJ equally as stubborn as else
IS here. IS soon as the iiremen got steadi-
Is 90 work they realized that there was a
hard fight before them.
I'm hali an hour after H. department got
10 work T. was clearly seen that the
building occupied 10y II. Metzger Sons.
where the lire originated would be gutted.
This building was full OF inhammable ma
.erlal. suc- as Hour barrels and slaves
and the Ike. and the seething mass Of
iames erew hotter by degrees until it
was a matter OF much difficulty for the
iremcn 10 enter the building They had
10 stand back a short distance from the
front Of the building. as II was noticed
hnt the top OF the front wall was lean
ng towards Eighteenth street. and would
likely fan soon.
TO SAVE THE SASH FACTORY.
Pacing Cary street and extending back
almost 10 the cooper shop Is the sash,
blinds aud door mnnufactory Of Charles
~. lardwicEo. This contained n large
quantity or lumber and cumbusubie ma
ieriaI. Fortunately Tor the fremen the
wind was blowing I'm the opposite drec-
lion. else this would almost certainly
have caught. and the large amount OF in
Ianmabie material would have made the
work ~ controlling the flames exceeding
v difteult As it was. the building ca-.a
near cafcsng several times. and noth-
ng but the persistent and heroic efforts
3f tie uromcn kept the namos from
spreading 20 that building.
The fire lighted zap the streets In the
for squares around. and Il
irge crowd Of people from various parts
{ the city were attracted TO the scene
The work of the engines. the horses and
trucks moving from one place 10 another.
The flames shooting high into the air
from time 10 time. the firemen hurrying
10 ana fro in their brave battle with the
blaze. rall combined to make
M animated scene fun OF excitement and
ianger.
TWO NARROW ESCAPES