Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-30
WORK OF FIREBUGS.
A TERRIBLE STATE or AFFAIRA
IN PORTSMOUTH.
THIRTY FIVE HOUSES BURNED.
st. PauPs Catholic Church Destroyed
Thirty-Nine Families Made Home.
iess-The Military Called Oat-Re-
ward for the Incendiarics.

NidsSOW street, PORTSMOUTH, nearu Z
noise like the sound Of matches beins
struck at the rear door of the house
next 10 her, which was Whltehurst Hail
a place OF amusement. There have been
so many incendiary fires in Portsmouth
! during the past six weeks that she knew
intuitively what was being done. but was
afraid to make a noise and kept still.
She saw two white men run out OF thu
lane and down the street. She rushed "a
the front door and called the first passer-
! by. who chanted TO be an officer. An
alarm was turned in and the response
was prompt, but almost a gale was blow
| ing and the department could do little to
check the flames
EIGHTEEN HOUSES BURNED.
The immense building was soon licked
| up, and the flames swept on. and In aa
hour had wiped OF eighteen houses from
the block bounded by Glasgow, London
| Green and Washington street, rendering
| twenty-five families .homeless and burn
ing. i'm many cases, every article owned
| by them in the world.
The flames then leaped across 10 tho
south side Of London street. and en-
veloped five more residences, which we're
IN a little while a pile OF smouidering
embers. From this point large ember
| was blown to the roof OF ST PsuFs
| Catholic church. at the corner OF High
and Washington streets. a distance OF
| two full blocks. and settled on the roof.
LONG. LAST TOLL.
Just at this time. when excitement and
anxiety was az their height,
new feeling of soemnity and awe was
added by the long, last distressed toliing
of the church bell, which had Tor so
many years faithfully called the con-
gregation to worship in TIE now doomed
| structure.
Father Lucke. the assistant when hs
discovered the edifce was on fire made
his way TO the bell rope and tolled tho
requiem of the doomed church. Mem
| bers and others hurried to rescue tho
statues and other sacred symbols and
many valuable ones were brought forth.
but the marble altars and a beautiful
statue OF the Blessed Virgin were de-
stroyed i'm the flames. The spark worked
it's way through the lead, and soon the
fire was between the roof and inner
ceiling. The flames burst forth and at
tackled the spire, licking their way to-
the top until the gilded cross reflected
back the light, making a grand, but awe
| inspiring. sight, never TO be forgotten.
The roof and steeple fell, scattering mil
lions of sparks over the brave firemen,
who worked with superhuman strength
to save the doomed building.
ASSISTANCE CALLED.
Finding 1t impossible to check the
flames. Chief Robertson asked the as
slstance of the navy-yard and OF Norfolk.
| Response was prompt, but each de-
partment was delayed. As the engine
and a hundred sailors from the NAVY
yard started down town the house OF
! Mr.. Walter T. Pope. on Third street
near Harrison was seen TO be on fire
and the tars had TO stop and eXtinguish
this fire before going further Tho Nor
folk engine Thomas Kevill." and
truck were detained at the ferry wharf
in Norfolk, nearly an hour. waiting for
the ferry-boat BY the time they arrived
in Portsmouth Father Brady's residence.
adjoining the church. was gutted. but
the Kevill was placed at the corner or
High and Dinwiddie streets. and while the
flames were devouring every house on
the south side of High street between
Washington and Dinwiddie, dofied them
to go further, and stopped them az st.
Josephs Hall. The Annex Company, Of
Norfolk. and the Rescue (coloredD Com
pany, OF the county. with the nayy-yarl
and two Portsmouth companies made six
on the scene Of the conhagration. The
flames were gotten under control
about O'clock after having destroyed
thirty-hye buildings and thrown thirty-
nine families-white and colored-out sf
homes.
4 DISTRESSING SCENE.
Thousands Cf people were on the
streets. and furniture OF every descrip-
ton was thrown around, people IN houses
far from the burning ones having gotten
ready to leave their homes and save their
effects. There being such a quantity OF
goods on the streets. IL was thought adj
yisable TO call out the military, and the
alarm which summons the soldiers was
struck on the City Hall bell. II was
quickly responded TO by all OF the cons
panies-the Old Dominion Guards. Rfes.
ana Grimess Battery-with Major X. ~.
Warren In command of the battalion,
The men were put on guard duty over
the property in the streets and remained
until daylight.
THE LOSS.
The total loss Is probably Sl25.OOO. The
loss on st. Paurs church Is $4,000 with
$1,000 insurance. I'm the majority OF in.
stances the buildings and furniture de-
stroyed were insured
This is the third time st. PauPs church
has been burned, the last time being IN
1856.
Al public meeting OF citizens called
by the Mayor yesterday afternoon q
large amount was raised 10 be spent ~
! aleyiating the suiferings OF those made
homeless by the fire. and committees
were appointed 70 make a systematic
canvass for subscriptions. and TO apply
the funds raised.
Sunday afternoon, Rev. j. b. Funsteu
and Rev. Il. b. Farland. rectors OF
trinity and ST. Johns EpiscCaa
ID nj
II Rav pastor OF Central Methodist
church. called on Father Brady and Of
fered him the use OF their sanctuaries I'll
bgs church can be rebuilt. The Armory
han was also rendered and accepted
: ST PauPs congregation will rebuild al
soon as possible.
OTHER ATTEMPTS TO BURN.
Last night. for the fourth time I'm fou
nights. an effort Was made 10 burn th'
Pearson building. IN Portsmouth, bu
, the attempt was discovered in time L
avert a blaze The plans Of the iacen
diary failed Saturday night I'm orr place
AT Fiske's printing office. on High street
where a panel was broken from
rear door and the match applied. ba
fortunately ii did not burn. Two nows
papers. saturated with oil, were round IL
the blinds OF a house on South street
Porf smouth, al 6:30 O'Clock yestesdas
afternoon, and II Is supposed tina
, the house was marked. Two whltl
, men were chased out OF the yard OF Nj
. l.. II. Pearzon's store. on Green street
saturday night. and an attempt wa'
I made TO burn r. B. Lookinss place, O.
Green street.
There Is little doubt OF the reccn
fires being OF incendiary origin-prooabll
49,, nv The same person or persons.
The citizens Of the town have offers
a reward OF $500 for the conviction OF th'
Grebugs. and l am told to-day that tn'