The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-02-02
A FIRE IN NORFOLK
ENDANCERS LIVES.
Drygoods Store PARTLY Destroyed
and Several Occupants Have
a Narrow Escape.
.[speelal 70 Tho Times .oIsrateh.

ISpEGIhiN W NV IlIIes-IJlsI'titGI.jAsfs
NORFOLK, February 1.-T'ire early
this morning In the dry goods store
OF John BeskIns, No. 1i2 Church Street,
did III the ncighborhood OF $4,000.
worth OF damage. and but for the
heroic rescue OF inmates on the upper
floor Of the building, several lives
would have been lost. The hardware
store Of the Brooks IIydware Com
pany, next door, was also damaged.
Tho second story OF the building was
occupied by n family. and when tile
pntrolmen reached the scene !, IT was
evident that tho occupants had not
escaped. The building was filled with
smoke. Patrolman W. r. Alien, Tom
Fentress. Crank and Ward fought
their way through the binding smoke
and brought out several women and
children half suffocated. Every soul
known to be In the building was ae-
counted for In few minutes. The Gee
ond alarm had To be gent in before the
tire was under control.
Monitor for Tnrget.
The United States monitor Florida,
which is 10 be used in an experiment
as target by the Navy Department
ut an early date. Is being dismnntled
ut the Norfolk navy yard and prepared
for the test. All OF the four and six
inch guns are being removed. and
such other paraphernalia OF monitor
ne will be Of future service
The plan liz to carry the monitor to
sea and use her as target In order
to determine what will be the effect
OF twelve-incl projectile fired into.
her forward tweIve-inch tnrret In order
that the experts may determine exactly
what damage Will follow to such n
81 I, ,f tt,.,.I SaS,te
OF the value OF such turrets in resist
ing projectllcs In actual warfare. The
monitor will be towed five miles out In
the bay and one of the twelve-incIi
guns OF Fort Monroe used In making
the test.
The date has not been fixed for the
] test but 1t will occur some time dur
Ing February. IT is expected That ten
days Will be required to prepare the
monitor for the test.
Failing dowr flight of steps yes
tcrday afternoon ut her residences In
Berkeley Avenue. Berkeley Ward. Mrs.
w. u. Hampton. weli-known woman
OF tho city, broke both arms and her
right shoulder. Size was also painfully
bruised, and to-day Is In critical con-
dition. although tho attending physi-
clans are confident that she will re-
cover
Liquor In Social ClubA.
President INV. Hough. of the Nor
folk Anti Saloon League. who returned
last night with a delegation from Rich
1nond, where they had been before
legislative committees In the interest
OF having more stringent laws passed
governing social clubs. is greatly en-:
couraged by his warm reception. and
IS confident that measure will be
passed heavily taxing such organiza-
tons.
The aim of the committee was to
secure legislation imposing a State tax
of $3.50 on such clubs. which. added to
the city and revenue tax, will make
the total annual license on social clubs
SETS. They are also endeavoring to
secure law that will prevent the
gale OF liquor 10 even members on
Sunday. Those in the Norfolk party
appearing before the committees were
President Housh, Peter Wright. w. e.
Taylor. a. j. odell, S. @. Collins and
j. S. Smith.