Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-15
FIRE IN. PAPER-M MILL.
THE RICHMOND COMPANY's PLANT
QUITE BADLY DAMAGED.
CAUGHT IN The BOILER ROOM.
Finishing Department and BlottinS-
Paper storeroom Suffer Most-Loss
Estimated at $4,000, Covered by
Insura nce,

The largest fire that has occurred In
this city since the old stemmery on the
Dock was burned last summer, and the
only fire that has caused second alarm
TO be sent in since the dawning of the
new year, destroyed large part Of the
mill Of the Richmond Paper Company
yesterday evening.
II was discovered shortly after 6
o'clock, and the first alarm was sent In
from Box 325. situated on the corner or
Ninth and Arch streets. Three companies
and the chemical engine responded to the
call, but the serious aspect OF the flames,
which had gained rapid Roadway in the
inHammable stock, caused a second alarm.
a truck to the scene.
WAS SOON IN FLAME.
No time was lost in getting 10 work.
yet the building was ablaze from one end
to the other when the first stream was
played upon II.
The mill extends from the railroad
bridge along the north side Of Arch
street to the lumber-yard of Messrs.
Woodward & Son, and back 10 the Allan
tic-Coast Line yard. The flames were par
ticuiarly fierce in the finishing depart
ment and storeroom, which adioin the
lumber-works, and they were completely
Quilted. though the Woodward property
was saved by the indefatigable efforts If
the firemen.
a VERY HOT FIRE.
III is no anachrOnism 10 say that the
IRE was one of the very hottest the de-
partment has attended for a long time.
The nature of the stock that was burn
ing made IL So and huge chilled iron
rolls, that measured 10 inches In diameter.
bore incontestable evidence 10 the fact.
for they were found when the flames had
been subdued literally melted into pieces.
The flames leaped up to a great height.
and the fire was visible for a considerable
distance In every direction The store
room, which is used for bo.ting paper.
was literally packed, and the principal
damage, IL is thought for no definite fig
ures are obtainable. will be from loss and
damage 10 stock. though a new FOurdrier
machine. which had lately been put in
erably injured Another source Of loss
TO the firm viii be the closing down OF
the works at this particular time, which
is the busiest of the year.
1t means. too. that severty-foUr hands
will be thrown out Of WORK until the
mill can be put in running order again.
THE DAMAGE AND INSURANCE.
Mr. \. H. Christian. Jr., secretary OF
the Paper Company. said last night that
the damage would probably amount to
$40, 0OO or $500 This VIII be :ully COW
cred by insurance. distributed among
a number Of companies. What local
agents are interested could not be learned
in detail last night. Messrs. s. II. Pull
LIAM q Co. had placed $3.50 In the Ma
ticual. Of Baltimore. ard Mr.. J. b. Moore
also carries one or more policies
4 rough estimate gives the Insurance as
follows: On machinery. sl2,0C0, on stock,
81. coo. and on the buildins 500
The fire is said 20 have had its origin
in the eng.ne-room OF the mill. i negro
helper. named Joseph Wood, went
through the engine-room after II had
been shut down FOR the night. and it is
thought that the lighted oil fell from the
torch and ignlted the oil which had col
iected about the engine.
TO Mr.. J. r. Kersey, one Of the engi-
neers. belongs the credit Of discovery
and he it was who turned in the first
alarm.
The nremen worked on the building
until past midnight. The car service be-
tween Richmond and Forest Hill was
interrupted for nearly two hous, and
when IL was resumed only one track
was available.