The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-03-21
Quarter Million Dollars Worth
of Property Goes Up In
Smoke. Whole City
Threatened
FLAMES RAGE FOUR
HOURS BEFORE THEY
WERE CONQUERED
Departments From Surround
ing Cities Go to Aid of
Burning Town-No
Lives Lost in
Conflagration
(By Long Distance Telephone 10 Tho
Richmond vrEtnian-)

(By Long Distance Telephone 10 Tho
Richmond vhG1niAn-)
STAUNTON. VA. March zl.-Ths
most disastrous FIRE in the history OF
the city of staunton. causing = loss
OF about a quarter Of q million OF
dollars. began at 1l:1s O'Clock last
night threatening the entire city for
several hours destroying . number
If buildings and burning out . large
number of business firms The fre
ragged for three hours or more. having
been finally gotten under control
about 2:30 o'clock this morning.
While 1t 10 not certain a. to where
the fire originated, II IL now generally
believed that it had its origin In
Kisses bowling alley, on the south
eide of West Johnson street, near
Augusta street. In the heart Of the
agricultural implement. hay and feed
district The olaxe spread rapidly TO
adjoining buildings on both sides and
i.y the time the nremen arrived sew
eral buildings were involved. AZ
this time there was n stiff breeze
blowing from the northwest, carry
ing the sparks to the nearby big
buildings In the jobbinK district. For
:unately. before any one of these were
involved the wind shifted southwark.
The burning buildings and stocks Of
nay and feed were now sending fiamee
nigh In the air and practically the
entire population of the city was ON
the scene. with hundreds Of pernons
from the surrounding country. Ap-
peals had been henf out to Clifton
Forge. Charlottesville ana HARRISON
turg The nre spread rapidly along
Johnson street east and west, then
jumping across johnson street tie
flames partially destroyed two build
ings and damaged several others q
the corner OF Central avenue, The
names were now rapidly pressing in
the direction Of tho heart of the city
but the heroic and strenuous efForfs
CT the firemen began to tell now an6.
Inc wind becoming more favorable.
tne names were stayed In their march
IN this direction.
Southwark the flre erossad n ~
other side OF the block ON MiddIe-
brook avenue near the Chess Il
and Ohio passenger and freight 0e-
pot which was threatened for nnsv;a
time. out were saved by hard wovk.
three buildings on Middiebrook ave-
nue. IN close proximity to the depot
Icing destroyed.
Al this point the grim fight for mas
.e.y between names and nremen vas
determined. the department fnaily
fs~eosy ONcF the 0OV0uH-
ING monster. About .:3O O'clock IN
q. partments from the neirh horsr-
towns arrived and the nre wa. son .n
under control SAs
among the losers by the IRE ar. ~
). Men, merchant: w. z. Trjhn>t.
seward Dore. stable and waxon.. 4
a. Wehn. store and stable; Trimh,..:
wagon yard. the Staunton Miinnsrw
company. M. Kisxieghan Comnar
Feed dealers; b. w. Crum. fesa SO
fertizer; Mrs. Kate Crown. w,dc@
Oh Dennis Crown. four house,. I.
n. Peyton. Witt. Holt 4 Kissie.han
ana others. at least score OF buiI6.
ings having been destroyed.
The Hotel Beverley and seve,.l
osner important buildings caught ,re'
cut were extinguished.
the wires OF the Western rrr,r~
Telesraph Company were put one ~
commission. and much difficulty 80
experienced to-day In handling -.
teisgraphic business out OF the csfv
NO one was hurt n the ras,,if ~
the nre. which biased among the rutns
during the day, s.
The most Of the losses are partisiIx
covered by insurance.