The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-08-20
GREAT LOSS TO CITY
Washington Wooden Mills Burned.
SIsO,OOO Goes Up In Flames.
CARRIED INSURANCE or $4,000
Many Operatives Thrown Out OF Work,
Etc.

Many Operatives thrown Out % "o'h'
MANY people were startled Wednes-
day evening at $50 O'Clock by the long
ringing of the bell at The Washington
Wooden Mills and the continued blowing
of the whistle Of the silk factory, fol-
lowed by the ringing of the fire alarm,
and in a few minutes the cry rang over
the city that the wooden mills were on
fire.
Immediately large crowds commenced
to pour in that direction. There was a
terrific smoke which hung in the heavy
atmosphere over the mills, the flames
finally breaking through the roof and
lighting the sky and surroundings.
The origin of the fire is not known,
but it started in the drying room, in
the east end of the lower part of the
mills The day force Of operatives had
stopped work at 6 O'Clock and Watch
man VIM. HUMPHREYS was on guard.
AS soon as he discovered the smoke
Mr.. HUMPHREYS went for the hose and
Mr.. Jas. Franklin commenced ringing
the bell and the alarm was taken up by
the silk mill.
Mr.. Melville was home, but was at
the mills ten minutes after the alarm.
A crowd soon gathered and the fire de-
partment was on the scene as soon as
possible, but the flames burned rapidly
and it was impossible TO check them
with the facilities at hand. Owing to
break there was no water in the
canal. This was an additional draw
back. The wind was blowing from the
northeast, which meant the destruction
of the two wooden mills, as it swept the
flames along their length, but it was
fortunate for saving the pants factory,
the nearby dwellings and other build
ings, as the sparks were blown oil to-
wards the west. The falling of the
roofs and the dropping of machinery
from the second floors made terrific re-
ports.
When it was seen that it was i'm
possible to save the mills, the efforts of
the firemen and others were directed
towards other nearby buildings. 1t was
through these efforts that the electric
light plant, the Germanla Touring
mills, the pants factory and the line OF
dwellings on New street, belonging TO
the wooden mills company, were saved.
Water was constantly thrown on the
rear end of the silk mill also.
The two big mills and the Office were
burned first Then the two small frame
dwellings on Princess Anne street,
owned by Mr.. w. c.. Herndon and oc-
cupied by Mr.. Melzi Franklin and Mr..
Callahan, were burned. Most of the
furniture was saved. The houses were
insured.
Every effort was made to save the
storage room in which was a large
quantity Of cotton and other material,
but without avail. The heat of the fire
was so severe that the iron frame Of
this building set fire to the inside wood
work. and il was impossible to save IT.
Contents to the value of about SOU
were saved.
The pants factory was damaged to
the extent of about 81, 900 and the resi-
dences on New street were also
damaged by the heat.
The total loss will foot up about
$3.50. 900. but the mills, il is said, cannot be
replaced for that sum. More than one
half of this amount was represented by
the machinery, and the value OF the
stock DESTROYED was in the neighbor-
hood of $4,000. The total insurance
on the mills, machinery and contents
was $50, 600. There was separate In
surance of $40, 900 on the pants factory.
The insurance is distributed in large
number of companies, all of which are
represented in the different insurance
agencies in this city.
All Of the books, accounts and pa
pers of the mills were saved.
The families residing in the nearby
houses commenced moving their belong
ings into the streets, but with the ex-
ception of the two houses mentioned
above. none Of these were burned and
the families were able to move back,
the only loss being damage to the furn-
iture from handling.
Mr.. Melville had recently contracted
| for a modern $40, 900 fire extingulshlng
apparatus which had not been deliver
ed.
The mills were owned jointly by Mr..
John c. Melville, Of this city, and Mr..
VIM. II. Duvall, of New York, their
interests being equal.
The mills and the pants factory EN-,
ployed nearly 300 operatives, 20 OF
whom reside in Falmouth. The month
ly payroll Of the combined enterprise
was nearly $4,000.
The fire is one of the greatest calam'
tiles that has occurred in the history
of Fredericksburg. There is not only
a heavy loss to the owners but, as
stated above, large number of opera
tiyes are thrown out of employment
and many families in the community
are affected.
Mr.. Melville has been impressed with
the sincere sympathy of the people OF
Fredericksburg as whole and II Is
universally hoped that the mills, which
were the most important industry Of
the city, will be rebuilt in the neal
future and that they will soon be IT
| successful operation again.
The pants factory will be able to re-
sumo work by Monday morning anC
will continue operations.
Mr.. Melville, who has been IN charge
of the mills about Ia years, was unable
Thursday to give any particulars as tt
the prospect of rebuilding, but said thai
his partner. Mr.. Duvall. will reach here
Thursday night, or Friday morning
and that the question would then bt
considered.
The mill on this same site, then the
property Of John E. Tackett, was de
stroyed in 1876, and at that time Mr..
Sneilings, of Stafford county, wa:
burned to death. There was no loss OF
life in the fire on Wednesday night.
The mills were enlarged last year, the
capacity being doubled and much ex
pensive machinery was then installed
All of the operatives were paid of
Wednesday evening, it being regular