The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-06-15
UGLY FIRE
LAST NIGHT
Paint Store Of John w. Atkinson
& Co. Is Greatly
Damaged.
----.--------------
WHOLE SECTION IN DANGER
But BY Hard Work the Firemen
Kept Blaze in Original
Building.
WHOLE SECTION IN DANGER

For UPWARDS OF two hours last night
five engines and a. small army Of firemen
battled with d stubborn, smoky flame that
slowly ate Its way through the top floors
OF John w. Atkinson and Company's
PAINT establishment, No. l424 East Main
Street
4 At midnight the fire was practically out
or under control. Estimates made at that
time fixed the probable total loss at be-
tween fifteen and twenty thousand dol
lars Both building and stock were In
sured sufficiently to cover the loss. The
origin OF thu blaze is mystery that is
still puzzling the owners OF the place,
and the fire and police authorities as
we'll.
Caused Great Stir.
Situated as 1t was in the center Of a
business block OF the East End, the fire
caused no small excitement and attracted
large crowd. There was, however,
nothing spectacular about It. The flame
was hidden beneath huge pillows of smoke
that arose from the slowly burning paint
and heavy timbers
According to all accounts, the fire be-
gan on the third floor where mixed
paints were stored. Nobody was per-
mitted to smoke In the place; no fires
had been run during the day;fnot an
ounce OF benzine, gasoline or any COM
bustible material was In the house. AT
II F. M. the bookkeeper Inspected the
place. found everything all right. turned
out the gas. and left the building, He
was the last TO go. AT l0:G P. NJ. an
alarm was sounded quickly followed by
a second. FLAMES we're squirting from the
windows on the third floor Five en-
zines, Nos. 2, 3. A. and 8, and two
trucks. Nos. i and 2, responded.
For the next two hours the Efforts az
the firemen were bent toward preventing
the fumes from spreading They sue
ceeded admirably.
An Old Building.
The progress OF 1.-THE fire was slow, hut
stubborn. The building is one OF the old
est in the CITY, It was occupied years
ago by Slater, Meyers &; Company, then
by the Tanner Paint and Oil Company
and then by the Worthlngton Company,
which remained in it about four years.
Something like year and half ago the
Worthlngton Company was succeeded by
ent occupants. The building Is owned
by the Gibson estate. and is valued at
about $4,000, It carries an insurance Of
five or six thousand, supposed to be am
ply sufficient to cover the damage.
Tho stock was valued rt from $4,000
to SIC, 900. An insurance Of ABOUT $4,000
was carried upon It. To tho rear of the
building and separated from It by an
iron partition is warehouse In which
ilubricating oils and some turpentine were
stored The blaze was vigorously fought
away from this point The remainder OF
the stock consisted OF four stories OF
colors, oils. dry paint, etc. most OF
which was ruined, It was estimated last
night that probably two-thirds Of the
stock was lost. Is #
Fireman Injured.
fireman named j., II. Parsons. Of
truck company. No, 2, fell from ladder
and was painfully hurt He suffered
compound dislocaton of his index and
middle finger, and his left eye and his
body we're bruised.
The hose wagon. on it's way to the fire.
collided with a buggy containing two
small negro boys. who were slightly hurt.