Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-03-19
FIRE In OUR OFFICE.
THE DISPATCH BUuDING SUFFERS
SLIGHT DAMAGE ny FLAMES
FINE WORK BY THE DEPARTMENT
Prompt and wcu-Dircctcd Efforts
Conhne the Dlazc TO small Terri
tory, and Save the Plant from Sc
rious Injury.

afternoon by the breaking out Of z FIRE
which for short while threatened the
destruction Of the building and the Sc
rious injury OF the plant. but. by superb
work on the part OF the Fire Department.
was so quickly gotten under control that
the total damage is only a few thousand
dollars
The fire occurred just before ] O'clock
The blaze. which started near the mall
ine-room. on the third floor, in an apart
ment used for the storage OF fuel for
that floor. had gotten considerable head
way. when discovered. and Il looked as
though the extensive plant would suffer
greatly. But the department responded
with great promptness. Chief Puller di-
rected his force with exceptional wisdom.
tho men worked with great heartiness
and vim. and in very short while the
flames were under control. the entire out
iii OF the paper had been saved from Sc
rious harm. and every department was
enabled TO take up its work last night as
though nothing had happened, and the
Dispatch is issued this morning. as
usual
The damage to the building is not very
serious. and fortunately Is confined to
ttat part where it causes the least in
convenience. So too, with the loss sus-
tsued hy the paper This is such as can
81. readily repaired. as nothing was af-
f...ed that cannot be readily replaced.
The readiness with which the friends OF
tte Dispatch rallied TO its aid and ten
GereI their kind offices was highly grau-
.yug Several Of those connected with
obi building were caught In somewhat
exciting situations, but all got out Of dan
ger Of the flames without difficulty. and
none suffered harm.
DISCOVERY OF THE FIRE.
The fire was discovered just before 1
o'clock by Mr.. Cad G.. Smith, the assist
ant machinist. and Guy ID. Christian,
Dory-holder. who were I'm the composing
room. on the second floor. making pre-
narration for a day force to begin work.
They observed smoke issuing from the
elevator shaft. ana IL was apparent that
the fire was on the floor above. Mr.
smith hurried up TO the fourth story 10
warn the force employed in the job office,
while young Christian came down and
notified The management that the build
ing was on fire. by this time people on
the street had seen the smoke there were
loud cries Of tire" and an alarm was
sent in. There was some delay
ir getting the box open, so Major Simons
telephoned 10 headquarters that the Dis
patch building was burning and the
bells rung out the number, Is, which
drew people rapidly TO the corner Of
twelfth and Main streets. The streets
were soon thronged and in few mo-
uents the apparatus came laundering
up. Chief Fuller realizing the danger
of the location, and the important IN
t-rests in jeopardy, Immediately sent IN
.f.l oh
apparatus ln hurry BESIDES the
chemicaI-engine. which did most effec-
tive work there were six other engines,
and two truck companies on the scene.
President FrischkOul and several other
members Of the Board of Fire Commis-
sioners were on the ground, TO give the
nre-hghters suggestions and encourage
ment.
FIREMEN DID FINE WORK.
The 6remen could not have done bet
Ter work. Chief Pullers years Of eXpe-
,ience counted to advantage I'm enabling
him 10 see Just how to marshal his
forces so as 10 save the building and
contents with the least possible loss or
damage by water. The blaze was con-
fined 20 the section of the building III
which IL started and the various streams
were centered there. The elevator smart
eNorded a most convenient way for the
blaze 20 reach the roof, and it soon shot
far above the top of the house. A con-
eiferable norton of the roof was burned
and clt away. but this opening in
creased the facilities of the department
for bringing a number OF streams INTO
play so,,. h.roio
While the nremen were doing heroic
work in mastering the element thal
threatened 10 destroy or materially I'M
reir the newspaper plant. the friends OF
ib. paper were interesting them
selves in trying 10 save NaluaDie
effects. The Office floor was thTonsea
with people anxious TO help IN the WorA
.f rewoviug whatever it was deemed
advisable TO move TO safer quar- tets.
The files Of the paper running Dach tol
MANY wears. and other records ana Valu-
..r. Daners connected with the ofhce were
..-ria5 across 10 the Lexington Hotel ana
office buildings above there ana stoted
until il was safe 10 bring them Dach'
The number Of offers OF assistance Ie
cefvcd from various quarters was most
or.,ffyino The state and Times were
prompt TO tender the use OF their plahls
.nd any aid that they could render,
Nes.rs J. Thompson Brown a. co. ana
AIR. pelouze offered the use OF conVeh-
cutly-l0cated quarters that Wouiu nave
been most desirable had our own Duiiu
ing been rendered uninhabioapie' anu
many other friends were a. to@0S ~
pr9ner their kind offices.
EXTENT OF THE DAMAGE.
When the flames had been eNunsuisne'
and The smoke had passed away 80.
c.eutly for an examination 10 DC i~il''Ve ~
So was seen that the damage was no' ~
go serious as was feared. A coN''u0' ~ ~.
portion OF the building was ddindscu -
lIe water. and smoke the e1l'Oi i@I
rooms and library suffered cohs4'eIdDly,
though nothing was burned the % %Ou'ns
Cf the paper was affected IN some NM
particulars, and there VIII nalui"iiy ~
Some Inconvenience for days TO come Ou'
not sufficient 10 interfere with the opera
ton of amy department. from the press
room TO the composing-room. Perhaps
tue greatest Inconvenience is occdslolcl
ly the burning out Of the elevator smart
and fixtures. The eleyator-carriage was
at the bottom Of the shaft, and is III
act Cntn the equipment Of this I'M
lOrtant coutrivamce can be restored the
forms viii De- conveyed from the compos-
ire-r0om 20 the stereotyping department
ly hand.
AS soon as the fire was put out large
force of hands was put 10 work cleaning
up debris and getting things In order
iiy night a temporary roof had been mace
and considerable headway had been mace
toward Strengthening up matters Inc
t}pe-settinC machines and press were
well protected. and worked ass perfectly
lfst night as ever The repairs 20 the
bl.l4ing viii be made at once The pro
Ierty is owned by the estate Of the late
Charles Campbell. and. pike the newspaper
plant Is fully coyered|by insurance
HAD no SEEK SAFETY
no