The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1901-11-16
She is Burned Here
to the Waters
Edge.
LARGE CROWDS WITNESS THE SIGHT
oricersLose Their Personal Elects NOTHING
Saved From tho Cargo But
one Horse

few minutes before the steamer Rich
mond. of the Wcems Line. Capt. James
II. VI Burroughs commanding, was To
leave her wharf here Thursday evening
et 1.l5 for Baltimore. volume OfsmOke
burst forth from theforward cabin W men
WAS first seen by Mate James Is. SANFORD
and Assistant Engineer Andrew . Don.
nell They rushed 10 the door ana tricd
To enter but were driven back by smobe
and flame An alarm was sounded at
once the fire apparatus OF the steamer
brought into play and the city fire de-
plrtment summoned. The flames gained
such headway in few minutes that II
WAS soon realized that the steamer was
doomed 10 destruction The passengers
were hurried off the boat and an attempt
made To save their baggage and the per
sonal effects of the officers. No time was
oiven 90 save any of the cargo, except
one horse. which was carried 10 n livery
stable The steamer WAS lying alongside
the wharf and Agent W. ID. scott tearing
the large ware house, which was illed
with freight. would be- burned. ordered her
cut loose. and she swung across therlNcr.
II. rllder grounded ON li' stafford side.
Will. her bow was pointing towards the
civ e.- works This position placed
her ievoud tie reach OF the water of the
fire. department aud nothing could be
done 10 save any portion al the steamer.
There sht burned tierrely Tor three hours
until the incoming tide caused her bow
10 swing down theriyer. and what Is lett
of her lies on the Stafford side OF the
q lt.. fs44.a an ~
by heavy ropes
THE ORIGIN or rHE FIRE
The origin Of the ire is unknown. butt
j. s1pposed To have been caused by a
lipbtcdm match orcigar thrown down. ora
nine Only a lew Of the officers saved
their personal effects, portion oi the
messengers baggage was burned.
and nothing except the horse men
tioncj above of the cargo was
saved Several Of the officers had
their hair and eyebrows ~inged. and Mate
SANFORD was thought 20 have inhaled
flame and was overcome by smoke. hat
WAS well enough To 90 TO Baltimore
Thursday night he lost every stitch OF
clothing except what he had on one OF
tb. officers los, bis pocket-bOOk contain
ng a sum Of money \ negro stoker.
who said he had also left his money on
the steamer. attempted TO jump into the
river and swimt0h her but was restrained.
The steamer WAS heavily loaded with
freight for the riycrand Baltimore much
of il belonging Go merchants OF this clty.
Hundreds watched the sight from the
river front and the hills overlooking IT,
and the free Bridge was crowded with
people during the progress Of the fire. The
Richmond was valued ~ about Sl1O,-
OOD and il is -aid there is an insurance
ON her of 500. O0O None OF the cargo
was insured. It is said. however, that
the company carriesan amount OF iusur-
auce 10 guard against such accidents.
and il may be- that the shippers of the
freight lost will be paid President VIII
Ham- ordered the officers and crew To
Baltimore Thursday night
The Richmond was built in Baltimore
i'm 1890. by William Skinker X Sons. she
was 205 feet long. j6 feet beam, and j
feet depth Of hold She had 92J horse
power engines. and registered S63 gross
tons. She bad accommodations Tor 10
first. and 10 second-class passengers
Yesterday the steamer sank to the Dot
tom. and nothing is now visible bnt her
smokestacks and walking beam.