The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-27
Three Plants in Old Ship
Yards Wrecked
by Fire.
HARD FIGHT TO
PREVENT SPREAD
r. l.. Barnes Safe and Lock Co.,
Boyd Iron Works and Mayo
Barrel Establishment De-
stroyed. Nearby Property
Being Saved-Loss Will
Reach 100000.

Thirty thousand people last night
saw spectacular nrc which totally
destroyed the plants OF tho Il. L.
Barnes Safe and Lock Company. Inc.
the BOYD Iron Works, Inc. and Mayo
Company. dealers In second hand
barreiH. occupying adjoining sites on
the property OF the old Trigg Shipyard.
Dock Street. at the foot OF Twenty
second Street. The plant of tbs Rich
,nond Cotton OIL Refinery was slightly
damaged. and S.s saved from total
loss by splendid work on tho part OF
tho fire department. The total loss.
covered partially By insurance. Is cs-
timetod at between $4,000 and $780,
600.
Thounands View Fire.
The first alarm was turned in at
o'clock, and. happening at an hour
whom most people were seeking some
form of amusement, attracted one OF
the largest crowds which hag Wit
messed @ fire in IGchmond In years.
Being situated between the City Dock
and the James River. thousands lined
the north side OF the waterfront to
gaze upon the scene, while hundreds
ot men and boys climbed upon the
rtaduct OF the Chesapeake and Ohio
Railway over Dock stree, 10 gain 9
hetter View. From Dock street to
Main. twenty second and Twenty
iirst Streets were nl!cd with a mas:
OF humanity. while fully 5000 peopl,
gathered in Marshall Park 10 see a
Wonderful sight.
Famed by a light wind, the burn
ing buildings sent forth myriad Of
'p"rkt which sonrNd high above head.
Many ION as gar away as Broad Street.
Difficulty IN stretching lines o. hose
WIS encountered. -Four engines were
stationed Oh tho north side of the
dock. while, under tho direction OF
Chief Joynes, the hose wagons were
hurried 20 tho south side. Lines were
The buildings, and were carried across
he water 10 the orssnr. by means OF
Two rowboats.
THIS was ono OF the most remark
able features ever seen in local IRE
lighting. and led the crowd to cheers.
started In Iron Works.
In the meantime the fire. which had
started III the rear OF the iron works,
had gained considerable hcadway II
quickly spread 10 the Barnes plant
on the east side AMI TO Mayo 6 Com.
pany on the wcst.
Flying sparks We're endangertns sur
rounding property, and seeing that the
three flaming buildings were doomed,
most efforts were used 10 save struct.
ures no; then afro. Despite desperate
efforts on the part OF the nrcnlcn III,
building occupied p! tic oil refinery
caught in tho rear.
The blaze gave out intense heat
and only tho hremen vcnturcd near.
Even they could stand IL but a fcw
minutes. when each company would be
relieved and the members would beat
hasty retreat 10 "cool off" from their
exertIons. only to slightly recover.
when they would be called upon TO
take the post OF othcrs who wore suf-
ferinG.
BY persistent hard work the hames
In the refinery were put out without
getting into any of the huge oil tanks.
which endangered the life OF every one
nearby.
Two mules, one owned by the iron
works and the other by the refinery.
were burned to death In their stables,
though many animals were saved from
similar fate by quick work.
Flying Embers Everywhere.
AS the walls of the barrel warehouse
gave way and the .ntire building col
lapsed, mass of burning. flying bits
OF wood was carried tip by the fierce
draft and sent helter SHELTER by the
breeze. to fall hundreds OF feat away.
The plant occupied by the Richmond
Structural Steel Company, abou, 300
feet from the refinery, was at one time
considered in danger.
The Aying embers set fire TO tele-
graph poles and several freightS ana
coal cars which were standing on the
tracks OF the Southern Railway dam
aging ono OF III, I'm to q considerable
extent. 1t was necessary 10 direct two
streams upon II before the blaze was
cxtinguished.
Fireman CORVALLIS Thompson. of No.
truck. narrowly missed being crushed
to death wh:n burning pole fell as he
VAS aiding in directing a stream upou
tho refinery. The pole barely graZed
his back as it tumblcd to the ground
So close was it that il Knocked off his
helmet. II fell to the ground from the
shock and many thought that ne had
arose, picked mp his hat and resumed.
bis duty, without having sustained any
injury.
Just how the fire started could no,
be learned. The three suildings, all OF
which were owned by the Southern
Railway. were burned TO the ground
Beng constructed of wood covered
with galvanized iron. the. frame struc-
lures offered no resistance to the
flames They were constructed wears
ago by the Trigg Company, and after
the suspension of operations by that
concern were acquired by the Southern
Contents Destroyed.
Their Naiue was Iot great. Most Of
the loss was to tue contents, espe-
cially the machinery OF the Boyd Com
pany, whose loss was estimated at
about 100000. Tho damage to the
Barnes Company was said To be be-
tween 100000 and $4,000, ana that OF
Mayo i Co. about $4,000, while the
damage to the refinery will be COW
cred. II is expected by about $4,000
The first alarm was tlrned In at z
. - ii, srAn Ma