The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-02-04
TOBACCO GOES UP IN SMOKE.
Hr. j. n. BOyd'S R prilery on Brook
Avenue Gutted by Fire.
$40, 900 WORTH OF STOCK DESTROYED
Probably Fully Covered by Insurance The
FLAMES Gained Great Headway Be-
fore They Were Discovered.
The origin Unknown.

One of the most disastrous OF Rich
monds recent fires occurred shortly after
midnight last night when one Of the
tobacco factories OF Mr.. James y. Boyd
was guttod by fire and tobacco valued
az between $4,000 and $4,000 destroyed.
The factory In question. which is one Of
two built together and separated by
dead wall. is located on Brook Avenue.
between clay and Laigh streets II
is a three-story brick structure with a
frontage on Brooke avenue Of about ono
hundred and fifty feet and extends back
10 PulHam street.
DISCOVERED THE FIRE
About f220 o'clock this morning.
young man named Edward Kain, who
was passing the factory. discovered tho
fire. Ito ran TO the Third Police sta
ton and notified the Sergeant In charge.
who turned iu tho alarm al y 10 o'clock.
on this alarm engine companies Nos.
4 and 3. and No. 3 truck responded.
GAINED GREAT HEADWAY.
when they arrived on tho scene tho nre
had gained great headway. and Chiei
Fuller Immediately sent In the second
alarm. which brought out engine COM
panies Nos. o and 3. and truck company
No J. soon half-dozen streams were
playing upon the building and the nre-
men began their hard fight to keep the
flames confined.
AIr. Boyd was notified Of the fro soon
after it was discovered. and he FASTENED
to tho scene.
THE ORIGIN
The fire originated on the second floor
4. the north wing Of the factory. but
how. no one knows.
Mr.. d. W Morris. the manager OF tho
factory. said that there never had been
anv fire in the building which was sim
ply used for storing the tobacco that
had been reprized in the other part OF
the factory. When he LETT the building
at o'clock yesterday afternoon every
thing was all right.
COVERED by Insurance.
The factory was heavily stocked with
tobacco an Of which was destroyed Mr..
/ Boyd could not tell definitely last night.
/ but he estimated the value OF his stock
at $i5 600. while he values the building
/ at 5000. The stock was destroyed. while
the building was thoroughly guttcd.
Mr. Boyd's loss is well covered by In
suruce the majority of which is placed
with the Virginia Trust Company. u. n.
Walker. and T. L. Alfriend The build
ing IS also covered by insurance
The fire was confined to the second and
third floors.
USED FOR REPRIZING.
The factory was used by Alr Boyd for
roprizlng tobacco. and gave employment
10 about 80 hands. The factory was
formerly owned by Butler q Boshor who
used It for the manufacture OF cheroots.
Mr. Boyd bought il about five years ago.
The south wing OF the factory was
not burned, owing to the dead wall.
which prevented the flames from break
ing through. From all that can be learn
cd. the fire was burning some time before
it was discovered. and only heroic efforts
on the part Of chief Fuller and his fire.
men prevented it from resulting moro
seriously
4 UNDER CONTROL.
At 2.so o'clock. chief Fuller sent in
. special! call-number 97-which brought
ont engine No T. from the Cary-strcct
station. lie did this because OF the
troacherous nature OF tobacco fires. and
because he was afraid il mieht get from
under control.
AT o'clock this morning. the fire was
still burning. but Chief Pullcr was of
the opinion that he would be- able 10 cope
with IL.