The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-02-27
Earl MOR 4 G IRE
W. 81. Parker's Largo Groesry Estah.
IIshment Damaged Considerably.
ORIGIN OF THE FIRE UNKNOWN
The Fro Originated In tho Third
story, Containing About ono
Thousand BuIcs of Ilay-rho se>
cond Story ALSO Damaged, ny Won
RS stock.

1eSterday morning q few minutes be-
lore O'Clock Officer Hoofnlgle thought
he smelled something burning. He con-
tlnued to walk down Crawford street
until he reached Messrs. w & J. Par
ker'ts store, corner of County and Craw-
iord streets. There he saw a light In
'he thlro story and at once knew It was
a fire. He turned in an alarm from
poN II, corner OF Columbia and Craw-
lofu streets, and in few minutes the
nook ana ladder and both engines were
on the ground and were ready for work.
Inc IRE could be seen from a window
on The north side of the house in the
rear. or eastern end of the building. a
LADDER was thrown up and Il stream
WIS put III the window and the work
OIL saving the building commenced Four
streams were thrown on it, and II is
said that at least 700 gallons minute
Va, Was thrown on the fire for some time.
Inc weather was extremely cold and
me water froze as ii fell. The firemcn's
clothes were solid sheets of ice Mr.
George Cummings side whiskers were
heavily covered with Ice and his cloth
ing was also frozen. The third story of
the building was full Of hay and mid
dllngs. On the next floor was oats and
the fire originated. y fire in hay is
very much like a cotton fire; there is
no telling how long 1t will burn. and
'h!S IRE was no exception. The fircmen
continued 10 pour water in the building
until about z o'clock. BY that time a
force OF negro men. or as many as could
De induced to go inside the building,
were hired and began throwing the hay
of which there was about n thousand
~
water was thrown on it ali the time as +,
TEL. AS soon as the hay struck the air
II would ignite. Captain Whisnant of
the Seaboard Air Line, finding that men
were hard to get and knowing the ne-
cessity OF having them right away, sent
len men and boss from among the
railroad hands and kept them there as
long as they were needed. This gen.
erous Offer was greatly appreciated by
Messrs. Parker Bros and the iiremcn
also. Near noon all the hay had been
removed and the fire was pronounced
to be out. No one seems to have any
idea how the fire originated, but il has
been suggested that it might have be IN
spontaneous combustion. \ carload OF
hay, also one of -four and one of meal
was put in the building on Friday, and
possibly the hay might have been a. lit
tie damp, which caused it TO heat up
and catch on fire. The building was in
Sured Tor $500, and unless the walls are
injured that will probably cover the
loss, the first and second stories being
only injured by water, but If they are,
then Mr.. Parke: will be the looscr
The stock was insured in several com
panies for different amounts. Neither
OF the gentlemen connected with the
firm can tell the amount OF stock or
insurance until after they see their
books. This is the second time thess.
young men have been burned out, but
they have pluck and energy and will
start again.
AN ACCIDENT AT THE FIRE.
Yesterday just before IL O'clock Chief
WeisdOrf ordered the fircmen 10 stop
work on the fire. The hook and ladder
was III the rear Of the building that was
on llre Mr.. Tatem, the driver hitchcd up
ana started towards Crawford street
lie mad gone but a short dista nee when
Inc rear wheel struck n rock nnd threw
the wheel up. AT this point the rail
road track is away above the street
Inc truck cantercd and struck q tele-
graph pole, and Mr.. Tatem was thrown
out of his seat. falling under the front
wheels. Fortuna tcly the horses stopped
StEli. otherwise he would have been
killed. He was picked up md some
one else drove the truck to the house
for him. Mr.. Tatcm's wrist was
sprained and he was bruised about
the breast. but nothing serious. 4 por-
ton OF the iron in the rear Of the truck
on which the ladders rest was bent and
lad to be repaired. The damage will
be but slight.