The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-04-28
Two Of the Magnificent Piers Burned
10 the Waters Edge.
THREE VESSELS GO UP IN SMOKE
Loss Not Fully Known, But Believed 10
Come within o.. DOC, GOODWILL Be Re-
built ut Once-Csuse oil Fire
Mystery.
From a STAFF Correspondent

ed in the river sounded softly out on the
early morning air. man going to his
work on Washington avenue saw tiny
blaze lick its way through the extreme
end of the biz Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
way Pier. No. ;.
lie rubbed his eyes and looked again
and there In fact Was the blaze. growing
larger aud larger The man ran down
toward the pier and yelled loudly. Poo
pie awoke and poked their heads out Of
the windows, and in few minutes the
whole town was awake and men, women
and children ran down TO the water )
edge. and to points OF vantage along the
BLUM.
THE FIRE GAINS GROUND.
Larger and larger the flames grew, and
fierccr. fercer sounded It's roar. The
wind had been blowing from the west
but now 1t veered around to the South,
and in an incredibly short time the pier
was wrapped in a mass OF seething, splut-
tering flame. and sparks new aloit ana
became lost In the dense curling smoke
that arose TO heaven hiding from view
the bright stars OF the armament.
Whistles blew. bells rang and hoarse
voices shouted, and pandemonium reigned
for the winds played with the blaze as
though 1t were a toy. while the imp OF
destruction gazcd on in glee at the rum
that was being wrought.
The country all around was III up by
the glare and the impression upon those
i'm surrounding towns was that the en-
tire city was ablaze.
Local nremcn worked with a will. but
their efforts were unavailing for the com
bustible ma,a.-l stored in the pier lent
wings TO the 'ames and rapidly the pier
was consumed.
VESSELS BURNED.
Anchored near the pier was the Nor
welfan iron steamer Solveig Captain
Rodseth. which was being loaded with
merchandise. The vessel was cut loose
but not soon enough TO save, and the
crew barely escaped with their lives.
Captain Ro lseth. I'm delaying his escape
to the last moment. was PAINFULLY burn
cd.
The British steamer Clintonia WAS an
chored near the Solveig. She was loaded
with a valuable cargo Of merchandise. in
Guiding oil. tobacco and phosphates.
large quantity Of which was taken on at
Norfolk Tugs lowed the vessel out into
the stream. and several hose played on
her. but with little success. for the fire
NdQ TtNfItu SUCH HtduNdN HI l'i NUM-
hat IT was well nigh impossible to save
the vessel. At a late hour efforts were
being made quench the fire in the burning
vessel. which had burned down TO the
water line.
While the threatened disaster to other
shipping was being ayerted a new dan
ger threatened and the hundreds OF
spectators saw with horror the approach
Of the flames 10 the big grain elevator
that adiOinod Pier No. 3. Nearer and
nearer they drew and they licked the fac
ing of the conVeyors that connected the
elevator with the pier.
THE ELEVATOR SAVED.
'!'he force of hremen concentrated their
energies upon this point and with the
all Of an engine pulled the conveyors
away. thus saving the magnificent eleya-
tor and its contents.
While the heroic work was going on
tho Chesapeake and Ohio tug Wanderer
that was moved up against Pier No. :.
was burning to the waters edge and Pier
No. 6 was already on fire.
The captain and crew OF the tug were
asleep when the alarm was given. and
ID was with difficulty they were awaken
ed Then 1t was too late 10 save the
tug. but Captain Forrest broke away
from the wharf and ran for open water
When he found ii was too late. how
ever. he ran the boat back. and the crew
made their escape. not without serious
mishap. however.
First Mate John Digs was seriously
burned about The face and body. ana
later was carried TO the Marine Hospital.
in Norfolk. while \. Digs. a deck hand,
and an unknown cOlOrcd man were pain
fully burned. The engineer and firemen
would not trust themselves on the burn
ing pier. but jumped overheard. and
swan ashore.
POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE.
The good ship j. d. BischoT. from
Hamburg was loading with slaves al
Pier 6. The flames. aided by the strong
wind. caught her IN its grasp, and she
was another victim. Captain Krite, IN
making his escape. was seriously burned
about the head and neck; and it is SAID
by those claiming TO be eyewitness
that three men were seen 10 jump from
the vessel IN efforts TO escape, and were
drowned The boatswain. whose name
could not be learned. was also pain
fully burned.
The merchandise I'm the two piers was
Of inhammable material. ana
In a short while both Piers 8 and were
a mass of smouldering ruins.
The Bischom continued TO burn at her
and heroic measures were re-
sorted 10 in order 10 save the vessel. but
II burned To the huh, and left very
III lie 10 tell the tale.
All day crowds OF citizens. including
m any women. hocked TO the scene.
At II o'clock General Manager Stevens
arrived in his special car. from Richmond
and ffpsraHflf.t n xynrk IN lanrrt
the cause of the fire. and TO figure out the
loss and to attend to other business in
with the catastrophe.
ORIGIN \ MYSTERY.
So far as can be ascertained. the orr
lin of the fire Is a mystery. When the
lanes were first seen, they appeared TO
.ome from the tool-room OF that sec
ion Of Pier devoted TO the business
Of the Merchants and Miners Com
)any.
NO fires are allowed on the pier and
lone was there" said Mr. Stevens TO
rhe Times representative, "and / can
how the first started. The
general impression is that it originated
n the tool-room.
In referring to the loss OF the COM
)any. Mr.. Stevens said:
Il think 100000 will cover the loss.
the merchandise. and this Is
ully covered by insurance.
I'VE shall begin the erection OF two
lew piers at once. and will build them
much larger and more substantial than
the old ores. They will be double
lockers. and Will be similar 10 No.
n construction.
THE fire Will delay our coastwise busi-
Tess temporarily but within ninety days
re expect to be ready 10 resume business