The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-03-30
PORTSMOUTH FlREBUGS.
THE BfG SUNDAY FIRE VAS OF
NCENDIIRY ORIGIN.
Other Attempts TO Bum Property Discovs
cred and the Citixcns Are Much in-
censcd-A Reward offered.

NORFOLK. VA. March 29.-Special-
MOI content with burning down a large
norton OF Portsmouth Sunday morning
the IRE bugs tried u set in their WORK
again last night by throwing a hshted
match through a broken window pane
into w. 4. Fiskc's printing oiice, on
High street. II failed 10 burn.
Two newspapers saturated with OH were
discovered stuck in the blinds of a house
ON South street. also. Portsmouth people
are very much wrought up over TINS
wholesale attempt TO burn the city.
A citizens meeting was held yesterday
afternoon presided over by Mayor Bard.
A general relief committee was appoint
cd with fifteen members and a reward or
500 was offered for the arrest OF the
firsbugs. $685. was raised for the reiiet
OF the homeless.
SUNDAYS FIRE.
NORFOLK, VA, March "a blaze.
which destroyed over $lS,VO worm "
property. including st. Pauis Cathoiic
Church. o~ris!nated in Whitehurt's Hall.
on Glasgow street, PorthmOuth, aDout
/ o'clock Sunday morning. ms nan 10
a large frame structure. situated between
Washington and Green streets. ana IS
,,sed principally for dances. The flames
we're FIRST discovered at the northeast
corner OF the hall, and were doubtless OF
in~cendiary origin.
An alarm was promptly turned III anu
p~ortsmouth's TWO volunteer ire Compa-
mics promptly responded. At irst II look
ed as II the damage would be lght' put
the high wind prevailing soon ca1s.d inc
blaze 10 cCmmunicate 10 seVeIal iraniS
buildings In the immediate Nicinlty, ana
then IL was that the department recog-
nized that IL had a hard night. But u
was but a comparatively short une De
fore the block, bounded by Washington;
Green. London. and Glasgow streets. ana
the block bounded by London. Washing
ton. Green. and queen streets was one
seething mass Of flames. Inc frame
buildings burned like finder. and the hre-
mems enCIts were powerless, the hre
burning itself out. Three houses on
Green street. three on Queen street, sew
eral on Washington. two or three on Gas
gov, and two or three OF London street
were In short order destroyed.
FLYING SPARKS
Had these been the only ones destroyed
the loss would net have been so great,
but one of the many sparks flying hither
and thither all over the city, soon found
a resting place under the caves of 81.
Paul's Catholic church. situated several
squares away. on the cOrner OF Ign ana
Washington streets. Slowly but surely
IN blaze. which at first was no larger
than a mans hand. increased IN volume
and intensity" until the sacred ediice was
engulfed. As much of the force as could
he spared from the neighbOrhood in which
the fire originated Immediately hurried 10
the church. The beautiful building. in
WHICH so many people have ~worshipped,
was'doOmed and now stands a majestic
ruin. The flames communicate to the
residence OF Rev. Father Brady. when
adjoins the church. and this building
was badly damaged. The cOnlagration
then crossed High street. destroying ten
houses. owned as follows: Smith Emer-
sons estate. three. s.. Neale. one: II. r..
Glassett. me Catholic church. three; Me
meyer estate. one: c. II. Brown. one.
grocery store and dwelling. Two houses
in Third street. several blocks away, were
damaged by flames. as was also a va
cant house in South street.
The efficient services rendered by mem
bers OF the Norfolk Fire Department and
the United States nav yard fire fighters
resulted in the saving of much valuable
prOperty.lt is almost impossible to state
the exact loss. A conservative estimate
would be $4,000. while the insurance will
not exceed over $4,000.