Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-17
BIG MORNING FIRE.
FLAMES BREAK OUT IN BAUGH-
MANS PRINTING oFFICEAr 2.4s.
GREAT Loss BY FLAME AND WATER,
Firemen Work calamity md De-
crease IL, However-Two Alarms
40 Persons Out of EmpIoyment-
Origin Unknown.

one OF the most stubborn and de-
structiVe early-morning fires which has
visited Richmond in a long time broke
OUT this morning shortly before O'Clock
IN the printing office OF the Baughman
stationery Company, Nos. z and south
| Twelfth street.
Inc hrst alarm was given by q Western
Union nessenger-boy. who ran into the
Dispatch office and asked for a key 10
| BOX IL, which is just across the street
ana half block from the burning
building. However. before the kew could
he handed him, Policeman George T. Mat
term who was on that beat, had also dis
covered the black volume of smoke burst
ing from the windows of the printing
once and had turned i'm the alarm. In
almost less time than Il takes TO read H.
Engines Nos. and I. and Truck No. /
had reported, and stream OF water was
splashing through the windows.
THE SECOND ALARM.
Chie1 Fuller was now on the scene, and
Immediately recognizing the ugly appear
ance OF the flame. turned I'm the second
aiafin which brought Engines Nos. and
and Truck No. 2. First OF all, however.
the chemical engine had reached the
place, and was doing effective work. All
most before the hose was entirely nun
out such Roadway had been gained by
the smoking and burning element that
Nlhdow after window came down with
startling crash TO the pavement
twelfth street, from Main 10 Cary. was
one block of smoke. that blinded and
smothered all who tried to force il. But
the hremen were resolute, and plunged i'm.
The hose were carried inside The doors
and lifted into the windows. pouring
stream upon stream wherever The fire got
the better Of the dense smoke.
GOTTEN UNDER CONTROL.
At 3:0 not yet three quarters of an
hour after the first alarm was turned i'm.
chief Fuller pronounced the fire under
control As this goes 10 press the fire.
men are still working, however
The building Is a five-story one. and
was the bindery and printing plant OF
the Baughman Stationery Company. II
was connected i'm the rear With the store.
which fronts on Main street. The base
ment contained the engines. and was also
In part store-room. The printing presses.
including i've roll presses. valued at about
A,cD each, were on the first floor The
second foor was the bindery department,
and here the fire is believed to have start
ed. as the smoke was seen ssuing from
these windows first. The composing
room was on the third floor; The cases
and type were here. The fourth and
fifth floors were storage-rooms.
The loss must necessarily be heavy, and
as much by water as by fire. A fireman
who had been inside relates that water
had completely deluged the building. scat
tering type. paper, letters, and blank
books everywhere. He said also that the
foor and printing-cases had been dam
aged a good deal.
While 1t is not possible TO tell at the |
hour Of writing. it Is feared that exceed |
ingy valuable matrices on the fourth |
floor were destroyed. These had been ac- !
for ten or fifteen years
ORIGIN AND INSURANCE.
The origin Of the fire is yet shrouded I'm |
mystery. Mr.. l.. G. Tucker. who is super |
ntendent, said that he closed down yes 1
rerday afternoon at ] 30 o'clock. and per |
5onally saw that everything was all right. |
He believes that rats and matches explain |
he cause
Mr. Charles G. Baughman was notified
md came Immediately down town. He
'ould not tell how much insurance there
vas on the building and stock. as Mr..
Greer Baughman, who attended TO this,
vas out OF the city. Messrs ID. n. Walk
r * Co.. he said, were the agents
The plant employs about seventy per-
ons, the majority OF whom are men At
his time-4: 25-only charred wood and
,aper are smouldering.