Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-04-04
FIRE AT KEYSVlLLE.
HALE THE BUSINESS SECTION OF
THE TOWN BURNED.
CITIZEN BARELY ESCAPES.
Flames start I'm Warehouse and
Spread RapidIy-No Facilities for
Fighting Thcm-Good Work Of
White and CoIorcd.

KEYSvILLE. VA. April S.-CSpecial)--
About o'clock this morning. as the hotel
porters were returning from the depot.
the laree storohouso and warehouse OF
Jeffross & co. was seen TO be on Gre.
The alarm was Immediately sounded. but
as the building must have been burning
on the inside for some time. e was soon
consumed. Mr. T. II. JeNress was sleep
ing IN his Office I'm the building. and was
aroused only in time to escape with his
life Not a single thing IN the building
was saved. Mr.. Z. Stanley Jcffress. the
Junior member Of the firm was away at
the time. and as his room is over the
store he lost all OF his personal effects.
The stables and contents on the rear lot
were also consumed with the execution
Of the horse.
The next building to follow was the
storchouso owned by w w Watkins.
and occupied by Keeling & CO. Then
were burned the warehouse of G. a.
Hunt & CO.. the two-story storehouse Of
W. Il. Ruuedge and the drugstore and
storehouse Of Clark & Co. In this last
building were the Offices OF DR.. L. J.
Gregory and Dr. \. S Priddy. and the
dental Office Of Or. J. Harvey Wool.
These gentlemen saved nearly all Of their
instruments. and their loss will be small.
Next 20 burn was the large new store
house Of r. II. Wilson. occupied by +. II.
Gregory & Co.
\ DWELLING-HOUSE.
Tho dwelling-house Of r. II. Wilson
was the last to take fire. and, though
II was an old building. only one fourth
Of Il was burned, while the rest was
saved About one half of the business
portion of the town was burned. that on
the north side Of King street
All Of the buildings were frame. and
there was 10 organization or water
means for fighting the fire but our citi-
zens. BON white and coored, worked
bravely. and with such effect that the
total destruction Of the town was averted
though at times it seemed as II all the
houses on both sides OF the street must
go. The faithful efforts Of the negroes
are deserving OF commentator. and two
or three did acts which almost entitle
them TO the distinction OF real heroes.
on the whole. the loss was more than
double the amount of insurance. as in
surance rates are exorbitant here.
THE LOSS
The approximate-idea loss is:
Jeffress q Co., stock, 5000; insurance
5000
Jenress & Co.. building, $780, insu-
rance. $3.50.
Jefrress q Co.. stables. etc. 5000; no
insurance.
Keeling & Co., stock. 81 900; no insurance.
W. II. Rutledge. building. $1,000; insu-
rance. 500.
II. +. Clark. building, S,4Os; insurance,
$50.
Clark & Co.. druggists. stock. 800; in
suance, 500.
r. II. Wilson, building, $3.50; insurance.
sl.O0O
i. II. Gregory & Co. stock. $500; in
surance and goods saved $1,000.
r. II. Wilson, damage 10 dwelling, 500;
covered 10y Insurance.
Contents of c. a. Hunt & Co.'S ware
house. 500; no insurance.
The origin of the fire is unknown, but
Il is supposed that the store of Jeffress
& CO. was robbed. and then fred. As
soon as the insurance Is adjusted the
work OF rebuilding will be commenced.