The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-04-28

piers and now, instead OF two, Il wfll IA baS
necessary TO construct four new Dier,a "a
All the vessels at the coal piers iwar,, Il L
Eotten away as soon as possible after
the fire was discovered for it at Grat%55
looked as though the entire water 'front.' 3
was doomed. ,.,-" - ssEss M
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE. fa 2ss
opinion as to the origin OF the flre tnSS
S S.lil dlVided between neutrality-suspicious..
~ 0lls m oi these IS that 1t originated from
spontaneous combustion; another agss55a
signs bare electric light wire, and there
are also parties who say that it Nj q t1laN
work Of an incendiary. - 1I5s1'i.s
OLD DOMINION ExPER1 ENf.F
The Old Dominion Steamship " $cnsn.a q
pany's steamer Old Dominion had sTth d
marvellous escape. She arrived there
yesterday from Richmond, bound q, co.
New ork, her sailing time being yes.S
me pier at.5Which the fire started with
~ number or passengers aboard, who
were sleeping peacefully in the ca rlYa
morning hours. unconscious OF the ter.
about them. 'I - M q = - ~
rive minutes before the flames broke
out the watchman on the steamer made
MS rounds and found all right aboard!
and about the vessel. and the first that
was known on the steamer Of the fire;
Mas t Wnen FIRST Assistant t Engineer Benz
Jamln James saw the watciiman{ on f}iisS
wharf with hose In hand, playing on7thAs
DiaZe. The flames spread With fea rfi,is
rapldlty, and the steamer wa 8 soon an -}
Veloped and her destruction seemed im.s
1nlnent. the paint on the sides BURNING
ana the ropes that held her to the piefj
oeing aflame. Her engines were started
Immediately In On effort to snap tfiaa
ropes and move her out OF danger, butt
the mooring lines, being new, did not
burn IN two quickly. and the steam failed.
to bulge her $TT lls58fSs
IN THEIR NIGHT CLOTHES.
IN the meantime the captain was uxS
the bell on the wheelhouse in his nigh&sS
ciothes, and the male passengers we're
also moving about In their night ttiress5
Ihe lady passengers fortunately did not
Know Of the impending danger IT wass
a moment Of great peril-one In which
heroes are horn-and something had toS
be done quickly or the ship would ibag
lost. Boatswin Q. Madison succeeded fir,ss
cutting the bow line and First ff1cersf
70. t. Page went aft In the perilous at !
tempt to free the vessel at that 5polDtsss
Axe In hand he approached the tasKS
herolcally the flames the while licksa
ing themselves about him. burning his;
Whiskers, eyebrows and hair, and befores
he had accomplished the feat OF cutting:
the rope he. had inhaled the flames.
though not seriously It Is d pleasure tos
state. His bravery was realty admired
oy the passengers. While this was going
on the ships hose were turned upon thaiS
flames about her. and steaming of from
the pier as soon as her moorings were
loose she was safe. 5S54IlF Ft3l55g & yasaasSi
The danger to the ship had been very
great. the flames rushing into the cabin
a one time when a passenger opened o.
| door, but without much damag ALL
aboard Of her breathed q deep sigh oEs
relief as they felt the vessel respcnHE
to her engines and move out: from theS
conflaSration. The various officers or
deserve great praise. The Old Dom ir-sa
lon came to Norfolk during the morning.
and sailed for New T York last evening ~
Col. Fl. T.. Parker. terminal super1as
tendent Of the Chesapeake &c and Ohio
railway. stated TO a epresentativsS0fss
The VirgfnIan that nothing definite ass
to the origin Of the ire was known, norss
could he until a rigid eXaminatlon,$wh
Will shortly take place. is had, but&the:
fire Is supposed to have started In g. room
where unca!led for packages 8WereSkept.s
FIRST ON THE scRN 3;
Liberty Fire company No.#1sraspon6Ads z
promptly to the alarm and was the SfirstS
70 arrive on the scene of the confsaEras
ton. This company at once mad 81 4na
vigorous effort to save Pier 4 but $befora
their apparatus was deposed and ENGINE 81
gotten in working ordersthe fierce nd nnas.sI
which shrouded Pier 8 with3lir!t1 El aresi
leaped the chasm which separatedIIfaHIssas
from Pier 6 and In q moment enyeioped dSIs
IN flames. Liberty coinuan III the h III rnedI
the nozzles OF their hose q t0War Ia Sna
senger Pier No. which IN as saved 5bxs
their valorous efforts.B !5
sUccoR FOR THE Is DEssT.TrsJr sSSs
, Colonel !Vlll lam 81 flIas saa ss.S,
his city OF NoliYesi Sva
advised from y MsWparff ffy 81 sEy$ Capk
Kooseth,. q hiss eat
Salveig, that sl iIs ss
stroyed nv flre g sss aasSsg
sGoatinli ias5