The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-01-04
FARMVILLE IN FLAMES
A $50, 900 FIRE SWEEPS OVER THE
OLD TOWN.
Insurance Only $40 300 Distributed in i9
Companies -Powerless in the Wind
Without Fire Equipments.

Richmond, Va, Jan. 3.-Fire in Farm
vile Sunday night swept away thirty
SIX buildings and caused a monetary
loss Of some $15O0O0.
A special to the Dispatch soys the
fire originated in the storage room Of
Duval, Robertson & Co, commission
merchants, situated at the corner of
North and Third streets. When the fire
brigade first reached the scene it looked
as if the fremen would easily gain the
mastery, and prevent any spread of the
flames, but two terrific explosions of
blasting powder, sent the burning
brands on many unprotected buildings
and shook nearly every house in the
town, thus disconcerting and unnerving
the firemen. Immediately after this,
a large double factory ON the opposite
side of the street, owned by ID. T. Elam,
and used by w. q. Huntington, was
seen to ignite about the gable, and in
an incredibly short time it was a seeth-
ing mass of flames. A stiff southern
wind was tanning the angry flames, and
wnlle the energies of the iremen were
being directed to saving other adjoining
structures, and keeping the fire from
reaching through to Main stree, the big
factory of C. w. Blanton, used by
Huntington, was discovered to be burn
ing furiously. This was fully six
squares away from the first fire, and
with such unpromising outlook for sub
DUNG the flames, Lynchburg was tele-
graphed to for assistance. There was
plenty of water, but not the means with
which to use it. The Norfolk and West
ern authorities cleared the way and
had a train at the disposal of the Hill
City brigade, but from some unaccount-
able reason it failed TO respond to tarn-
ville's appeal. The fire crossed Third
street to the store of j. A. Spencer, then
across North street again to the big
factories Of b. L. Anderson, and these
and four small dwellings were wiped
away. The Farmville warehouse next
caught, then followed the large new
factory of Edward L. Morris. The Pres
byterian church was in close proximity
to Morris's factory, but tue lecture room
only was seriously damaged. In the
meantime sixteen buildings within a
radius OF two block were in a light
blaze, while north Of the railroad a
score OF others were flaming and crumb-
ling to the ground. When the fire
reached the standard oil building in the
lower part Of the town the greatest
excitement prevailed, and only a few
persons could be found who had the
nerve to combat the flames. which were
finally extinguished before any con-
siderable damage was done to the oil
company. Not until the raging fire had
burned through to the rivers edge was
it gotten under control. Only two or
three buildings were spared that stood
in the track of the fire. They were
the Farmyille Touring mills and the
warehouse. SO strong was
the wind blowing when the fire was az
its height that burning brandsh and
sparks were carried q distance Of sew
eral miles, and it is reported that the
stables Of J. T.. Lancaster who resides
one and half miles away, caught fire
several times. The origin of this, the
greatest fire Farmville has ever ex-
in its now one hundred years
If existence, is a mystery, but it is gem
srally believed 10 have been the work
If an incendiary.
As far as learned the insurance is so
distributed among the various companies
hat none Of them sustains a great loss,
here being nineteen companies carry
n in tue aggre gate $4,000.