The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-11-30
EARLY FIRE DOES
100000 DAMAGE
TWO BUILDINGS OF Il. A. SAUNDERS
SONS COMPANY PRACTICALLY
DESTROYER.
CONTINUE BUSINESS
FORCE TRANSFERRED TO GENERAL.
OFFICE AND OTHER FIRMS Of
FER TO ASSIST THE COM
PAyY.
CONTINUE BUSINESS

X Originating from come unknown
cause fire yesterday morning de-
stroyed two buildings of the e. A..
Saunders Sons company, wholesale
xrocers, at ia and 116 South Seven
teenth street, entailing loss which
rnl not fall short of 100000. Mr..
saunders stated yesterday afternoon
that 1t was impossible for him to
estimate the exact loss. He said,
however. that the insurance was for
st7s. 900. Immediately after the blaze
had been subdued, the doors OF the
two buildings were closed and locked
and the buildings we're turned over
10 the insurance company.
The fire seems to have originated
m the Office in the northeast cor
ner OF the building. Mr.. Saunders
stated that he could not tell what
started the blaze The buildings were
closed up for Thanksgiving and there
were supposed to be no fires in either
building The fire broke out before
the arrival Of the employees.
Turn In Three Alarms.
Three alarms were turned in. prac-
fically every engine and truck com
4DAny In the city answering 60: the iass
call, the dread three SKIES"
When the fire companies arrived the
huildinrs were blazing from cellar
10 roof. Flames and smoke poured
out Of the windows, and there was
Imminent danger of the fire spread
tnw through the whole block. The
Interiors of both buildings were prac-
ttcaliy destroyed, though the walls
stood Arm.
The company owned both buildings
and stock They were formerly oc-
0upied by Davenport and Morris. VINO
conducted a wholesale business for
forty years. The r.. A. Saunders COM
pany has been In business for thirty
seven years. and this Ia the nrst
fire they have experienced.
The fremen experienced great DIFF
ncu,ty ia combating the blaze The
thermometer was towering oown
shout the freezing mark. and ice
formed wherever the water fell. None
Of the men were injured. though all
rusYered from the intense cold. Kind
hearted neighbors prepared coffee Tor
them. and they were considerably
aided By the warm beverage. Lines
az hose were directed from the street
ana from the alley and from adjoin-
ing roofs into the burning pit. but
II was not until the fire had been
fought for more than three hours
that IL was gotten under control.
Business Goes On.
Business went on without inter-
ruption. orders being transferred 10
the general Office building at Four
feenth and Cary streets. Offers or
assistance were made and accepted.
The L. c. Younger company. the I'm
periaf Coffee company and the Le-
febvre- Armistead company threw
open their doors. and invited the r.
A. Saunders Sons company to make
use of their buildings.
II was the busiest season of the
wear with the Saunders people. Christ
mas orders are coming In. and ship
rnents are being made every day. But
no time will be lost and the business
went on MS IL there had been no FIRE
Mr.. Saunders stated that all orders
would be filled and tina. there would
he no cessation Of work. He could
nat estimate the- inss--hnt said that
the company had SITS. 600 insurance.