The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-21
Fire Breaks Out on TOP
Floor of Unfinished
Building.
NEIGHBORS MAKE
GALLANT ZIG IL
Chemical Apparatus and Bucket
Brigades Beat Back Flames
Inch by Inch-May Delay
Opening Of Handsome
New Club
house.

Il j. /. & 3 .
But FOR tho heroic efforts OF work.
men on tho place and people living
nearby, tho Country Club, which is
nearing completion at cost of $4,000.
would. In all probability. have been
completely destroyed by fire last night
Damage, through the carelessness Of
some smoker, was inflicted to the
extent of about $1,000.
The fire originated In ono OF the
bedrooms on the top floor. and when
first observed by S. II. Banks. painter
who is working on the building, the
whole place seemed to DO on fire.
Flames and smoke were Issuing
from the windows. and sparks were
falling on the outside. threatening
every moment to ignite the lower por-
ton OF the clubhouse.
Mr.. Banks called to Special County
Constable Bendall. and rushed into the
building. and both men fought their
way upstairs. J. T. Carston, manager
OF Westhampton grounds, who keeps
guard over tho building every Sunday.
also saw the blaze from his house near
by, and ran across, shouting the alarm
as he ran. Within a few minutes near
Is every resident in Northampton had
heard the call and had answered the
alarm.
Bucket Brigade Formed.
Fortunately the S00-g gallon tank,
which is stationed now just outside Of
the clubhouse, at the front entrance,
was full, and an unbroken bucket bril-
Eade was formed. While one stood at
the top OF the tank, Others had formed
on the ladder below him. and in solid
line through the building up to the
burning floor. Others got water from
'he spiSot at the bottom of the tank.
and II required only q few seconds 10
pass bucket from the tank to where
~ me ilre was raging. Robert H Talley.
Hugh Dabney, Cunningham Hall and
Frank Powers. who live around about
the Country Club. took part in the
h struggle and worked with might and
main to check the flames. Though he
ms passed with the greatest rapidity
the water seemed to have little effect
Is and hand chemical apparatus was
brought by Mr.. Talley and Mr.. Dab.
n ney. Holding their coats over the T.
heads. they fought their waysto a van.
tage point and directed the stream into
me midst OF the fire. What the water
had apparently failed to do. the chem
b zeal apparatus accomplished. and after
an hour of hard work the last yestlge
OF flame had died out and the smoke
had subsidized. But two hours after the
walls were still hot, and the grounds
manager remained in the building to
see that no further danger should
s threaten.
Confined to Top Floor.
Though the fire was confined 10 The |
top floor, several of the bedrooms were
completely ruined and will have 10 be |
e rebuilt. Much water soaked through
The ceiling. and it is probable that a |
large square of piasterins will have to
be replaced. The hardest moment came |
when the fire had crept beneath the \
noor. and II was there that Mr.. Dabney |
and Mr.. Talley brought their chemical
IS holders into good play. Nearly all the
water In the tank was used, and Mr.
Talley then attempted to get water
from his 1,0o0-gallon tank. But the |
hose was not long enough. falling short
about fifty yards.
HAD the fire gained greater Roadway
before being discovered /. is doubtful
1t the building would have been saved.
AS 1t is. completion. which had been
promised by April /. will probably be
delayed. Hereafter no smoking will
be allowed inside the building.
Aid Summoned from Richmond
Help was summoned from the Rich
tEond Fire Department, and though the
clubhouse Is fourtor five miles from the
city, d chemlcal wagon. In charge OF 4
Captain Lawrence, was dispatched from
NO. II Engine House. at Strawberry and
Cary Streets. The horses were put on
the run. but tho fire had been extin-
guished before their arrival! Great |
gratitude was expressed. however, for
the Willingness with which the Fire
Department answered the call for help.
There were several hundred visitors
at the clubhouse yesterday afternoon.
and 1t Is supposed that one of them
dropped a cigarette or cigar stump in |
e a pile of shavings. The fire had evi.
denuy smoldered for some time be-
fore 1t hlazed out and became visible
to people on the outside. Mr. Carston
had been through the building in the
afternoon. and there We're then no
III traces of fire. II was first seen at
s:25 o'clock, and was extingutshed in
about an hour. Many Of tho flame-
a lighters were drenched before tho
81 situation was saved, and all were more
or less choked with smoke and the
fumes OF tho chemicals
4 Before the fire had hardly died out
4& the grounds manager had dispatched
u an order for half dozen hand chemi-
cal pieces.
The building had not been turned
lover to the club by tho contracting
s&ftrm-Afyers & Turpin, Of Norrolk--but
is said To have been fully insured.
John r. Wilson Lowest Bidder.
John r. Wilson e. Company, contrac-
NV f,a. !, l.s-l