The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-01-24

certain that tnere WIS no SoiiSs'io''
between this and the one two blocks
away. The porter of the 3. f. Johnson
Publishing Company reached the build
ing shortly after G o'clock, and began
making his usual fires and cleaning the
Offices of the building. 1t is said that
he built fire in the office OF Or. Ed-
ward Leigh Pell, on the third floor. ana
left it to catch up, while he cleaned the
lower floors. About 7:2o a. NJ. the fore
man of the Everett waddey .Companys
printing plant, <n the oppo/te side of
EJeventh street who had just opened
his; plant for the day, and was waiting
for his workmen to report noticed smoke
issuing from a ventlating pipe above the
windows of the third floor. Running to
the end of the building he met the negro
janitor coming from the building, VINO
reported the whole structure filled with
smoke.
An alarm was turned in from the police
box at Eleventh and Main. and rnessen-
gers hurried to Ninth and Cary, where
the engines of the department We're stu
throwing water on the Williams building.
Four engines were at once assigned to
the new fire. and attacked 1t vigorously,
front and rear. The smoke in the upper
| floors was so dense that the fremen
| were unable toSget well into the building.
| and had to fight the flames from the
| outside.
Caused Excitement Near.
| At the neiglIboring stores and manu-
| featuring plants employees We're already
| beginning to arrive, and In many cases
| the iron fire shutters We're closed and all
| precautions taken to prevent the spread
| OF the fire. In the plant of the Southern
Manufacturing Company just across
Eleventh Street, seventy-fve girls at work
on the upper floors filling and labelling
baking powder cans. were gotten out OF
| the building without panic or danger, and
| the plant shut down. after closing the
{ fire shutters.
/ The walls were then drenched by the
fire companies, which afterwards took a
position on the roof from which to throw
a powerful stream over on the burning
building.
The solid style of construction of the
building became apparent as the ire
progressed, as although the inflammable
book and paper stock IN the oulidins
made a fierce fire. the walls stood the
strain, although floor after floor fell The
fire was checked at the first floor. and al
though thoroughly water soaked, the
Southern Paper Company office and the
Offices of the Bedford Paper and Pulp
Company were not greatly damaged.
Mr.. John R. Charlton, president OF the
Southern Paper Company said last night
that it was impossible for him to make
any estimate of the loss at that time
much OF our stock was solidly packed
in packages and cases, and though the
edges were water-soaked. there may be
some salvage" he said II do not think
4 our papers and records In the Office are
greatly damaged, as the safe is intact
!. and the fire did not reach the office floor
although 1t IS ten inches deep In water
Many School Books Burn.
ThesB. f. Johnson Publishing Com
pany did not fare SO we'll. Mr.. james
7 D. Crump. the president. when seer
last night, said that their stock OF
hand would probably be a total loss
J Including several hundred thousant
school books which were on hand 70
February delivery. However,. all o
.heir more valuable olectrotype plate
were stored in the basement or tn
Mutual Building and were not AFFECT
ed They also had on hand accord
: ing to Dr. Pell, the secretary. con
: siderable stock Of unbound sheets 4
3 the hands of their binders, which coul
| be put in order at once.
, President Crump said last night: Nv
! have wired our agents over the coun
try, that while we have suffered a DIS
astrous fire. yet all our schoolbool
plates are itnact, and we have mad
arrangements to push manufacture a
n rate that will enable us to fill a.
J orders. Our loss Is practically covere
| ty insurance.
The B. f. Johnson Company opene
offices yesterday afternoon at rooms 81
! ais and $40 Mutual building, and Will b
ready to go on with business this morn
s ing, and So far as thay are concerned n
one will be thrown out of employment
This company does not do any printing
letting its work by contract, and If nee
! essary the full capacity OF all the print
: ing plants In Richmond will be tested !
: order to fill existing contracts. Mr.: Crum
y said yesterday that they had their book
: entered on the lists of nearly every South
o ern state, as we'll us In many point
. North, including New York City an
!, Philadelphia. Their list has recently bee
!. adopted by the Chicago school board. III
company does all of its work with Ricl
= rnond printing plants, but has depostorle
:, In Dallas and Atlanta, from which su
!, ificient supply can be drawn to meet g.
= listing demands.
\ Mr.. Crump's Serious Loss.
: Mr. james d. Crump, president of II
= 81. II. johnson Company lost his house
i hold furniture, which was stored at II
IN building, aud tile company also lost
II valuable library, which Mr., Noryell, ed