Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-17

also told of Il big financial loss TO two OF
the most energetic and go-ahead young
business men i'll town.
STORY OF THE BLAZE.
The fires origin is not positively
known. 1t is generally thought the
blaze sprang up in the boiler rooms,
and gained IL Roadway that was futile
TO fight before its presence was known.
y distress whistle from the electric
light plant about 6 o'clock was q no.
ticc of fire, and the alarm WAS rung in
from the nearest box. The knitting
mill is several hundred yards beyond
the fire districts and when the depart
but watch the work of destruction,
without the power TO stay it, The mill
burned fast The big roofs caved in
with fierce crashes, and meteoric dis
plays of fireworks went heavcnward
along with the clouds of black smoke.
The big iron safe kept its conents in
tact and free from harm. That was
about all saved. All the buildings, ma
chincry and stock We're burned. There
was Il large stock on hand-raw and
finished products. Several cases of
goods were nearly ready for shipment.
FORTY THOUSAND LOSS.
The total loss can be congervatively
stated at $4,000 An inventory. taken
over Il year ago. footed $50 900. The last
lNflNe months WAS Ill Very prosperous.
period, during which time marked i'm
provements ana building additions were
made. The plant covered more than an
acre OF land.
There was just SIG, 900 insurancc-slo,-
900 with Harper e Vests and $4,000
with Woodward & Elam's agency.
These are the companies which\ carried
the risk: New York Underwriters. ST.
0G0; Liverpool. London and Globe. ST.
GOO; Scottish Union. $1,000; Lancashire.
- -
ion, $4,000: New York Home. $1,000:
Aetna, $1,000; ST. Paul, Fire and Marine,
$1,000; Greenwich. $1,000; Glens Falls,
81 800; Hanover, 81. 500.
The proprietors. Mcssrs A. II. and w
T.. Cobb. announce their intention of re-
building. and they expect TO begin the
construction of n new plant very soon
The site has not been selected yet, but
it will probably be nearer the town linn
its. where tho fire protection Is better.
When work on the new plant is begun
it will be pushed rapidly.
The proprietorS are naturally depress-
ed ut having several years labor and
profits swept away in an hour. but they
bear their reverse philosophically. Their
friends believe them capable Of build
ing another and even larger plant E.
BIKE THIEF IN JAIL.
Hurricane Branch to-day brought. MP
from Portsmouth man who Is thought
to be Il bad man. He is Leroy Smith
colored. who is charged with stealing
a bicycle from y. NJ. Pitt. OF Chucka-
tuck, last fall. \ Portsmouth officer
picked him up and notified Hurricane
Branch. Smith Will have Il hearing be-
fore Justice c. f. Primer, at Chucka,
tuck. The captured man is thought to
be close friend and partner of a man
who is wanted for murder. The officers
Will try to get clue from him.
NEWS IN PARAGRAPHS.
County Clerk Robert r. Smith has
returned from Ragged Island. Despite
the cold he got some game-1O5 ducks
and a few geese.
Mr.. n. Palmer. Of Howard. n. C..
to-day visited friends in Suffolk. where
hc used To be in business
Sergeant Ames located a man who
was roaming suspiciously about town
to-day, and locked him up FOR exani-
nation. Mayor Brewer Will Go ii to-
morrow.
Reserved seats continue to go for
the engagement of the Louise Rrehanv
Concert and Opera Company next Mon
day.
Kings Daughters, Mlnlsterlng Circle
No. .. will have a meeting tomorrow
afternoon. with Mrs. q. w. Truitt.
Bank and Main streets.
Mr. George Bowen is in recent OF a
box of pure Havann cigars. They