The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-27
WAS A FIERY RAIN.
Myriads Of Sparks Threaten the
Business Section.

Myriads and myriads Of sparks; the
air perfect ocean OF fiery particles
mounting high in air, and these falling
In steady downpour almost as far as
the eye could reach. while the windows
Of structures far and near flashed back
thousands fold the brilliant light emitted
BY tho burning Galcgo Mills. WHICH
reared like q mammoth furnace seven
times heated.
1t was rain of fire. To the watchers
stationed on the submits of buildings
within tho fiery zone, 1t scarce seemed
possible but that some of tho cleaning,
burning visitors would find Judgment in
infanmable spots and result In a con-
1lagratlon that would renew the scenes
Of horror Incident to the evacua ton of
Rchmcnd eight and thirty years ago.
Famed by the Breezes.
Blowing steadily from the southeast a
chill breeze swept over the burning mills
he,ring on It's wings the glowing parti-
Giles. At times the entire Capitol Square
seemed abla7e as swarms of thu, redhot
sparks slfted among the branches Of the
trees, as though millions Of firefles were
playing hide and seek.
on the summit of Capitol Fill the
stately building stood, sllhouetted' against
the sky, every window ablazc.s.4It was
difficult to believe that fire WAS not rag
ing inside the. structure. The Chamber OF
Commerce building also, from every VIM
dow threw back the freight, and streets
for CLOCKS were brilliant with REFLECTED
rays. ..ya-6 s..f-4
AS the blaze consuming the mill sub
sided the shower of. sparks Increased,
until they fell In q thick, continuous
shower, which covered squares OH Nam
Street and south to the banks Of the
river. Pieces of burnt wood the size of
walnuts began to mingle with tile down
pour
Dangerous Situation,
The situation for while was danger
Gus, indeed. ON the roof Of the building
occupied by the Richmond Trust and
Safe Deposit Company. at Tenth and
Main Streets, an inflammable object
caught fire and began to blaze flercely.
y stream was promptly turned on 1t from
the hose Of The Times-Dispatch private
equipment. and 1t was promptly en-
tingulshed,
\ few moments later the awning over
the Main Street entrance of the Rich
mond Trust and Safe Deposit Company
became igntcd. and that over the door
OF John l., Williams & Sons offices. just
across Tenth Street quickly Followed
suit.
But the chemical engine, which had
been detailed to look after this threat
en,ed section quickly put out the Flames.
The next blaze was in a more danger
Gus place, mammoth spark setting fire
to the awning back Of Tho Tmes-Dl
patch building, above the mailing ro I'M.
Again the private department was called
into requisiton with satisfactory re-
suits.
BY this time the bIood-rcd rain had
attracted general attention throughout
the city, and owners OF propert.. in the
threatened districts began to hurry
dcwn-to town As speedily as possible ar
rangements were made to detect and
smother in Its infancy any blaze which
might lead to widespread destruction.
While no complete record could posi-
bly, be obtained, ii is likely that no less
than hundred inciplent fires were OK.
tinguished
Tie fiery rain extended from below
Eleventh Street to Ninth, and the wind
carried the sparks north beyond the
Capitol building
Volunteers from among the citizens rem
dercd the flremen much assistance in ex-
tinguishlng burning awnings &C., In tho
ncighDorhood OF Ninth and Main.
Mr.. Alfred y. Williams, editor Of the
News Leader, Was among the active vol
untcers, and he and others were very
alert,
Capitol Policeman Thomas knote was
also very helpful. and he assisted In ex-
tinsuishIng the burning awning at Tenth
and Main Streets. The awning over ono OF
the large stores on Ninth Street, near
Franklin caught, but was quickly put
out.
y small blaze in tho rear OF Whittet
& Shepperson's printing establishment
was occasloned by the sparks and burning
embers from the burning building An
other alarm MAS turned In and tho
Fire Department responded promptly and
soon cxtingushed whit might have tFt.
Yeloped into most serious blaze.
There WAS a quantity Of debris and
waste In the rear of the building. com
mingled with the tin from the roofing
OF the old building recently pnlled down.
THIS made II a hard fire to fight. but
the fire ladies reached the scene before
the blaze had gotten much Roadway, and
soon had It c&tingushed
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