The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-01-18
Occupants of the Lexing-
ton Aroused by Fire
In Building Near BY.
TYPEFOLJNDRY BURNS
WADDEY'S DAMAGED
Big Blaze Early This Morning in
Dangerous Locality - Wo-
men Flee From Rooms a
in Their Night
Robes-Three
Skies.

a 81 l.
The Lexington Hotel was seriously
threatened by fire carly this morning,
and the building was somewhat dam
aged.
The Richmond Type and Eiectrotype
Foundry just west OF the rear part OF
tho hotel was burned to the ground and
the printing department OF the Everett
Waddey Company was greatly damaged.
The ire was discovered at 2:35 ana
an alarm turned In from box 10 at
Twelfth and Main Streets. was followed
In less than two minutes by the second
alarm and finally by three skies which
brought every piece of fire apparatus
In the city to the scene. The fire broke
oit in the type foundry. which has sew
eral times burned. This building In on
what Is known as Church Court, and is
directly behind the State Bank of Vir-
ginia. 1t Is i small. two-siory brick
structure, and stood on the site. or very
near Ii. where the original Second Bap-
tlst Church stood.
Made Rapid Headway.
When the first alarm was sounded the
structure was in a light blaze. and the
roof was falling in. When the department
reached the place the southwest corner
of the Lexington Hotel WAS In 4 light
blaze and every window had TO be
knocked out by streams OF water, which
deluged the rooms where guests were
sleeping That they He'd in their night
robes and screaming in terror as they
went, does not begin to describe the wild
scene then enacted. The firenen at once
saw that the type foundry was gone, and
while they kept this fierce blaze down.
their attention WAS turned mainly to the
surrounding buildings which are among
the most valuable in the city.
As stated. the State Bank of Virginia
was to the north just acrossesa narrow
alley. the printing department OF the
Everett waddey Company Was almost
touching the blazing foundry. while the
Merchants National Bank and the store
OF the Waddcy Company were In close
proximity
Waddey's printing Office was the next
tn catch after the hotel This structure.
which Is four stories tall. contained on
the first floor the presses of the plant.
The type setting machines and cases
are on the second floor and on the third
floor are the rulers where paper is
prepared finally for shipment Supplies
of paper are also kept in this building,
which is separated from the store by an
Hlley. over WHICH ~ All eic heSeA VII iiut,N'
where the Office stands. The place was
deluged, and at times flames burst from
the upper windows. While the fire was
kept in this structure,t the loss must be
great on account of the character OF
the contents
Excitement in Hotel.
The scene at the Lexington Hotel beg
gars description. Guests had been
aroused from their slumbers at 2:45 by
downpours OF ice cold water upon them,
while Others had been aroused by
laundering on their doors. Men. wo-
men mothers with infants In their arms
made one great rush to the office. Few
Of the men had on more than an under
shirt and pair of trousers. while the
ladies' were in night robes or blankets
loosely thrown around them.
Grea, confusion is poor name to give
10 the scene. Amid it all the gigantic
FORM of Senator George B. Keezeii, of
Rockingham, who appeared In trousers
and shirt and no suspenders.
A, 4 O'Clock this morning the fire was
rnder control but still burning The
damage could not then be estimated.