The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-11-22
DISASTROUS FIRE
BARELY AVER1ED
Efficient Work Of Department
Saves Governor Street
Buildings.
PRINTING PLANT DAMAGED
Loss from Water Will Probably
Reach Several Thousand
Dollars.
PRINTING PLANT DAMAGED

Quick work on the part Of the Fire
Department probably saved three
buildings on Governor Street last
night, though the Anderson Label
Printing Company, 8 Governor
Street, and the Nelson Manufacturing
Company, on the third floor of the
same buildin% were considerably dam
aged
The fire started probably from de-
fective f1ue on the third floor, and
ranged upwards 50 fercely through
the wooden flooring that policeman
several blocks away saw the blaze
and ran to Box 81, Fourteenth and
Main Streets. and turned in the alarm.
AZ the time, w. II. Nelson. OF the
Nelson Manufacturing Company, and
Mrs Nelson were giving a party to
their daughter at the Jefferson Hotel.
In view of the circumstances, the
story of the fire was withheld from
them as long as possible Other mem-
pers of both firms were soon notified,
and were on the scene within half an
hour.
Need for Quick Work.
When the alarm was rung in from a.
box and telephone alarm was sent
IN, four steam companies and two
trucks We're sent to the place, as the
location is regarded as dangerous
one for a fire to break out When
the firemen arrived flames were spout
ing from roof and windows, and ex-
per1enced fire fighters said, We've got
real fire now" But the men, most
or whom were acquainted with the
lay Of the building, went quickly to
work under the leadership of Chiefs
Joynes and RATIO and three streams
directed through the windows in the
ailey just to the north and two lines
or hose working on the inside soon
mad the blaze under control. and a
IRE that had threatened to do wide
spread damage was quenched before
1t had time In which to run its course
practically all the stock of the Nell
son Manufacturing Company, valued
at about $4,000, was destroyed. but
the loss is amply covered by insur-
ahce. Damage to the printing com.
pany, most of which was done by the
hundredweights of water hurled into
the building, was more extensive and
II VIII reach several thousand dollars.
exactly how much none of the off,
GERS of the firm could say last night
But everything is covered by insur-
ance, and the loss was chiefly in the
label department and in the lob
printing, which had been finished The
machinery was practically unh,irs
The building itself. which is owned bv
Mrs. George w. Gary, of Ashland. and
rented through L. A Catlin, was little
damaged. The site has been used as a
printing shop for more than forty
years. and was once operated by Mrs.
Gary's husband
Made Hurried Exit.
man employed by the Common
wealth Printing Company, next door
on the south. did not know that a
fire was raging about him until fire.
men broke in and surprised him at
work. Then he thought it was time
to quit.
The TowerBinford Electric Com
pany, one door to the north, separated
by an alley was saved by it's tin-cov-
cred windows, though sparks were
falling all about it.
More damage to the burning build
ing was also prevented by the fact
that all the casing about the elevator
was closed, though the flames had
backed down through it to the first
floor. All electric wires in the place
We're cut, and electricians stated that
the fire could not have originated
from defective wiring A stove pipe
running from stove on the third
floor was down when the firemen en-
tered, and this is believed to have
caused the fire.
both companies will renew work to-
DAY, as this Is busy season for both.