Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-01-25
ST. PETERS ON FIRE.
CONSIDERABLE DAMAGE DONE THE
CATHEDRAL YESTERDAY.
SACRlSTY Quilted; VESTMES7SBURHED
The Loss Estimated at More Than
$4,000. hut Covered by Insurance.
Three Firemen Hurt-Freseoes and
Paintings Injured.

A fire which was disastrous I'm It's re-
suits and sensational in many Of It's in
cidcnts broke out In the sacrlsty OF st
Peters Cathedral early yesterday morn
ing, and extended into the church
though it was arrested before it had
gore very far in this direction.
Tho sacrIsty, a small two-siory building
OF red brick, adjolns Murphy's hotel, and
1t was this fortunate circumstance which
probably saved the Cathedral from being
burned to the ground. for the smoke
found Its way into the hosiery and caused
the alarm to be given which brought the
department TO the spot. In the mean
time the widest excitement prevailed in
the hotel, where the guests Rad been
aroused by the clerk and bell boys, and
stairs, utterly regardless Of appearances.
Many OF them were cndeavoring TO save
their baggage by dragging 1t down stairs
after them. and the general disorder was
very great.
Mr.. Thomas L. Townsend was prob
ably the coolest man in the hotel. for he
dressed quite leisurely. and then pro-
ceeded to pack his valise. Describing the
scenes around the hotel. he said 1.-THE
guests We're first awakened by some one
kicking at their doors and yelling for
them to get out, but they thought it was
some drunken man amusing himself and
paid little attention TO him, but when
they heard the cry Of fire doors few open
I'm every direction, trunks and valises
were rolled down the steps, and people
In every stage of undress tumbled out.
one gentleman, clad only in a single gar
ment, and carrying his clothes under his
arm, rushed wildly down into the lobby
and finished his toilet there"
THE CHIEF ACTS PROMPTLY.
A close examination Of the hotel showed
that it was in no immediate danger, but
the smoke was pouring from the sacristy
of the Cathedral, and when Chief Fuller
arrived with engines 3 and A. chemical
engine l, and truck /, he was afraid that
the whole structure was doomed, and sent
in second alarm. which brought out
engines and and truck 2.
The fire had gained considerable head
way, and both the sacristy and the Cathe-
dral were filled with dense smoke. while
flames were licking the roof of the former
building. An entrance was gained to the
second story Of the sacristy by the truck
men. but the smoke was so thick that two
OF the men-Captain O.. f. Wise. Of En-
CINE No. 4, and Ladderman K. W. Card
well--were not able 10 see and fell
through a hole in the floor, which had
been eaten by the flames. Mr.. Cardwell
fell one story only. but Captain Wise
fell through to the basement, striking a
beam on the first floor as he fell. Cap
tain Warwick F. Epps fell from the lad
der into an area as he was mounting to
enter the second story. All three of the
men are painfully bruised, and hurt. |
though Captain Wise is seriously injured, |
having sustained a fractured rib and his |
lungs being congested.
THE FLAMES SOON SUBDUED.
The admirable work Of the department |
At last subdued the flames, bat this was |
not done until the sacristy had been gut
ed, and a large hole had been made I'm |
the Cathedral wall. over the altar of the /
Blessed Virgin. Many of the vestments
we're injured beyond repair, some of them
being imported from Europe. and OF con-
derable value. The cassOcks and cot I
as Of the acolytes. which were kept in
he upper part of the sacristy, were also
destroyed
The frescoes and paintings in the
acristy and Cathedral were all mere or
esS injured by smoke. and considerable
lamage was done by the water. The very
inc fresco over the altar OF the Virgin
larry, which represents her with
he infant Jesus in her arms, was in
ured slightly by smoke. and 1t is a most
emarkable fact, that though e was lit
rally enveloped in flames, il was not
ven scorched. Above it the fire had
urned a large hole, and that element
lad also found its way into the taberna-
lie beneath it. The damage about the
liar, however, is SO extensive. that ii is
extremely doubtful whether 1t can be re-
aired without entirely destroying the
icture.
ESTIMATE OF THE DAMAGE.
The extent of the damage is roughly
at rather more than 500. The
amage to the building is set at $1,000.
nd tho loss Of the vestments and damage
D the frescoes Will prOably be more than
1000. All this will be fully covered by |
lsurance
The fire. it is thought, was communi-
lted from the heater in the basement.
SMALL FIRES ON SUNDAY.
There were three small fires on Sun
ay-"an epidemic of fires" Chief Fuller
'rmed it-due, il is thought, 10 the high
ind which carried the sparks The first .
all was AT 1905, from Box 5i4, caused by
fire At Nos us and 40 north Seven
enth street. The houses belonged TO
lie estate of Captain James Disney and
ere occupied by Sarah Richardson and s
lillian Harris, respectively, both coll
ed. The damage amounted TO $3.50
lille the insurance Is $500
The second call was a still alarm at
O'clock from Box 90. to No. 1858 Fifth
rect, Fulton. The House was owned
: James Hartley. and occupied by Sarah ]
tristan and others. The fire originated
ON foul chimney. The damage done
as small.
Al l15 O'Clock there was an alarm ,
ON Box %. the cause being a burning
tie at No. i2l north Seventeenth street
be place was occupied by Peter White,
I'd the fire is supposed 70 have originated !
q spark from a passing engine The =
mnon WIS frining \