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

and OCCuSlOIltiIiy udIlil6 III oilo oL Lille
burning buildings, only to be driven
back by the intense heat and volumes Of
smoke. st. .5 Ia
IN BURNING BUILDING
One negro, not yet satisfied that the
rumor regarding the destruction Of four.
children was incorrect, rushed into the
fated dwelling. There was fire every,
Swhere-over him, to the right OF him.
and to the left Of him. But he was I'M
daunted. Rapidly the darby found his
way cautiously among the disappearing
ruins, and that he was not cremated Is
all tho more a wonder. y
Finally, apparently forgetful of what
he WIS doing, the negro bolted to the
[ front door Of the dwelling, and here he
encountered shock that was as unex-
;pected and astonishing to him as It was
ludicrous to the spectators. The fire.
men had turned Il powerful stream of
( water In the door, and as lie attempted
& his escape the W. ter struck him full In
the face with such force as to knock
him down. TIe at last got out, and was
thoroughly wet, and his spirit restored.
/ lie didn't enter the house again.
& In several Instances the loss to the
tenants OF the row, or more probably
&lnstalment furniture dealers. will be
heavy. Ks t8.5
The loss sustained from this source will
probably reach thousand dollars or,
more. rs practically nothing was saved,
1T being almost impossible to bring tho
furniture out before the buildings were
destroyed. 4P58i 1871
< Strange to relate. although every one
of the burned structures were two-story
frame affairs, the fronts, and In somd in
stances the side walls, remained intact,
ard this leads to the belief that an effort
will be made to repair them. II.
"A prominent real estate dealer said yes
terday afternoon that the row would be
reconstructed Just as soon as possible.
although there was some probability OF
the Seaboard Air Line Railroad buying
up ms much of the destroyed area as pos
slbe with view to constructing a mann
moth freight depot, tI II
SPECTACULAR SCENE
The fire yesterday was Intensely warm
while It lasted. and it, too, was spectacu
lar, the blazes often reaching skyward. @
K The buildings for the most part We're
occupied as lodging houses, cheap restau-
rants, book stores, fish and oyster houses.
Altogether It is estimated that fully a
hundred negro men and women found
themselves homeless last night, @
The property was HoWned as folloWs:
No, 1922 Mrs. John Finders, Jr.; No. 1924.
Mrs. Thomas Boiling; Nos. i152G-2S. r. w.
Rrooking and w, G. Kean; No. 1850, Mrs.
"A. r. Fleet No, 1889, Miss II r. Iabb:
no, 1884, Mrs. Douglas Forrest; No. 1896,
n. ". Bowe; Nos 1h3S-4G, Miss Bessie
IToge; Nos, beat Henry Pye; No, 1850
seaboard Air Line Railroad; No 1864. Sea-
board Air Line Railroad; No, loo, Sallle
Bennett estate.
The houses were valued on an average
of $500, and rented for from 81 to So per
month. Most of them We're occupied,
large numbers living In each dwelling,
Within the past sixteen years Ruther-
ford's Row has caught fire on an average
OF three or four times q year--frequently
more oftcn-nnd upon each occasion the
public has sincerely hoped to see tho
structures burn to the ground, but they
have apparently had n charmed life, and
ench time the department has succeeded
IN saving the buildings With only slight
damage. IN + IS it,l5.I
"Rptherfords Row. was constructed
long before the war since which time It.
has looked as II the buildings would fall
down of themselves.
fIa i.-.f l--------------------------- Et+l II
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