The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-12-04
MEYERS STORE In A BLAZB
This Big Dry.Goods House Has a Narrow
Escape From Destruction.
DAMAGE DONE AMOUNTING TO Si6, 900
Tho Loss Amply Covered by Insurance.
The Fire Orig mated From Gas Jet
The Principal Destruction Due
to smoke and Water.

The mammoth dry goods establishment
OF Julius Meyers Sons. at the corner OF
Sixth and Broad streets. with its costly
stock OF. goods OF every description. mar
rowly escaped total destruction by fire
last night. As 1t was. much havoc was
wrought by the fiery element before IL
was gotten under control.
The fire originated shortly after
O'Clock in the window-dressers working
room. in the front portion OF the third
floor. The dresser had taken up to his
room pair OF scales. composed Of ia
famm9be goods, which have for some
itme past adorned the front window or
the big store, and covered them over with
a light cloth. Some one passing BY struck
against these scales and caused them 10
oscillate UP and down, the result being
that one end came in contact with a
gas jet. The cloth az once ignitcd, and
the whole room was quickly In flames.
RESCUED by MIR. MEYER.
on the floor above young lady was
engaged in writing Meyers Sunday adver'
tisement for The Times on a typewriter
The smell Of smoke becoming very strong
she started TO look around for the cause
and began TO descend the stairs. As she
got near\the door OF the window dresser;
room flames and smoke burst forth. cut.
ting on her escape. She ran screaming
back up the steps. Mr.. Alex. Meyer. wht
was on the lower floor. heard her cries
and went TO her assistance. Disregardins
the flames and binding smoke. he broughi
her To a place OF safety.
As soon as the fire was discovered an
alarm was turned in. and in a short time
Engines l. and 8. the chemical engine
and "A truck soon arrived.There was an
unavoidable delay. however. In getting
to work. on account OF the position or tht
fire. which. consequently was enabled tc
gain considerable headway. The obsta.
cles were finally overcome. though. and
three streams OF water played on the
blaze until 1t was oXtnguished. the water
meanwhile finding its way through the
flooring. and saturating the varied stock
Of goods on the second floor. while a
stream even poured through into the
ground floor injurng a stock OF valuable
silks
A CURIOUS CROWD.
An immense crowd gathered around
tho store during the progress OF
the fire. and the police had great difficulty
i'm keeping the ovcr-curious from entering
the burning store.
But for the prompt precautions taken
by the prOprietors, the loss would nave
been much larger than 1t was. AS soon
as the hre was discovered "A large force
was put TO work covering up the stock
on the first and second doors with oil
cloth. while sawdust was thicksy strewn
ON the second noor TO soak mp the torrents
of water. There was no panic among tno
omploves. everything being conducted IN
a characteristic. prompt, busiiyfss-hh"
manner. IN.
After the fire was over MT. 'harles /.
Fellows. the chief book-koeper said th't
"A rough estimate would place ;he loss ~
anywhere from $4,000 TO $1,000. dthoubh
il was impossible at that time To say 'ust
how great II would be.
THE INSURANCE.
Tho stock Of goods, he said. was insured
for sSs COO and there was $4,000 Insurance.
on the building. all being carried by com
NAMES represented by Messrs. JULIUS
Straus AZ Son, Thomas l.. Alfrlend' ana
:. IT, Pulliam & co. -,
Although the fire was nerce one WINE
II lasted. the greater portion OF the loss
was occasloned by water and smoke Inc
Fire Department as usual. did prompt
and efficient work.