The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-12-04
PLANNING MILL FIRE
IN EARLY MORNING
Big WfiteFurst Plant Almost Consumed By
Flames.
Co'ciock Engine No. responded. Two

oo'ciock. Engine No. z responded. Two
minutes LATER box II, at tho corner OF
Tenth and Byrd Streets, was turned in n,
12:223 a second alarm was sent in at
l-:26, and at 1884 Chief snaw turned III
the thre sinSes, and all the available Dc
paTtment In the city hurried; to the seem.
The difficulties of the Fire Department
were i,nmovabla. The fire was in -..e
most incaIcimablc material possible--kll!,-
dried lumber, finished material for doors,
sashes ana blinds, together with the
shaVings and trash that is left from work
ing IN such material. In the rear and
ward which the hungry flames reaced
TO the flank of the fierce flames were
piled thousands of feet of lumber, to-
WARD which the hungry flames reached
out its tierytongues, while directly in
front and separated by 4 narrow alley
vast the office building in the second
story Of which was t!so lot Of imilam-
Ulabie material.
The fire, which originated in the she'd
on Tenth Street, had reached the main
factory. and when the flrcmen reached
the scene angry tongues OF flames were
licking from the windows OF the building,
threatening to envelop the whole plant.
In the angle formed by the factory and
shed was the large dry-kiln, filled with
lumber. I..Is soon caught. and the fierce
flames shot high into the air, making the
surroundings as light as Gay.
BRAVE WORK.
Into this narrow alley. where. the dense
smoke belched fort has from an inferno
the firemen fought their way. and from
| the roof of the Office building others were
pouring streams. which for a time seemed
to but add to the fury of the flames. In
the rear two strong streams were delug-
I inc e-l,a nf n I'LL
but the secthing mass within burned on
unchecked. Gradually the water began tc
tell and the huge flames would sink for
an instant. only to rise to an increased
height and to throw out an even greater
heat Clouds cf steam arose from where
the water dashed against the red sides
Of the kiln, and volumes of smoke arose
lleavenward. Clouds of sparks ascended
and glittered like another fr1nanent
brought closer to earth.
WORK TELLS
But the work of the brave firemen be-
gan to tell. and slowly but surely they
gained headway and succeeded in master
ing the arch enemy.
The main factory was gutted, resulting
in the loss of valuable machinery and q
large amount of finished material; the
shed where the fire originated was to-
tally destroyed, and the dry kiln, with
its contents of lumber in various stages
Of seasoning, is little more than ashes and
debris.
The total loss sustained cannot be
given accurately, but is placed at between
forty and fifty thousand dollars. N1r.
WhftehUrst carried insurance to the
amount of S3S,OOD. all OF which was
placed through -Messrs. J. 3. Moore &
Co.
Mans Life Was Lost
Mr.. Whitehurst has been at this Ioca-
ton about seventeen years. He has had
at least two fires before this, but at
neither of these times was his place SO
greatly damaged. The first fire was occa-
stoned by the burning Of another plant
in the rear OF his. The last fire was
about eight years ago. Then a negro
went to the ol-room with a lamp. The
room was fired by the lamp and the ne
gro was burned to death.
The factory has aljays enjoyed a
fine trade.
The destruction Of it will occasion
the idleness of fifty men.
Mr.. Whitehurst declares that he will
rebuild at once.