The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-04-21
WIND FROM SOUTH
HELPS fIREMEN

CONTINUED from First Page
and Twefrn street structures With
such start, ali OF tho Richmond ore
department could not have stemmed
Tho flames before The block was re-
dpced to ashes
Hundreds Visit Scene.
Such was the speculation Of the
hundreds of business men, fro and
police officials and citizens who Wis
tied the scene of the blaze Friday
morning. Efforts to learn the origin
or the fire were futile, II started
about II o'clock Thursday night ON
the nrst floor and apparently IN the
rear OF the building, but the flames
spread with such rapidity il was i'm
possible for even those first on the
scene to see the spot where the flames
originated.
The heating apparatus was In the
western part OF the structure and not
near the place where the IRE started
According 10 members OF the Hoen
Company, II is safe 10 assume the
origin OF the blaze win never lie
learned.
Mr. Hoen stated FRIDAY morning he
has not yet formulated any plans for
ths continuance of work. The com
psny has branch plant in Baltimore
and Mr.. Hoen said IL is likely the work
Of the Richmond plant viii be done
- IN the Monumental Clty Scr a .trs1s.-
Whether the employees Of the Rich
mond branch. numbering more than
one hundred persona .will be given
employment In Baltimore until the
Richmond branch 10 again in opera
zion IL stiil to be decided.
Firemen responding to the rst
alarm from Box IS, saw at a glance
mat the night would be hard one and
second and third alarms were sounded
Then when tho flames gained more
heacway in 81 remarkably short time
every piece cf fire flghting apparatus
IN the city was summoned TO the scene
Win the exception Of tao reserve, en-
gin4s.
Most Of the engine companies re-
turned to quarters before day break.
but number of fremen were stiil
clearing away debris al O'Clock Fri
cav morning. The fire was under con-
trol before ] o'clock in the morning
bat the flames were no, entirely ex-
tlngulshed until about O'Clock
Throne Numbers Thousands.
from the viewpoint Of the specta-
tors the fire was beautiful The flames
cast reflection against tho sky that
could be seen from almost every sec
ton OF the city. Theusands about to
retire left their homes ard went to the
scene 70 watch the firemen work For
time il was though the flames would
spread 20 the bookbinding plant OF
Eppes A. Snider, on tbs east OF the
lithorraph,ng plant and separated only
by the alley.
Then 1t seemed that Cioddin Hail.
adjoining the Uaen building spsa the
west was doomed TO destruction and
nnaliy report went around thai the
new fourteen stary building of the
Virginia Trust ard Insurance Com
pany was burning. The sky scraner
fronts on Main street ard it's rear ia
separated from the Hoen building by
,sh@ Asseys John r. Wilson. the ron,
tractor snd force Of men closed the
iron shutters In the rear OF the struc-
tntt atn prevented IL catching fire.
The siusn Company was established
In baltimore Ia 1896. and in 1876 a
branch WIS established In this eitv'
II 10 probably the oldest concern OF
The Kind in the country. During the
war between the States the company
printed bank notes for the Confederacv
and since then it has done other work
for the State.
Speaking of the fire Friday morn
ing. Mr.. Hoen said AT this time n
Is impossible TO estimate the exact loss
but l believe IL TO be about $3.50 COO.
Everything In covered by insurance.
We carried ali the insurance we could
Our greatest embarrassment liz the
loss Of plates which are made OF lime
stone and engraved Our papers. VAL
liable recorca etc. were In n brick.
nrs-proof vault and are intact. We
have aireadv recovered the paw roll
ana viii soon pay Off the employees.
We want TO resume operations as soon
~ possible OF course, bat cannot tell
yet What 10 N be done Everything
- - eassAAasaon now"
-