The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-06-02
FIRE DAMAGES
BEL BUILDING.
Polk NIiller's Drug Store Drcncl-
ed With Water From Many
Hose Lines.
DAMAGE MAY REACH $4,000
---------
Dangerous Blaze on Main Street
Draws Large
Crowd.
DAMAGE MAY REACH $4,000

Damage which will probably reach
$4,000 was caused last night by a
fire which swept through the Ebel
Building, S32-S34 East Main Street.
and practically destroyed the inner
part of the building on two floors
Originating in a vacant office on the
second floor, the flame rapidly shot up
the surrounding stud partitions and
out into the air shafts, UP through the
slsyliEhts and through the roof When
the first companies arrived on the
alarm, the upper part of the building
seemed to be seethins mass of
flame and smoke. A second alarm was
rung. and In a few minutes seven en-
CINE companies and two trucks were
on the scene, the locality being re-
garded as one of the most dangerous
In the Main Street business section,
Two extension ladders--one on the
Ninth Street side and one in front
were placed in position. and while
streams were poured in from tho al
ley and from the street. others
drenched the building from the top,
pouring In regular avalanche of wa
ter. Several hose lines were directed
into the fire from, surrounding roofs.
There was the constant rattle of fall
ing glass from skylights and windows
and the cracking of the flames, which
made outsiders think that the build.
ing was doomed.
constructed wholly of frame. 1t was
only by hard and constant fighting
that the tiremen were able to subdue
the flames before the building was
destroyed
Two Alarms Turned In.
me fire was first noticed by Harry
3. Wright, clerk in Polk Miller's drug
store, near the corner OF Ninth and
Main, who, after hearing the noise of
OBJECTS above him constantly falling,
went out to see what was the cause OF
the disturbance. He saw smoke and
flame Issuing from the windows on
the second floor. and immediately ran
pack into the store and telephoned to
the Fire Department Headquarters.
Some one else ran to the alarm box.
and two alarms were turned in at the
same time.
Doors were smashed In and windows
broken to make way for the house.
and ladders We're run up the side of
the building. Live electric wires made
the fighting dangerous, and contact be-
tween the broken ends constantly
lighted UP the inside of the unner
floors. Fortunately no one came IN
contact with them or life might have
been the penalty.
There was but ono method for tbe
| fremen-to drown out the flames In
the the quickest manner possible ana
| that was done. Water drenched the
whole building. and the Seaboard Air
Line offices and the drug store below
suffered considerably The damage m
the railroad onices will amount. prob
ably, to only few hundred dollars
ou. the damage to the durg store Is
estimated at $4,000. The prescription
desk and all the stock in the back
ana IN the basement were practically
| DESTROYED, and there was much dam.
age also in the main part OF the store
All the plastering and some of the
walls will have to be torn down ana
| replaced in both places.
Damage $4,000.
IN the main building the damage ac-
! cordlng to Ferdinand Ebel part owner,
/, VIII reach between $4,000 and $40 600
| Both of the upper floors windows. air
shafts and skylights will have to be
| restored.
Many valuable records Were left out
on desk in the headquarters Office of
the Odd Fellows, but they were not
harmed either by fire or water. The
building Is occupied by several insur-
ance offices, but these We're spared and
| 'N-ASA ~ AAIIAe OdllASo. Inc building
is insured By the Mutual Assurance So
ciety and is fully covered.
| Both Chief Loynes and Assistant
Chief Ratio We're at the fire and took
active charge. Several fremen were
cut about the hands by falling glass,
| but, none was seriously hurt
! Work in reconstructing the building
will be begun as soon as the damage
has been inspected and the amount OF
| the loss fixed.
Street cars We're halted for half an
hour, and more than 5000 people
watched the fire.