The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-06-01
-FOUR BADLY HURT
IN CHURCH BLAZE.
Colored Men Injured While Try
ing to Save Their Organ
From Flames.
WAS STRUCK BY LIGHTNING
Edi6ce Is Total Loss-Fire Lieu
tenant Overcome by
Exhaustion.

Four men were seriously hurt in
fire which destroyed the Zion Baptist
Church (colored). on Twenty second
Street between Hull and cambridge,
South Richmond. which was struck by
| lightning last night about o'clock.
None is fatally injured. The loss is
estimated at 10000.
The injured are: Lieutenant Walter
Smith, of Engine Company No. IS,
overcome by smoke and exhaustion.
John Langhan, colored laborer. 1915
Decatur Street, head badly cut by
falling slate and back injured.
Joseph Scott (colored), 301 West
Twentysecond Street cut on head by
falling slate.
Daniel CHM (colored). cambridge
Street, severely cut in neck by flying
slate and bruised by bricks.
Delny I. Cnused.
The bolt of lightning struck the top
of the church tower and went down
ward When the men OF Engine Com
Dany No 10 arrived. the flames had
already gotten good Roadway. and
were burning fiercely among the
benches and woodwork OF the interior
Df the church Trouble was expert
enced at the outset when 1t was dis
covered that the water plug was al
most choked with mud. and many
valuable minutes few by before enough
pressure could be gotten up to play
on the flames.
a hose wagon and a squad OF men
from Engine Company No. I were dis
patched by Fire Chief Joynes In re-
spouse to tho call for aid. which Cap
tain Cosby. of Company No 49, Issued,
This squad, while late on the scene
rendered excellent service in hshtinti
the fire.
The lremen began their fight on the
Interior OF the building. but the heat
and dense smoke soon drove them to
the outside. and the streams were
played from that time on through the
windows Those who were on the
scene early say that the aremen might
have gotten the blaze under control
had the water pressure been strong
enough.
Tried to snvc orEnn.
Lieutenant Smith was overcome dur
ing the early part OF the fight in the
Interior or the church. but after re-
ceiving restoratives from the hands
Of DR. Truman. of the city ambulance,
he went back to the FIRE. The three
negroes were caught on the porch as
the roof fell in, and each was struck
many times by the falling slate and
brick. They were In q crowd that had
endeavor to save the organ and any
other movable articles. hut the crack
ing OF the roof sent them flying for
the exit before anything could be re-
moved. All were carried into n neigh
boring house and treated by DR.. Tur-
man.
The pastor OF the church. Rev. W. t.
Anthony, and his board OF trustees
met last night Immediately after the
confagra ton 10 discuss plans for re-
building. But q small portion of the
loss is covered by Insurance. the
amount which vas carried by the
church being about $4,000. Zion Bap-
list Church was built In 1895 and at
present has a membership OF about
500 members a movement for rebuild
Ing on larger scale Will be set on
foot at once.
Within a few minutes after the
stroke the whole building was blaz-
ing fierceiy and sending lurid glow
UP into the sky that attracted at
OF people in South Richmond hurried
to the scene. and a squad OF police
was soon busy Keeping the more reck-
less out OF the danger zone. The fire
was at It's hottest at o'clock. and for
time threatened to set FIRE to the
frame buildings in the ncighborhood.
AS soon as II became evident that no
fire-fghters turned their attention 10
Keeping the flames from spreading to
the adjoining houses. and they sue
ceeded marvelously we'll. a frame
dwelling house next door on the west
side escaped burning by the narrowest
margin and only the constant throw
ing OF thousands OF gallons of water
on 1t prevented It's catching fire.
he roof fell In with a loud crash
shortly after s o'clock and, thus
warned. the fremen reached a safe
distance before the walls followed No
one was Injured when the walls caved
In, but there We're many hairbreadth
escapes. Only the shell OF the church
was left standing. and nothing OF
value was taken out The walls are
leaning dangerously. and will prob
ably fall within few hours. The men
of engine company No. 10 were kept,
at their posts until we'll after 10
o'clock. and on this their first hard
fire did what was pronounced most
creditable service.