The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-21
Especial TO The Times Dispatch. |

' a., March 1l.--StH un ton
q 1 midnight is experiencing one OF the
biggest and mos; destructive fires In
the history of the city, and ii Is estl-
mated that the losses at this time wer.
In the neighborhood Of 100000, witt
several buildings burning and othcrs
Threatened Al this hour Il seems al.
most certain that the Chesapeake ano
Ohio passenger and freight station will
be destroyed.
The fire started in the livery stable
OF j. a. Garland. south OF johnson
street, and the big structure was soon
q mass Of flames. The entire depart
ment was quickly on the scene. but tho
! frc had too great Roadway, and had
soon spread to adjoining buildings
tables, the flames spread 10 several
adjoining warehouses and bushes.
blocks. First TO follow was the agri.
cultural ana implement house OF w
]. Ncf, the building belonging to Mrs
Dennis Brown: then the grain. hay
and fertilizer establishment OF ". G
Bosserman s. Co. then the building oc-
cupicd By -. T., Tribett dealer in bee.
| supplies. The flames from this latter
building jumped across the street ann
soon The large unoccupied structure,
belonging to T. ]. Hounihan. on the
corner OF Central Avenue and Johnson
Street was in ashes. The fire was here
.
right to keep the flames from the main
business section.
Spreads I'm Another Direction.
In the opposite direction from the
stable a second building belonging TO
| Mrs. Dennis Brown. and occupied b,
several small firms, was burned: and
the flames then attacked and com
| pletely destroyed the recently com
pleted threc-stor brick building oc-
| cupied by the grocery firm Of r.
| Stratton & Co. The fire Ieaped across
Lewis Creek. in the direction Of the
| Chesapeake and Ohio Passenger and
| Freight station, and within short
while four or five big brick warehouses
! occupied by several hay, grain and
| feed and other wholesale establish
mcnts, were mass OF flames.
al midnight all these buildings were
burning, and their total destruction
| peake and Ohio Depot also seens
| doomed, but heroic efforts are being
made to save this building.
With the destruction OF the buildings
now on fire. 1t Will mean practically
| that the entire block between johnson
and Augusta Streets and Mddlebrook
Avenue will go. This. OF course. In
cludcs most Of the buildings which
| are already in ruins
/
| the cables crossing Johnson Street
carrying the telegraph wires wero
| burned, and outside communication is
! possible only over the long distance
telephone.
Outside Help Asked.
When the local department realized
| its inability to cope with the fire. Char
| lottesvillc, Clifton Forge and Harrison
| burg were appealed to for aid. and ad-
| vices are that help can soon be ex-
! pccted from those towns. The Char
| tottesville department at midnight no.
| tilted Stanton that 1t was at tile de-
| pot ready to start as soon as arrange
ments are made by the railroad COM
pany
| Unless the wind chnges the fire will
| be stopped at the Chesapeake and Ohio
| Depot. The water pressure Is all that
could be desired. but the confla grafton
Is too great for the resources OF the
| local fire. lighters.
| 1t IS not possible to give any accu-
| rate estimate OF the losses already
| Incurred or OF the amount Of insur-
| ance carried BY any of the firms