The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1903-05-26

Norfolk. May 22.-The Seaboard Air
Line railway shops, minor offices and
warehouses on the outskirts of Ports-I
mouth were practically destroyed byl
fire. hic broke out shortly after tenl
O'Clock tonight. AT a late hour tonight
the blaze had not spent itself, but theI
destruction of nearly every buildIngI
and car at the yards was about conf
plete. AS near rs can be estimated att
this time. the monetary loss will FOOT
up to some three quarters Of a millionI
dollars.
James Herold, a machinist, Who'll
sought to save the tools with which hel
earned his daily bread, was so badly
burned that he VIII very probably die
indeed, if he has not already succumbedI
TO his injuries. No one else was SER
iOusly hurt so far as can be learned.
Firemen frem Portsmouth, Norfolk
and BeTkley got hose into position, but
the heat of the flames drove them back
before they could approach withinI
many yards of the fire. To render the
matter all the more hopeless, a terrible
win storm sept over that portion of
Norfolk county. A binding cloud of
dust. sand and grit drove hundreds of
men. women and children in every di-
rectiOn. in quest of shelter.
For nearly fifteen minutes the vino
blew at the rate of at least fifty miles
an hour. Several children were hurled
from their feet and sent rolling across
the thOroughfare. Mothers becameI
pan1c-stricken. Hats were blown from
heads and lever recovered. Presently
a refreshing shower made its appear
ance and soon cleared up the air.
In a few minutes the breeze mOderat-
ed and a verit-,bIe pandemonium re-
solved itself into a scene of comparative
tranquility. IL some u~nacCOuntableI
way the fire broke out about 1915
o'clock IN a building known as the
working shop" situated in the southern
part Of the yards. In this wooden
structure vas stored a large quantity
of dried lumber. Within a very few
minutes tie entire building was in
flames. The wood repairing material.
burned like hay. In half and hour this.
wrecking shed. as it was called. was
falling in. The flames reached a height
of at least 200 feet and reached out
hungrily on all sides. The adjoining
building was a storage house for the
NtNA W AAA-AAAN AcAAo VI y. LII
supply headquarters for the SeabOard
in this entire section of the country.
James HerOld. n machinSt. resldingi
in Cottage place. rushed into the wreck
ing shed when the blaze was at its
height. He was at home asleep when
the alarm was sounded. Hastily dress
Ing himself he hurried out TO save his
property. INTO the building he dashed.
needless of The p"TOteStatiOnS of those
about him. : burning timber fell upOnI
his shoulder bearing him to the floor.
The fiTebrand lay across his body, set
ing his rainent on fire. When several
men riSked their Owl lives to save the.
machinist and succeeded in pulling him
out into the open air, the unfortunate
man was more dead than alive. Doctors
McMurrIn and Maupin, Seaboard phys
icians. administered to him. In remov-
ing his clothes. heavy rolls of flesh fell
from his body. He presented n spec
tacle Cruesome and shocking in the eX-
IRENE.
\ machinist. named Penrose is re-
ported to have been seriously burned
while attempting to recover his tools.
II was stated that he was seriously
wounded by a falling plank in addition
to sustaining internal and external in
jUrieS by fire.
H. BUrpee. Il boss painter. was seri-
OusIy though not fatally cut about the
head by flying glass.
Several minor cases were reported.
but on account of the lateSness OF the
hour and the excitement prevailing II
was impossible to arrive II 4 full and
complete detail of facts. Three hun
dred men will be thrown out of employ
Ueut- The property destroyed was the
wr-ekiuC shed. the stationery ware
house the paint and oil house. office
building OF the superintendent of wood
work. 81 large brick building used for
the reception OF passenger and sleeping
ears. ii. which was also located the
painting shop. t~h6'carpenterS and cab
met makers shops. fifty Of moro box
ears and eighteen passenger coaches \
great deal Of the yard trackage was
also destroyed.
The origin of the fire is not known.