The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-07-20
Planes Partially Destroy
Plant Of G. and A. Barga-
min, OH Ninth Street.
STREAM OF WATER
TURNED ON CHIEF
wen Thought Waving Lantern,
Was Fresh Blaze and Played
Hose on Shaw, Extinguish-
ing Him i'll Quick Order.
Loss Between $4,000
and $4,000.

18TH fully an hours hcadway
Nv before 1T wax discovered by
NA/ passing street car inspcc-
Wv tor, fire. commencing shortly
before IL o'clock last night
partially destroyed the contents Of
the plant OF G. & a. Bargamin, deal
ers In plumbing supplies on South
Ninth Street. did considerable damage
to tho building, and for time threat
ened TO spread In the direction of the
Z Chamber of Commerce at the corner
above. 1t Is thought that the blaze
originated In the office, but the exact
source could not be ascertained last
night. There had been no fire anywhere
in the building, and the only box Of
matches known to be in the office had
been taken out. The damage Is vari-
ously estimated, but is said to be from
$4,000 to $4,000, though none of the
supplies were OF inflammable material.
Entire Department Out.
When the Are was nrst seen BY the
Inspector, flames were shooting ont as
far as the curbstone from the lower.
windows, and the red light was seen
leaping up through the higher floors
of the hve-story building. The blaze
extended back to the rear end, and was
preying on the first and second noors.
Volumes of smoke issued from every
door and window, and the first fire
company to arrive saw that seconu
alarm was necessary. In view OF the
dangerous proximity OF the fire TO
other buildings adjoining on every
hand. Chief Shaw ordered the dreaded
.three stxes" pulled. This brought out
every engine except No 2 which was
KEEP, back for other cmerg gencies. Zen
engines were put to work. and nose
lines were played on the building trofn
front and rear and from housetop
nAioining on the southern side. Water
Has poured into the building in MOOD.
and the flames quickly changed 70
sr,oke so dense that the fremen couiu
hardly see to work
Entrance was a. first impossible.
ewing 10 tho smoke and heat. Doors
were cur away. and every wtndow was
smashed by the hose streams Not a
square. inch on either OF the first t"o
floors was left untouched by the
flames. and they had to he drowned
cut. Lines were finally plsced In the
windows. and then the men had ircer
access to the fire. Everything OIL
these floors was damaged more or
less, and the exact loss Will not be
known until an inventory Is made. All
the supplies not harmed by fire were
somewhat injured by water, but this
part OF the damage Will be small, a S
most of the stuff Is hardware. Con-
siderable damage was also done to the
building. though 1t Is probable that
this can be soon repaired. All the
/ stock. as wellas the building. which is
+ owned by the Bargamln estate. is COW
cred by insurance.
i. Two Fircmcn Injured.
Though the Bargamin building is
k1,s 81 vtNf f.ff-
man, the fire had been burning for at
least an hour before 1t was discoy-
cred, and the watchman was nowhere
/ to be seen. The plant is in the centre
/ of q whole row of brick buildings,
1 fronted on Main Street by the Chamber
OF Commerce, all difficult of access in
case Of fire. 1t was probably the dis
cretion of Chief Shaw in pulling the
third alarm and calling out the entire
nghting force that prevented further
damage. This same block has been a
prey to the flames three times within
two years, the last disastrous fire being
that which destroyed the Blues Ar
lnory, at Ninth and Cary Streets, two
Winters ago.
Mr.. "A. II. Tlcrman Is owner of the
business, which is one of the largest
In the city. He was unable to eS-
plain how the fire originated, but sait
Two OF the fircmen were injured
While working too close to com
panion welding an az, w. A.. Green
member OF Truck Company No. 2 wa!
struck In the head and rendered In;
sensible. The city ambulance was OF
hand, and he was attended by Or
Scott. Chief Shaw was hurled hacl
4 dozen or more feet by a stream Q
water shot through one of the third
story windows In the rear. His Lantern
vas extinguished and his hat wa
Knocked off He was waving a sigma
70 cut down the water, when mel
working with one OF the lines though
his lantern was a burst OF flame an
turned their stream full on the CHIEF
He had some difficulty In finding hi
hat and lantern, but after groping III
4. way downstairs again found that Il
Eas practically unhurt
Had to Push Engine.
The horses attached to engine No.
from Fulton, which came in answer t
tho last alarm. became exhausted b.
tho intense heal of tho night in pull
ings sup the Main, Street HILL and tn,
mon had to get out in order to he'll
push the heavy machine along. Wit
tho help Of their two footed comrades
Tho horses, putting and blowing, 500
got the engine to1the$t TOP, and y he hos
was attached to the plug at 8Twelftl
and Main Streets.
Many people We're attracted by TIL
three alarms, but there We're no spec
tacular features, and they soon drifte
home again.
MRS, ,AsTOR ENTERrAINs ga a
KING AND ROYAL PART
LONDON, July 1s.-King Edwar