The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-10-08
HARVESTER PLANT
WRECKED BY FIRE
Richmond Branch Entirely
Wiped Out, Only Walls of
Building Being Left.
WHOLE DEPARTMENT OUT
Total Loss Will Amount to
$4,000, Which Is Covered
by Insurance.

Fire OF unknown origin. early yes
terday morning. destroyed all but the
walls OF the four-story and basement
building on the southeast corner of
Tenth and Cary Streets occupied by
tho Richmond branch OF the Interna
tional Harvester Company. causing
building estimated at $4,000. The
building. which was located In the
heart of Rlchmond's Wholesale and
banking district, abutting the big
American National Bank skyscraper.
was owned by Thomas L. Moore. OF
Warner. Moore Sc Co. and Is total
loss. 1t was valued by the owner at
s27,50o. aud was insured for $4,000.
The first alarm was turned in from
box No. 34l. located at Eleventh and
Main. at $3.50 a. NJ by watchmen of
adjoining buildings. Engine Company
No. Z. In charge OF Captain c. ID. Rust,
wac the first TO arrive on the scene
and realizing the seriousness of the
fire spread rapidly. and in few min
utcs flames were pouring from every
window of the structure. The emer-
gency three skies" alarm was at
once turned in. and within few min
utes every available pieco of fro ap-
paratus in the city was on the scene
save a small reserve of three COM
panies. for the protection of other
portions OF tine city. Shortly after the
sounding of the first alarm. ten steam
ers and two trucks, with their fnll
compliments. were pouring water into
the doomed building at the rate Oh
1000 gallons per minute
Famed hy High wind.
Famed By high wind. which
threatened to spread it TO adjoining
buildings. and jgnited tho awnings on
The rear OF the American National
Bank building. tho fire burned herceiy
and Il was not until an hour after
the pulling OF tho first alarm that Fire
Chief William ". Joyncs and Assist
ant Chief RaGo pronounced IL under
control The Nre continued stubborn
throughout tho early morning hours,
and was not finally put out until .
o'clock.
SHARKS from the IRE, a block awsy'
were carried to the new post -plnce
building. in course OF construction at
the corner of Main and Tenth streets
and ignitcd o portion Of the canVaS
and scanoldins erected by the work
men. Ii was at once put out by o."
tail from the forces at the Cary street
corner. Tho Richmond Dry Goods
Joining the Harvester Company
building on Cary Street, while no,
damaged by fire. suffered considerable
loss by smoke and water. officials OIL
the dry GOODS concern stated yester-
dav that while their loss Will amount
TO several thousands. the true amount
of damage will not be known until an
inven tory of the stock can be taken
The International Harvester Com
many. the principal loser. has an ihsur
arce department of its own. through
which all it's subsidiary plants are pro-
tected against loss. 1t maintains head
quarters in Chicago. Arrangements
are being made hy NJ. 3. McNeely ana
w. Y Davis. superintendent and assist
ant manager OF the local branch, Tor
temporary Offices and storage build
ings. The fire at this particular time
was extremely IlOppoithiSb
as the company was carrying heavy
stock TO supply all orders in Virginia
and Eastern North Carolina, the terri
tory supplied by the Richmond branch.
officials of the company said yesterday
that all business will be taken care
of and that shipments Will not be in
terrupted more than few days. The
local branch employed about sixty
statesmen.
Roof Crashed In.
The Are was most spectacular one
and attracted n large crowd, despite the
early hour. Special squads of police
were detailed to the scene and at times
experienced difficulty i'll keeping the
crowds from invading the fire lines.
Shortly after the arrival of the first
detachment of fire fighters the roof OF
the burning structure fell in with a
resounding crash, sending a brilliant
shower of sparks into the air. Fear
ing q rapid spread OF the flames. oc-
cupants of buildings in the vicinity
began moving merchandise out of the
danger zone, but the evident control
of the fire soon put all fears on this
score at rest.
The blaze seems to have started i'll
a pile of binder Irvine near the ele-
vator shaft. on the Tenth Street side
of the building. 1t poured rapidly up
the shaft and enveloped all the four
floors in short order. In the Office.
located on the second floor. most of
the Valuable papers and records were
found in badly soaked but legible
condition. The plant was stocked with
harvesting machinery and farming i'm
plements. all in a dry. Vanished con-
dition, which made them easy prey for
the flames. An investigation of the
fire will be made by tho department
The International Harvester Company
las already broken ground for a large
building which Will be erected on Clay
Street. between Seventeenth and Eight
zenith. which will be the permanent
home of tho Richmond branch. Ii will