The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-03-31
VI
STRONG Men WEEP
OVER GREAT LO S
Touching Scenes Around the Ruin
Site.
low THEY SAVED CUES
Manager Fry and Chief Clerk Barker Tell
Their Fight With Flre1Tcmporary
Offices Established.
low THEY SAVED CUES
The walls still stand

cred wreck appears in bold relief agains.
the sky. Smoke writhes its way to free
dom from the smoudering masses beneath
and mounting upward, hame-tnted,
wreathes halos around the sentine!s o.
r.in. showing q ttousand vari-coloree-
hies against the heavens, the only back
ground.
Thousands saw the pitiful sight and
Thousands bowed their heads Strong men
vort-for loved Richmond and her mis-
fortune. They tried to shut out from their
sight the view in all its horrors, but to
the minds eye the awfulness of the mis-
fortune only grew in its intensity
II would rather have had it my own
house." said Colonel John s. Harwood,
through his tears.
1t was only passing in
cident cited as showing the
ceiling in Richmond. Just before Col.
iIarwood spoke another citizen had be>
heard to say that, barring the DANCE
to his family sai the loss Of household
articles of long association, lie would
rather have seen his own home Suttet
By the flames.
Tho destruction Of the Jefferson Hotel
is a public sorrow. The people are not
thinking so much Of the loss in a buz
ness way That thought will come b.
and by, but to-day it is their sentimental
nature and tot their business nature tina.
/: stirred.
The jefferson Hotel was valuable
commercial asset Everybody recognizes
that. 1t brought hundreds and hundreds
Il wealthy men here VINO would not 9th
crwise have come. 1t had much to do
with making Richmond one of the great
est convention cities in the country. and
it has been a most important factor in
The recent development of the city.
But the jefferson more than
commercial asset. 1t vas ornament to
the city-a building Of which we were all
proud a building which we loved to
show to visitors. 1t was one of the
greatest attractions and was part and
parcel OF our social life, as we'll as Of
an commercial life. 1t was the place of
public banquets and social gatherings Of
all descriptions, a genuine work of art
a thing of beauty and a joy-not forever
alas, and that is why the people mourn
and weep--their JOY has been turned into
mourning. i is the SaddeSt day that
Richmond has known since the evacua-
ton. There is every reason to believe that
in one form or another the hotel will be
restored but it will not be the beautiful.
artistic Jefferson as Major Ginter fash
toned it. AS is said elsewhere. he built
i: as a work of art, a thing to be petted,
admired, beloved and enjoyed for its
exquisite beauty. Even though it should
be restored in its beauty and maSnitl-
cence, yet it would not be the Jefferson
us Richmond has known and loved it.
for there we're sweet and tender aSS0Cla-
ticns in every brick, in every picture
in every ornament. in frescoed wall and
tessellated floor. The l0ss of the Jeffer-
son is a public sorrow and will be felt
throughout this generation.
PEOPLE LOOK IN ABATEMENT.
All day long and until far into the
hight the streets in the immediate neigh
ocrhood of the desolate site OF the JET
terson We're thronged. Thousands of
sisht-seers from all parts of the city
gazed in a dreamy manner upon e.
smouldering masses and charred ruins.
NO one. it seemed, could realize that the
Jefferson was not there in all its splen-
cor. all it's magnitcence and all it's glory
They wondered after the same listess
fashion II it would be rebuilt and sDecu-
lated as to the probable cost of dupli-
eating the grand structure.
Ropes were stretched across Main and
Jefferson Streets and every precaution
was exercised to prevent accidents.
Walls unsupported and towering to dizzy
heights sw'ayed in the breeze and threat
.
the day street car traffic on Main Street
had been suspended, and Judging from
the enormous crowds that packed that
th0r0ugtfare for blocks and for the
greater part of the day, the maintenance
OF q schedule would have been Il matter
of serious question
Firerren throughout the day and night
continued TO pour in on the charred
masses tons OF water. Plug streams
we're also brought into play and the one
time magnificent interior was hooded.
From the broken pipes III the upper
stories water gushed and leaped from.
Nall and window, down over the crunlc-
fine masses, forming miniature cataracts.
The scene was one of grandeur, even III
its deso!ation; though in ruins yet II
anneaIed to artists; though beautiful, 1t
troze the heart.
Behind the Gismounted part of the
,,alatjal structure stood the two towers
l.Gsrined and blacEened On the face
of each was the face OF q clock. In the
tower TO the west the hands marked the
hour of - but from the height III the
EASTERN tower the bells chimed the hour
as the hands marked the passing OF tillle.
To all it is q source OF keen gratlilcatloli
that the ma niticent t,rankin-Street front
of the hotel was not damaged worse than
and decorations TO q large extent es-
caDed serious damage. 1t is one OF the
most splendid specimens of architecture
IL This Aountry, and stands as q monu-
ment TO The architects and builders. Inc
damage 10 that part of the hotel was
rrirc;pally by water.
OPEN TEMPORARY OFFICES.
Early Yesterday morning temporary
offices were opened by the jefferson Hotter
Company in the Crenshaw property at
ADAMS and Main Streets. Here the force
of clerks were kept busy all day long
answering inquiries and directing the
work of caring for the guests. IeleSrams
from all over the country poured into the
offices. Some were from anxious relatives
and friends who knowing OF the horror
feared the worst. Others brought express
sions OF sympathy from friends OF the
Jefferson.
All day the Offices was thronged by
e1,ests who having saved their lives, yet
feared for their property. Natuaries,
money and jewelry. amounting to
thousands of dollars had been deposited
in the massive safe and this enormous
mass OF steel was found to have with
stood the fierce onslaught of the flames.
It remained intact, the only thing IN the
office and lobby that did escape.