The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-04

monced tDacklnG phCh, S.dyo uPp o .t
Tor the safety of tho lnddies being OK
pressed on every side. II was realized
the havoc that could bo wrought by an
explosion OF tals amount or powder.
Hefore any ono was aware OF HIS IN
te1ltion, Second Lieutenant RATIO. OF NO.
g. had effected ali entrance to tho lower
floor Of tho building. whero the powder
heat and scarcely able to breathe or SEQ
on account OF tho dense smoke. he CROPPED
his way about until he Dcatod tho powder
cans. lilo was Just in time.
Grasping tho two cans firmly he dashad
from tho door Just us the blaze burst
reached the street tho casks wero warm
from the heat to which they had peen
subjected and had he boon O minute later
the explosion would have most certainly
occurred. wrecleing tho building and scat
.tering the debris for yards In the VICINITY
BURNED RAPIDLY.
The IRE, which Is supposed to have orig
mated In the center Of the building,
burned rapidly. using the elevator shaft
as a medium for spreading over the three
floors Of the building. Wording both ways
from the center, tho light ana highly
toor b,lstiblc groceries furnishing ms luei
from ono end Of the structure to the
other. But yet there WIS no pcrceptible
blaze. ~.
end Of the building, where the lighteBt
stuff was stored. AS It gained q footnold
hero the water from the hose falled TO
heye It's effeaa and suddenly and heroely
tho hlnzo burst forth from the front with
the fury Of demon. For few minutes
they burned brightly, lighting up the
heavens and adding splendor to the scene:
The inevitable happened. however, ana
the water, soon worked Ito wonoer, IIe
blaze being beaten back and once more
confined within the building. A1ter 1 as
there was no spectacular display, the nre
burning slowly but surely on the inside.
eating up dollar upon dollar OF valuable
stock.
Within one and one-half hours after the
alarm had boon sounded Cnlei rune1
realized that tho fire was under oon,rol.
and he proceeded to light Tor hnnse4L - =
cigar. giving orders as no SMOKED az
had gained n deserved victory.
Not caring. however, to lose the advan-
tara gained. the Chief ordered his mon
on the front side into the building, ana
one after another the three companies.
with the aid OF ladders, were on the
second and third floors.
Captain Flgg. of NO. 2, accompanied
by Firemen RATIO. Perdue. Norman ana
Parson. soon had two streams on Inc
second floor, while Captain Rodgers o.
the Fulton headquarters. followed oy
Volunteers 6amuels and MITCHELL were
on the third These two companies ad.
vanced MS TAR back as tho uncertain
floor would permit, and hundreds upon
hundreds Of gallons Of water we're poured
from this underground upon the burn
Ing mass below.
ORIGIN UNKNOWN.
Much mystery surrounds the origin OF
tho confagr:tion. but It Is thought by
those who should .be In a position to
know that It caught first on the lower
floor OF the middle building from defeo-
tive electric wiring. This theory has
been disputed. however.
When the blaze was first discovered BY
Night Waterman Whitaker, he was In
company with Patrolnlans Hackett, Of the
First District. They noticed a small
light on the second floor OF tho middle
building, which they at first thought
came from gas jet. Shortly smoke
was seen to arise and the night watch
the policeman kept an eye on the blaze,
| attempting to effect an entrance to the
lower door Of the building
1t Is stated that there was no stove
| IN the middle building, but that the ele-
| vator was In this structure, and 1t Ia
| operated by means, of a dynamo which
is supplied with electricity from street
wires. These facts lead to the belief
that the building was fired from defec-
tive wiring. the insulation at some point
probably having worn Off. allowing the
current to get next the wood work.
SECOND TIME RECENTLY.
The destruction Of the three buildings
last night was tile second time within
less than year that similar loss hos
Deen suffered by the same company at
the same locality. Last February. lust
Few days later than now, the place
was almost totally destroyed, but the
loss at that time was not quite SO large
| as 1t was last night. .
Chlef Fuller In speaking tor thu Ar.
AFTER 1t was under control. said IN q
Tepr sentative Of Tho Ttnes-Dtsnatch
mar ne wished to congratulate his men
panHcly for the gallant services rem.
! oered' He was unable to saw which
company did the best work. ali worE I'd
so heroically. w Ae'd
| After the blaze had been s,ha,.7 .
| force OF mon was left with an enp,ns q
watch the smolding enbers, and late ~ ~
destrians saw the unusual spectacls ~ ~ !.
| crowd OF jolly ;flremen gathered around q
o0ni1Fe IN tho street making coffee.
Il