The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-18
Lilburn Myers S Resi-
dence in Flames When
Alarm Was Spread.
ALL ESCAPED IN
NIGHT CLOTHES
Blaze, Reaching Up From Base
ment, Had Destroyed Dining
Room When Edmund Pres
ton Screaned-Dense Smoke
f, Suffocating, but Every
body Crawled to Safety.

When Edmund Preston. the thirteen
year-oid con OF Mrs. w. c. Preston.
who lives with her brother. Iilburn T.
Myers, at 6i5 West Franklin Street
was aroused from his sleep at 322
o'clock yesterday morning by dense
smoke which almost sunocated him.
tho alarm was quickly given to mem
bcrs OF the family, all OF whom got out
in their night clothes tust In time to
escap. death. The IRE. which was
caused by the furnace. did considerable
damage to the basement. and then ate
tts way through to tho dining room
above. destroying everything OF value.
Tho actual property loss Will amount
to several thousand dollars, which IS
covered By insurance. although many
priceless heirlooms were completely
ruined.
Had to Crawl on Floor.
How long the Are mad been raging
before tho Preston hoy was aroused
IS not known. but at that time tho
halls were filled with smoke SO dense
that everybody had to crawl on the
floor TO n window opening on the back
rSJrch. Mr.. Myers heard the scream
from his nephew. He ran for the boy.
picked him up. and then began the
difficult trip toward the window. Mrs.
Preston. her colorcd servant. and Z. T
u. Myers. Jr.. who occupied room
in another part OF the house. got out
In safety. Thomas Preston. another
son, was sleeping directly over the
dining room. and Iilburn T Myers
managed to bring him down. though
when he reached the mir he was almost
overcome.
L. r. D. Myers, Jr. seeing that the
nm 81 do
Atroy the entire building, cra"led down
from the back porch and raced through
Monroe Park to Main and Pine Streets
in his night clothes to turn In the
alarm just as nc reached the box.
however. he heard tho bell, his brother.
in the meantime. having staggered
through tho smoke 10 the telephone.
over which nc sent an alarm to head
quarters
Fircmcn Overcome.
Engine company No. 6. under Assist
ont CHIEF Wise, made a quick run, but
when his men reached the house they
found the flames roaring In the dining
room and UP from the basement be-
low. Chief Wise's first thought was
for tn: safety OF tho family. but when
he found them safe he led his men
through tho back porch window with a
line OF hose toward the dining room.
The heat was so intense that no en-
trance could be effected from the front
Chief Wise and his men fell on the
floor as they struggled into the suf-
locating room, 80 they smashed the
panels in the back door and got air
Another call was sent for the auto
mobile engine, and after working for
half an boar the flames were put under
control.
All OF the antique furniture in the
dining room. much rare china and sill
YER was destroyed together with all
o: the paintings. These included
portrait of Mr.. AIyers's grandmother
and Gilbert Stewart portrait. While
ence. the hcirlooms were priceless. and
OF course. can never he replaced
All Fixtures Burnt Ont.
Mrs Preston and her children were
removed to the home of Mrs. T. C.
Mayo nearby. where they spent the
night.
SO intense was the heat that all OF
the gas. water. electric and telephone
fixtures were burned out
Except for the fact that Edmund
TreHton's sleeping room door was open,
the flames might have gained still
greater Roadway before the family
was aroused Although nc was called
quickly. Mr.. Myers used rare presence
or mind. remembering that by crawl
ing along the floor there was less dan
ger OF sutocation. Chief Wise said
yesterday that when he reached the
scene the dining room was n living
nell. the flames having devoured
everything, and were surging outward
known. further than II was caused In
BONE way by the furnace
Chief Wise and his men did remark
ably fine work, which saved the house