The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-02-06
WHOLE TOWN SAW
DAZZLING BLAZE
Eight Unoccupied Dwellings
Near Barton Heights Quickly
Destroyed by Fire.
CITY DEPARTMENT HELPS
Long Reach for Water Which
Was Needed to Protect
Northside Suburb.

Fire which destroyed eight uncom-
pleted and unoccupied two-story dwell
ings between Ricnmond and Barton
rieights early last night provlued a
spectacle which was dazzling in the
extreme, and created more excitement
IN the Nor;hsiac than that SECTION ia
AZ the habit OF facing. By good work
tne flames were checked before they
could reach out Into Barton Heights
proper, but when the row OF tenem ents
sot TO burning there was no way BY
which they could be saved. Property
loss on the buildings, which are
owned by Francis Brothers. Is placed
at $500, which Is covered by insur-
dnce.
When the whole northern sky was
suddenly lighted at o'clock, a still
alarm was sent in from the engine
iouse on Brook Avenue. and part of
the city's equipment was rushed over
TO render aid. out in Jackson Ward,
however, the flames were so spectacu-
lar that negroes turned in an alarm
from Box 49, at Leigh and Judith
Streets. which set the department on
edge. Meanwhile, engine company No.
D was racing toward the viaduct, the
call from Box IS sending out com
panies ! and 0 and the No. 8 truck
1t did not take long to have the sit
uation made clear. Chief WISE win
company No. 5. under Captain GIN,
and company No. 9. under Captain
Meadows. went to the scene of the
fire. but when Chief Wise saw how
things were going he hastened back
to the city to be in touch with his
department, leaving Captain Gill in
charge.
In Co1ored Section.
me tenements. whioh are of franc
construction and inexpensive, are in
cat
between the city boundary and Barton
Hsights To be exact. they arc locate
on Kingster Street, not far from North
Avenue. The buildings caught toward
tho south, the flames spreading north
ward with great fcrceness and rapid
ity
The Northside department. under
Captain Harding Davis, assisted by j.
H. Frischkorn, Jr.. rendered fine SER
vice, though it was not big enough to
do effective battle. Captain Gill saw
q chance, however. to keep the flames
from spreading toward Barton Heights,
SO he had a line of hose laid way back
to st. James Street and the Seaboard
Air Line Railway track, which pro-
vided an ample supply of water. The
hose crossed the railroad track, which
made 1t necessary 70 station flremen
in TWO directions. armed with red lam
terms, to flag any approaching train.
While all OF these preparations were
being made. Barton Heights was ex-
cited, for there was danger of a seri-
Gus connaGration. Negroes who lived
around Kinster Street quickly removed
their possessions. and the 1000 people
who watched at close range went
away last night believing that many
colored families had lost everything
and were homeless.
Work by Bucket Brigade.
AS matter of fact they lost moth
ing. But these same colored people
renderd valiant service They assisted
the bucket brigade. which was led by
Larkin w. Glazebrook Jr., and Rob-
ert SiVlms 1t was SO hot that Mr..
Glazebrook's overcoat caught fire sew
eral times, and the hose was turned
on him. wrapping him later in veri-
table garment of ice. Ten policemen
from the city were sent over to keep
II watch on things. and while the flames
were leaplng skyward the whole city
looked on. After the eight dwellings
were practically wiped out. the city
department. had guaranteed safety to
nearby c..Ses, and everybody raced
home TO get rm.