The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-29
SOUTH BOSTON
AGAIN FIRE SWEPT.
Flames Destroy Nearly.
Million Dollars Worth
Of Property.
.DANVILLE AND
DURHAM SEND AID
Only BY Aid Of Farmers Engine
and Fire Company Was Town
Saved-List Of Business
Houses Destroyed.
Starts in Tobacco
Factory.
Especial TO Tho rimes-Dlspatch.7 j

Especial tOICne Tim DISPATCH. SO
SOUTH BOSTON, VA, March 2s.-
South Boston was visited by the largest
fire In its history this afternoon, start
Ing In the large building occupied by
n. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company.
The total loss viii almost reach ST.
100000, with about threc-fourths insur-
ancc.
8 1t looked at one time as though the
whole business section OF the town was
going to sbc wiped out, the fire being
confined to the business district, and but
for the arrival OF assistance from Dan
willie the whole business section. as we'll
;as the best residential section would
have been burned.
Danville assisted with one of It's fire
engines, and arrived about two and a
half hours otter the fire began.
A high wjfid from the west was blow
Ing. and despite the heroic efforts Of the
local fire company as well as the Dan
vile company. II seemed almost impos-
siblc to prevent the flames from catch
Ing the east side OF Main Street. Should
II have done this there would have been
but little hopes entertained for saving
many Of the valuable business houses
as well as residences.
Fire started at 3 p. NJ. in the recorder
Ing and drying department OF the large
plant belonging to and occupied by r. j..
Reynolds Tobacco Company, which Is q
branch of the Continental Tobacco Com
pany, the origin OF which is unknown,
but is supposed to have cought In the
drying machine room, on Bruce Street
and was not gotten under control until
9:3O p. NJ. 1t ate It's way to Main Street,
up Main to Arch, and down Main to the
Southern freight depot, on the west side.
excepting the r. w. Lawson Grocery
Company.
List Of Houses Burned.
VI The. following hniI dlngs and cohtents
were consumed:R. j. Reynolds Tobacco
Company's plant at GULL and Moseley,
prizery occupied by r. ]. Reynolds COM
pany, the two buildings containing nearly
$3.50. 900 worth Of tobacco-fully Insured ;
storage house belonging to Shepherd and
Notlin, used by Terry Grocery Company
and III. a. Thomas for storage.part
insured: large frame building owned by
Shepherd and Nobin. and occupied by II.
a. Thomas, lumber dealer; large prizery
owned by Shepherd and Noblin, and oc-
cupicd by George A. Lea Tobacco Com
pany; cottage owned by Gilliland and
Alosely, unoccuped: large livery stables
owned by Thomas F. Colins-no horses
burned; frame building owned by Ira.
vers. Of Richmond, and occupied by r.
Il
building owned by Ed. Blackwell. and oc-
cupied by l3. Johnson for storage OF to-
bacco: two frame storage houses, one
owned by Shepherd and Noblin, the
other by Joseph Stebbins, and occupied
by Terry Grocery Company and Ed.
l3lac ackwell. Most Of these buildings wei G
located on Factory Street. .8
Other buildings burned are Guill's old
stables, two small cabins, prizery owned
and occupied by j. w. Easley. and the
following cottages, owned by J. w. Eas-
Icy: Mrs. w. T. Carter. Banks Adams,
Sam Morton, colored, and four BY Mrs.
Mary Jeffress. a.
On Main Street were destroyed the
old Howard house. owned and occu-
pied by the firm OF Stebbins. Lawson
q: Spraggins Co. These are on the
west side OF Main Street. going north
The Easley Grocery Co.. wholesale
srocers, two stores; Easley warehouse
and stables; all Of these are brick
buildings: large frame building owned
by Andrews & Patterson, occupied by
Virginia Bottling Co. in the basement
and above by Mrs. Joe Williars's res
taurant; frame building occupied by
G.. "A. Nespltt, timer; store occupied by
Arch Atkins; small store occupied by
George Roe, colored; Pattersons sa-
loon; Morris, barber shop; large brick
buildln. cwlci by Ed. Turner and
occupied by L, II. Griffin. harness and
saddlery; a,ll Club Saloon, conducted
BY Mr.. Ed. rurner; Bank of South
Boston building, occupied upstnirs by
Dan River Telephone Company as con-
ira. office; rlle old Boston Hotel build