The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1901-11-10
BEGINS WITH AN EXPLOSION
The Flames Starting from an Unknown
Consumed.

,,:te, swirling flames, octopus-like IN
their greediness, yesterday afternoon
claimed one human life. swallowed up
property valued at about $4,000, threat
ened with their fiery tentacles young
woman. forcing her to leap to certain
serious injury, and led to one of the most
thrilling rescnes ever witnessed IN TINS
city For perhaps an hour the flames
roared and hissed through the Hab!iston
building at Main and Seventh Streets,
leaving it d mere shell, after the flerccsl
and fastest destruction this city ever
witnessed.
The young woman who was seriously
injured. is Miss Emily Cfrmp, of No.
JIG North Twenty-sevcnth Street, stenos-
I rapher for the Richmond Traction Com
pany. The life lost was that of Thomas
Daoncy, II negro employed by the same
company, who in all probabllity met death
IN the basement of the burned building,
andsthes daring rescue Was that of t'.7e.-
Clifton. a clerk of the Traction Company.
The principal sufferers through the fire
=
building; the Tower-Bintord Company.
manufacturers OF electrical equipment,
who. with the Richmond Traction Com
pany tld the Virginia Electric Railway
and DA topment Company, occupied the
entire four stories and basement of the
occupants of nearby shops suffered,
these beii0 principally Ernest Young,
who has a. art store at No. , North
Seventh Stfset: Smith and Webster, jew
cllers, rs. 6e6 Iain street: Joe Bicker-
staff, bicycle repairer, No GA Main Street,
and c. w. McGinncss. watch repairer, OF
No. e.. Main Street.
LOSS AND INSURANCE.
The total damage done by the fire is
estimated at s5O.ooo. and will so little if
any above that figure. The insurance
carried by all of those affected will, 50
far as can be learned only aggregate
from $4,000 to So, ,o0o. This makes the ac-
tual loss al3out s2o.co0 This estimate,
obtainable, may not be entirely accurate,
as the Towcr-Binford Company refuses
% make any statement as to the value
of their stock. the extent of the damage
or the insurance carried. The building.
which was valued at ABOUT $4,000, was
insured for $1,000, and the insurance on
property in The building will. it is be-
lieved. make up the difference.
Richmond's need of larger water mains
on her principal streets was shown.
This need hampercd the work of Chief
Puller and his brave laddies through the
small mains. At the time when pressure
was needed The streams thrown would
barely reach to the windows; later, when
halF a dozen or so steamers settled down
10 business with their cheerful chus-chus,
there was decided Improvement. AT
that time. however, the big building was
a hull; the worst had been done.
a THRILLING SPECTACLE.
From a spectacular viewpoint, the lire
was one of the most thrilling Richmond
has had since the great jefferson ana
Meyers fires. It's very 1icrceness ani
the speed CT obstruction was amazing TO
the thousands who gathered in ana
around the adjacent streets. Fighting as
they did at the crossing point of Rich
mond's two electric power lines. through
q rneshwork OF wires, Chief Pullcr, early
In the progress of the flames. ordered all
currents OF. Within a few minutes half
a score of the wires had fallen, burned
through.
From its inception. breaking forth as 4
it did in a whirl of flame from an unex-
planned explosion in the basement, the fire
siashed way straight through the big |
building. Within minute the halls and
rooms We're choking with the stencil of
smoke, the siaring heat Of the rapidly
moving flames, and a panic nearly re-
suited among the seventy persons ern-i
ploged in the various offices and shops
sn the buildings.
MISS cRUMP.Ss JUMP.
Through a sufrocating smoke they
hurled pe1l nell down the stairs strng-
Cling for breath and freedom, successfully |
to tho street All save one, Miss crnmp. |
Coopcd up as She was In the front OF |
the office. with all means of escape down |
the stairs seventy feet back of her-the /
front stairs of the building having been /
&scSed during the alterations TO the build /