Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-05

tor some time, but was fought with
determination by the department. the
firemen winning the battle after n hard
struggle. Chief Ryan and his men de-
serve the greatest credit for the splen
did fight they made. and but for the
excellent work the damage would have
been more serious.
A MID DAY BLAZE.
The fire broke out about 1880 O'clock.
and II was several hours before it sue
cumbed to the water that was poured
upon IL. IL originated in the first floor
of Emerald Hall, occupied by the
Southern Silver Plating and Manufac-
turing Works. and was possibly caused
by an explosion of oil. The interior
being of wood. and containing combus-
tible material. the blaze quickly spread
through the structure, and when the
department responded to the call. which
was very prompt. the house was found
TO be beyond saving. The attention of
the firemen was then devoted to the
holding the fire to its present bounds.
This they succeeded in doing. though
the roof of an adjoining house was
damaged by falling wall. and the fur
niture house of John Willis. Jr. front
ing on Church street, with 4 wooden
shed extending to the fence next the
times. but was quickly put out.
THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT.
The entire deparemnt, with the en-
ception OF the little York street engine,
turned out TO fight the fire. and the
services of every man was needed.
Emerald Hall was burned to the
ground The two upper stories were
used for lodge purposes. and the Typo
graphical. Cigarmakers, Retail Clerks.
Plumbers and Central Labor Unions.
which met there, lost their effects. The
Plumbers Union had just moved in and
were to have held their first meeting
there last night. They lost between $50
and 800 worth of books, seals etc,
also the articles of agreement between
the master plumbers and journeymen.
Emerald Hall was owned by the En-
crald Beneficial Association and was in
sured for $500 and had $500 on con-
tents. They also had Il library of about
400 volumes. Mr.. T.. 4. Lawler, n mem
Der of the Association. tried to get into
the building to save some of the books
but could not get further than the stair
way. He was scorched some little In
the effort. 1t is thought the damage to
the building and contents will amount
to about $4,000.
Mr.. John Willis. Jr's. furniture estab-
lishment was seriously damaged by
water. and his loss is only partly COW
cred by insurance.
The Fleischmann Yeast Company's
building. next door to the hall on the
east. was very badly damaged by a
wall OF the hall. which fell on it.
AN EXCITING INCIDENT.
An exciting incident of the fire was
the fact that n colored man at work in
the third story had n very narrow es-
cape. He was cut off from descending
the stairs by fire below. which was adj
VancinE rapidly to the top story He
went to near window and hung out
by his hands and was rescued from his
perilous position by Captain Kcgcbein
and Hoseman Foster. who went up as
high as they could on ladder, and
when the negro dropped they safely
caught him and took him to the ground.
when 1t was found his hands were
quite badly burnt.
Mike Dyer, a hoseman Mt house No.
70, was considerably burned
The Donovan building, on the oppo-
site side of Cove street, was burned a
little.
The American Printing Company oc-
cupied part of the first story of the
hall. and was. of course. burned out
The falling wires on Cove street broke
number OF telephone and electric light
wires.
The kitchen to the residence OF Mr.
Blick, on Fcnchurch street was dam
aged and the furniture was moved out
of his house.
Messrs. Parker & Ellis, Grccers, on the
corner of Church and Cove streets, were
not damaged.
The effects of the Silver Plating
Works were entirely destroyed.
a very large crowd was attracted to
the scene Of the fire. and there was con-
siderable excitement incident to it.
The entire department being necessa-
rlly called out yesterday, with the en-
ccption of the little York street engine,
had another fire broken out in the city
it might have resulted very seriously.
BURNING CLOTHES.
The alarm of fire turned in from box
80. about 10 o'clock last night. was
caused by some clothes becoming ig-
nited from Il stove in the house No. $50
Chapel street. The damage was trining.