The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-01-25
THE CATHEDRAL In DANGER
4 Destructive Fire al ST. Peters Early
Yesterday Morning.
THREE FlREEEN ARE BADLY INJURED
A Panic at Murphy's Hotei-The Guests
Aroused from Their slumbcr, Rush
Wildly About In Their Night Dress.
Damage Done By the Fire.


BY fro shortly after o'clock yesterday
morning TO the extent OF S2oo0 and three
ircmcn nearly lost their lives. The fire
IS supposed 20 have originated from the
furnace under the building
The rear portion OF the Cathedral ad-
Joins Murphys Hotel. and the guests OF
that popular house were awakened by
loud knocks and kicks upon their doors
accompanied by cries OF come out quick
ly. II you value your lives But little
attention was paid TO The invitation until
Tho shout OF "nre" WAS heard. Then tlis
guests began 90 descend, some OF them
very scantly clothed dragging their lug
gage after them. Trunks and vaiises
were thrCNn downstairs helter-skelter
and for a while there was scene OF the
widest excitement Clothes Of every
description were brought down by the
scared guests and piled up in the lobby.
which soon presented the appearance OF
huge bed chamber.
TIE FIRE DISCOVERED.
Meanwhile the hotel was filed with
dense clouds OF smoke. which kept
streaming iu from the rear and IL was
some little time before il was discovered
that the fire was in the Sacristy OF the
Cathedral ana was rapidly making head
way.
alarm was turned In from box No IA.
ana TWO engines 40 once responded. Chief
RuNcr also. was soon on the spot. ana
realizing the dangerous nature Of the
nrc. turned iu second alarm, Which
brought out two additional engines. two
TRUCKS. and the chemical engine.
Streams of water were at once turned on
she blaze. ana the truckmcn began 10
raise the ladders so as TO better reach
the deNOlulng element. The men were
badly handicapped by the intense dark
ness of the night. and an accident occur
red which almost resulted in the death Of
three nromch. AT Is was. two were quite
severely hurt.
FIREMEN INJURED.
Near The sacristy is an area about ten
feet in depth. and in raising the heavy
ladder Fireman n. w. Cardweil ieH sus-
talning painful injuries.
Capt. o. r. Wise. OF engine No 4. was
tho most severely injured, but painful
hurts We're also sustained by Capt War
wick +. Epps, Of the chemical company
as we'll as Laddcrman X. W. CardWeh'
OF truck company No. j. Captains Wise
and Epps were hurt by falling through a
hole burned In the floor Of the building.
The efficient work Of the fremen quick
~ subdued the hames but not before DAM
age amounting to not less than 5000 had
been done The interior of the Sacristy
was completely wrecked. while picture
OF the Virgin Mary. holding the infant
Saviour In her arms was badly damaged
py smoke.
a singular circumstance in connection
with the DETACHMENT of the picture, was
that. although 10 was almost in the cen
ire Of the fire. yet the flames did not
touch it, all of the damage being due 10
smoke.
The beautiful frescong which adorned
the interior OF the room was totally de-
stroycd, involving a loss Of about $lwl
while the destruction Of other property
will aGcrcgate like sum. The insurance
viii probably cover the loss
DAMAGE TO MCRPHY's.
IN addition 10 the damage done 70 The
cathedral. room IN Murphy $ Hotei,
which was situated Immediately back or
the Sacristy was flooded with water In
Vo.vius "a small loss.
The fire is supposed 90 have originated
from the heater Immediately beneath the
baCusty.
N b.suop Van DENVER when seen yes
tcriay said that De was unable 20 ac-
H. ruratcly estimate the damage that had
been done. The picture Of the Virgin he
said. was considerably injured. and was
& very valuable painting. lie was Ot the
opinion that the loss was iuliy covered
Mr. Fritz sitterdinc.thc well-known con-
tractor, who made an examination or the
iuu0lna places the IaWage at the
sam above mentioned. 10 Is said that
tie work of repair will De begun az once
yr. Edward Mccarthy VINO Is attend
white Captain Wise is quite painfully
hurt he does not consider d.. injuries SEE
rioie rhe Others. DE thinks. would De
abls 90 return To- duty in short time.
A LUDlCROUs SCENE.
Mr. Thomas H. Townsend a repIesen-
tative of the electrical hrm OF Patrick,
Carter g. wilkins. OF Philadelphia, VINO
was stopping at NWphys. describes the
scene as one of the most exciting ana III
tho same time lulicrous. that ne ever
witnessed The guests were first a"ak-
encl by some one kicking at their doors
and yelling foy them TO get out but thty
thought 30 was some drunken man ANUS
ing himself and paid little attention 10
him but wlen they heard the cry Oh
ere" doors few open Bon every direction
trunks and valircs were rolled down the
stems. and people in every stage o. I'M
dress tumbled out. ono gentleman, clad
only in n single garment and cauyne
his clothes under bis arm. rushed Wildly
down into the lobby and finished ms
toilet there
Mr.. Townsend took Tie matter cooiiy.
washed bis face packed his Nahse ana
dressed completely before descending.
ills first care upon dressing was 10 put
his wallet containing $40 into his breast
pocket When he owoke yesterday morn
ing the wallet and money were gone. Nj.
Townsend thinks that he must have drop
red the purse while bending over 10 pack
lis volse. and that 81 was either thrown
out or picked zap by some one.
Fires on SUNDAY.
Th.ra wero several fires sunday but
the damage done in each case was slight
AT l0N in the morning an alarm
was rung in from box 3li caused by q
ire az Nos. as ana 40 north seventeenth
street. The houses belonged 70 the es-
tate OF Capt. James Disney and were oc-
cup!ed by sarah Richardson aud William
Hsrris. respectively both colored. The
damage amounted 10 $3.50. while the insur-
The second call for the department
was a stil alarm az u O'Clock from box
Z. 10 number 1906 Fifth street, Fulton
ne house was owned by James Hart.
lev. and occupied by sarah Christian anc
others The fire originated from a fou
chimney Tho damage done was small.
AT l.fl O'Clock there was an alarm
from box 2} the cause being q burnins
cato al no. 4Zi north Seventeenth street
INC place was occupied boy Peter White
md the fire is supposed 20 have originate.
iu "a spark from passing engine. Th'
DAMAGE was trlning.