Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-02-15


ing. The flremen fought with every
resource of their craft and the I'm.
pulse Of desperation. but the flames
found new avenues in Ellison and
Market streets, and got beyond all
control. Calls for relief went out to
every city in this portion of the state.
and the faded firemen labored on
through the hopeless hours Of the
morning. The city hall. magnificent
structure, surmounted by a great
clock tower, situated on Washington.
Ellison and Market streets. finally
caught fire, and with il all of the
splendid business structures that sur.
rounded 1t. They made a great fur
mace of fire that burned with fierce
roar
There was a series of explosions
and scores of walls fell when the fire
left them strengthless. Flying fire
brands carried the conflagratiop over
some buildings and around others, and
1t therefore burned in an irregular
course. These brands finally cleared
the tracks OF the Erie railroad and
Ramapo avenue. and, alighting on
Straight street, started another great
area OF fire. In which the destruction
and desolation wrought was nearly as
great as in the other.
Second Fire Starts.
This second great fire started at the
angle OF Park avenue and Washing.
ton street and swept almost un.
checked until on these two thorough.
fares there was no more fuel. On the
right-hand side OF Market street Il
encountered Sandy Hill Cemetery as
barrier TO check II, but on the LETT
hand side at Carroll street 1t claimed
ST. Joseph's Church, a great classic
stone building. 1t was on this second
great fire that the volunteer fremen
from the outside cities did their most
heroic and effective work. They fell
back only when they had TO, and when
the natural obstacle interposed they
seized the chance and stopped the
fire.
The final and one OF the most des
perate fights OF the day occurred I'm
mid-afternoon back in the first IRE
area at the Hamilton Club. situated
at the corner of Church and Ellison
streets. The handsome club house
caught, and the exhausted firemen
were rallied around 1t. They were
anxious to save the structure. and
besides, failure meant that the fire
might take new Roadway among the
properties adjoining the club house
The building was doomed, however.
but torrent Of water kept the fire
TO the premises. The four walls of
the club house stood, but the roof col
lapsed and the interior was completely
burned out
Paterson rests in valley, and the
conhagration was an imposing specta.
Gle from the rim of hills that wall II
in. Columns OF flame climbed high I'm
the air and shed their light for miles
Hundreds of persons hurried into the
city before daylight to watch the work
or destruction at close range. and
when the day came thousands more
Joined them. With the crowd came
thieves and looters, but there was not
much pillaging. Under orders from
Governor Franklin Murphy, who hur
ried here from Jersey City, Companies
A, c, and M, of the Fifth Regiment.
y. ]. N. G., assembled at their ar.
mories and were held as reserve
force. The police. deputy sheriffs
hundreds of special watchmen and
hremen united in protecting property
during the day, and when night came
grim order clearing the streets was
issued by the city and county au-
thorities.