The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-27

ers, and occupied by the Norfolk and
Western Railroad and others, was badly
damaged, while the Carlisle building, oc-
cupled by the Southern Pacific Railroad
Company and Smith and Sons and Con-
natl Trust Company on the first floor
and very many offices on the other i've
floors was damaged.
Tho front stone walls OF the Pike
building and those Of adjoining struc-
lures, owned by Robert Clarke Company
and the Duhme Brothers, jewelry store,
ond OF the Seasongood buildings with
stood the heat and did not fall. The rear
walls of these structures. however, which
are of brick, gave way with the failing
floors. ft5
The Are swept across the alley known
as Baker Street and burned the large
publishing house OF the American Book
Company at the corner Of Baker Street
and other property along Baker Street,
and did great damage to the telephone
building, so that all telephones in the
city were cut off for some time. All the
guests in the burned house on Vine
Street. just across from the telephone
building. were called out. OF their rooms,
as were those at the Gibson, the Emery
and Stag Hotels. which were in close
proximity to the fire.
WIRES OUT OF COMMISSION.
The Kankakee building, which is dag
oIldlly dcTDSS lTOIll Inc aSoedSOUPOOuH Duuu-
ing and Pike Opera House. and Is occu-
pied by the Western Union, the Assoc
clated Press. the Big Four and other Of
fees. was threatened, and all the wires
OF the Western Union for hours were In
danger. but this location was spared after
narrow escape.
There were many narrow escapes,
Night Waterman John Agin and Mat
Garretson and Harry Richardson. door
keeper, saved six lives by entering the
building and forcing their way through
the smoke and rescuing lolgers. Five
men were asleep In rear room Of the
Pike building when they vera rescued
by having their doors broken in. They
were John Mulvern. B. w. Zeigler, H. C.
Storey, ]. F. Mcdonald and W. G. Ash
kher. All escaped in their nightclothes.
Asin. Richardson and Garretson pro-
ceeded through the building, giving the
alarm to ALL until they had to be helped
out OF the structures themselves.
THRILLING ESCAPE.
y The escape of VIII Jones. the we'll
known Cincinnati, Ohio. actor, Just before
the roof OF the burning building fell, and
his rescue half dead from the top Of
the building, was thrilling and almost
miraculous one. Jones' presence Of mind,
Which led him to throw his cuff into
tho street below and thus make his
whereabouts known, saved his life.
After hard rehearsal Jones went to
the Pike building. about midnight. to get
his Yallse. which he had left in n studio
of an artist friend on the fourth floor.
After entering he was SO tired he fell
asleep In chair, When no awoke sud
denly he was nenrly blinded and sufo-
eating. He crawed to the door. Out
side In the great airshaft the flames We're
shooting UP. How he made his way he
does not know, but reached the stairway
leading to the top
He went UP to the roof and In some
manner got through a skylight He fell
over something and was stunned When
he recovered the flames were shooting
through the roof He crawled to the
notice him. He shouted himself honrse.
He took his cuff and wrote on 1t: II am
on roof Nearly dead from gas
"(Signed) ZONES" 4
He threw It to the ground and a re-
porter picked it UP and located tho Ag-
ure Of a man standing outlined In the
sparks. Jones crept along the edge of
the rear of the building and there waited
for the ilromen, who placed ladder
across the alley from the telephone on
change building, Jones was carried
down and taken to the hospital.
DISPLAY OF NERVE,
lIl6 efCIldH6c IOuNNS are lUS tOp
floor of six-story building and the night
force consists of eight exchange girls
and the night manager. George Cappes.
The girls pluckiy stuck TO their posts
from 80 to $3.50 a. NJ, when the flames
We're blazing in their windows SO they
We're ordered out, Later they returned
to their calls and when the large day
force of girls came on duty they fear
lessly went to the sixth floor for duty
although tho flre ragged all around them
Tho American Book Company lost $685.
600 on their publishing house and stock
and machinery, The plates of the cleo
trio system OF school books were all stored
In this building. which, with presses and
electrical appliances, We're lost. They
are insured for s200,OOO
Robert Clarke and Company place their
loss at S450,o0O, including SIZE, 900 In plates
or law books and other works. with $780,
wv insurance, Among tho other losses
Dro thu following:
Pike building, $4,000; insurance, $780,
seasongood building, SCI, OoO
Harrison building, $l25. 900
Fosdick building. sci, 600.
puhme Brothers jeWelry store, SIC, 600 u
Richter and Phillips, Jewellers, $50, 900.
Miss Brothers. mlliiners, SIS, 00Os l3j III
Joflices grocery, $4,000. NJ #
Strauss wholesale cigar store, S76, 900, M