The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1911-03-30
FIRE THREATENED
RAILROAD OFFICE

! RICHMOND. VIRGINIA. Special
FIRE at 1920 o'clock this morning
played hob with a lot OF old records
of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
Company, the old Richmond and Allie
ghany division. The records were
stored in the upper. floors Of the old
three-story brick building. next TO the
structure at the southwest corner OF
IWeItth and Cary Streets, formerly
used by the Richmond and Allegheny
Railroad, and were from the general
offices OF the company. the accumula-
ton OF many years, and contained
valuable information concerning the
opera tons along the lines OF the con-
sOlidated properties.
The fire is believed TO have origi-
| mated from a defective flue on the
second floor. In less than two min
utes trom the sounding of the alarm
there was an engine at work with
| two streams, and in five minutes af-
| forwards seven engines were engaged
/ in the combat to overcome the fire.
The second alarm followed the first
on the arrival of Assistant Chief Raffo
on the scene, and in short while
Chief Joynes arrived and took hand
\ in directing the fight.
| Occupants of Building.
The ground floor Of the building is
| occupied by A. $. Il. James, a mer-
chandise dealer; a. Aaronson, furni-
ture and office fixtures, and Bacci-
galupo & Fairbanks, machinery and
engines.
Professor Otto Meyer has his chem
ical laboratory on the second floor
over No. 1109. The loss to the occu-
| pants OF the lower floor is on furni-
ture and fixtures. these floors being
Hooded with water.
The hay and grain establishment OF
| X. l. Chenery, corner of Cary and
! Twelfth, was somewhat damaged by
water, but the flames were not al
! lowed to get beyond the point OF orr
| gin.
This is one OF the dreaded" sec
tons of the city.fa fire in. that section
being one thing that is feared by the
| department Some of the buildings
are very old, have heavy timbers OF
heart pine, and the walls are heavy
and thick. Fires in this neighborhood
invariably cause shudder. FOR that
reason the number OF engines and
trucks responding is always large
Many OF the establishments on the
lower floor succeeded in removing
most of their belongings. Desks. type
writer's, chairs and the like were
quickly gotten to the sidewalks
Just what the loss will aggregate is
hard 10 determine. The building is
an old one. There is insurance on thu
building. but just how much is not
known. Most of the occupants had
insurance 20 cover their holdings. So
that the greatest loss will be on the
| huilding.
Caused Much Excitement.
Engine Companies 3. 4. and re
sponded on the first alarm. followe q
in quick succession by Engine Com
panies >. and 6. Truck Compa MES
! and also responded.
The streets were thronged with peo-
pie from all parts OF the city, due "a
the fact that when there is fire g.
this section IL always is expected e.
be one OF some consequence. The FIRE
men today did as fine a piece OF work
as they have ever done. The upper part
Of the building was filled with papers
much Of 1t being OF the himsiest and
most inhammabte sort. and vet there
| was such fight as prevented any
| spread OF the flames. and this. too. de-
/ spite the fact that high wind was driv-
ing the smoke in big volumes across
! the street.
While the fremen were engaged in
/ the big fire there was a tiny flame lust
| block away in the black smith shop
| at the corner OF Cary and Tenth
! streets. The hremen turned small
stream on that and suppressed IL in
/ less than. two seconds. II is believed
/ that the second fire caught from sparks
from the fire engine on the corner a
/ few feet from the roof OF the shop