Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-08-31
LARGE WORKS AFIRE.
ALLISON ADDISON FERTILIZER
PLANT PARTIALLY DESTROYED.
DAMAGES REACH ABOUT $4,000.
Flames Originate I'm the Furnace
Room-Lamp Explosion the Cause
Large Crowds from Richmond and
Manchester witness the Scene.


son G. Addison Branch OF the Virginia.
Carolina Chemical Company sustained
damages amounting to about $4,000 by
fire on Sunday night. This manufac-
turing plant and warehouse incident
thereto are located on the Chesterfield
side of James river Immediately op-
posite the Richmond steamship wharves.
The loss. embracing buildings, pro-
ducts, and machinery Is, however fully
insured, the Insurance being placed
through the Manufacturers Mutual
Company, OF Baltimore. and By that
company distributed among others.
The fire was out Of reach of both the
Richmond and Manchester fire depart
fnents, and but for the heroic and va
liant work on the part of the night force
emplayed at the warks the damage
would have been much more serious.
THE ALARM TURNED IN.
About II 80 o'clock, when, as it were,
the two cities were just settling down to
siumbers, red glare against the hea-
veus and a CLEAN of light flashing along
the river shores on each side stirred the
people again 10 fife and movement.
Some one turned In an alarm on the
Richmond side from Box No. IS, located
at Broad and Thrty-first streets, and the
department went to that spot. But the ex-
perienced fire lads soon saw that the
fire was beyond their reach, though they
turned with the mass of running and eX-
cited people TO the river side. Many mep
and boys from Manchester ran along the
tracks of the Southern road to the burn
ing plant. while in a few moments after
the shining blaze appeared above the
city, the wharves of the Virginia Navi-
cation Company and the Bay Line were
filed with men, women, and children,
who with mingled excitement and awe
watched the work of the fire god.
ORIGIN OF THE BLAZE.
The origin of the flames is thought TO
have been the explosion OF Kerosene
lamp in the furnace-room at the lower
or east end of the plant At this por-
ton of the works, besides the furnaces,
are the sulphuric acid rooms. In a short
while all that was wood about the fur
naces had been wiped out. and the flames
Ieaped wildly to the acid towers. Here
the burning was terrific, and for miles
around the peculiar odor of the scorct-
ing fluid could be detected.
The fire. however destructive, was Oh
short duration. 1t was first discovered
by watchman, and the night force OF
about u dozen men were soon Dusliy
working away TO extnguish the flames
The private, but efficient, apparatus OF
the factory was pressed into service,
and TO this alone is indebted the credit
for saving what now remains OK the
works.
TO REBUILD AT ONCE.
II was learned yesterday from rep
resentatives of the firm that a new
building will soon stand where the de-
bris yesterday smouldered. Not a man
will be put off, but those Who were
employed in the acid chambers will be
given other work until the burned part
can be rebuilt.
Shipments will continue and the main
business will not be stopped a day.
Fire has not been allowed TO 80 out
in the furnace but once or twice year,
and then only for necessary improve
ments. which would take only day
or two. In the past five years. with
the above exceptions this manufactur-
inC establishment has worked night and
day.
When the Main-street department had
answered the alarm to Thirty-frst ana
Broad streets, the firemen brought ther
apparatus down to the dock. and there
all during tne raging eleihSh1 oh ..'O
other side ssood and watched the
flames a fireman, who had been
spectator was heard 10 remark coming
back from the docks that this was inc
first fire he had stood idly by and looked
upon for many year.
Not only were the wharves lined with
pec pie I'm all stages of en- deshabilie, but
Libby Hill and the adjacent points were
also crowded with people viewing the
flaming carnival.
From these heights the sight was one
of impressive splendor. The iowlands OF
Chesterfield were clearly visible for
miles, and along the river warehouses
and all manner OF craft glowed as II
they, too, had been attacked by the
deyOurinC element.