The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-01-03
Rlanys Valuable Papers and Records
Were Destroyed, Many Saved.
TEMPORARY OFFICES SECURED.
Fire Started in the Fourth Floor From
Defective I7luc, and the Upper
Story Was Almost Completely
Dcstroyed-Splcndid Work
of Fircman-Ioss Can
not bc Estimated Yet.

One of The most stubborn fires in the
history of Richmond, and one which was
conquered with greatest difficulty, was
that of yesterday morning. when the
roof and the upper floor of the Pace
building. on the corner of Eighth and
Main streets. were almost destroyed.
At few minutes past six o'clock the
fire was discovered on the fourth floor
by the janitor OF the building, who at
once turned in the alarm from box 2lS,
on the corner OF Ninth and Main. In
very short time The private box of the
pace building No SI4. was turned III ano
a second alarm from 2l3. This brought
large part of the tire apparatus TO the
scene and President John Frischkorn. OF
the Fire Board, at once turned in 6-6-6.
which summoned all The companies IN the
city.
4, took the fremcn but a moment to
sec that the situation of the blaze and
tie conditions OF The weather would re-
cuire all the men and engines TO be had.
j3y 5:Sv o'clock the entire department had
gotten 10 work on the tire, and a herce
battle was being waSed between the
blaze and the waterf and il looked as
though the fire would conquer, as 1t had
gained considerable headway by the time
the department arrived.
BELOW THE FREEZING POINT.
At the time OF the breaking out of the
fire the weather was .ery cold, ana a
stiff wind was blowing. which added T.,
The mems discontinue and caused the
spray which fell upon them 10 freeze al
most instantly.
Two Mugs on Eighth and Cary streets
were found TO be frozen, and much time
was consumed IN thaWinS them out
The men fought feeIlessly, but owing to
the amount OF iniia,nmable material on the
upper moor. The fire spread rapidly, anu
gained great headway. and resisted every
effort on the part OF the men to subdue it.
The freezing weather added greatly to
The difficulties which the 1ireTnen had TO
overcome, for the spray from the later
tilIed the aid and wherever il fell it was
at once frozen. so that before an hour
had passed the building. with the burning
heat on the inside. was coated with Il
thick layer OF ice on the outside. and the
electric wires and telephone poles. rs Well
AS the ladders and ropes Of the de:nart
1nent, were formed into the most fdnciful
and beautiful shapes of ice
In the streets below there was the
appearance Of d heavy snow, as near the
curbinss the frozen spray and water had
accumulated until il was a foot deep. and
ice and running water covered the entire
street. The spray fell Tpon men and COW
cred them from head TO feet. and made ii
appear as though the flames We're being
fought by snow men.
As soon as II was seen that the
many wires strung along the street would
interfere With the fight with the flames,
a message was sent 10 cut off the cur
rent, and The .iirernen We're thus allowed
20 work with more freedom, and many
of the wires were broken and twisted,
some by The worl1men and some by the
concealed masses OF slittering ice.
CONQUERED AT LAST.
II was about hours before the fire was
conquered, and it was done at great
cost.
In the building were records Of almost
inestimable value, many of them without
duplicates papers Of great moment TO the
various departments, maps and blue
Yrints worth much. and material that
will cost a great amount OF time anu a
large sum of money 10 replace
The work of ;he tire!nen was under the
able direction OF Assistant Chief Shaw.
Superintendent W. u. Thompson and
President Frischllorn were on hand and
assisted in the direction OF things.
yice-Fresident Decatur ANtcll was on
the scene early. His office was located
on the second floor, and the damage 10
the papers there Will probably be COM
f.aratirely small. he went into the office
amid the water and slush and ruin and
assisted by the frernen and Mr.. Lonn:e
Jones, of headquarters. covered the cases
and records With tarpaulins and rubber
coverings
The fire started from a detective fiue.
The building is heated by stoves and il is
believed that from his combina, ton the
nnfagration begun.
The principal loss will be in the Car
Service Department, under the charge of
AR. George $. Sipp. The records in the
department cannot be duplicated, and the
loss will probably be total one. The
business of this office is 10 keep the rec
ord OF all the cars on the road. The tel
egraph department will also be big los
er The train dispatcl,ers have offices
the same floor. and several OF them were
on duty al the time OF the breaking out
of the fire. Dispatcher Z. G.. Goodwin
was in the act of making up new train
sheet when the flames drove him out.
Superintendent; c. c. Walkers Offices
were also On this floor. and his loss will
probably be great,
The loss 10 the departments on the sec
end and third floors M,il DC urge. The
pay-rolls for the .nontl Tor the entire
Eastern division. anb acing about e.ooo
names, had .ust been competed. These
rolls were destroyed.
i; will be Some time before the amount
or loss can y" stated, but II will be con-
siderable
80 INSURANCE ON BUILDING.
The building was owned by the J. w.
Allison estate. and was bought from Mr..
J. b. Pace about year easc for s90. GOO. II
Ras insured for 10000. al carried by the
7 Insurance Department OF Virginia Trus:
Company in the companies in that agency.
as follows:
Imperial os London.... 1000
I7irerna,,.s IS Fund ............. 5000
norwich Onion. ........ 5000
KY. Underwriters. 80. 5000
SIM 81 Londo 5000
PhtladeIphia Underwriters. 5000
ET-aIadnnif,. of Scotland 900