The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-15
ChildrenSafely Removed
Before Call Was Sent
for Help.
FOUGHT HARD
IN SNOWSTORM
Heroic Work by Firemen Pre-
vented Spread of Flames to
Taylor Home, Which Was in
Danger-Loss Will Reach
$4,000 - Caught From
Defective Flue.

The residence OF Charles D. Larus
623 Seminary Avenue, Ginter Park, was
entirely destroyed by fire at O'Clock
last night. cntailtng a loss OF APP
proXimutely $4,000. while priceless
Aeirloonis were given as prey 10 the
devourinS names. 1o-uuy CIR. Larus
and his Family. consisting OF his wIre
and TWO children. arc al the residence
of his mother, Mrs c. Larus, 81,
aif seminary Avenue, wnerc they Will
remain until plans can be made for
rebuilding.
Wh!lo the financial loss Is consider
4blc. both Mr.. Larus and his wife are
compensated for tho destruction of
their home by the thought that their
Two children were saved The blaze
started from defective hue a, the
open Fireplace OF the ante bellum type.
by which the children were playing.
While Ar. Larus was asleep upstairs,
shrill cry was heard from below. II
came from the nurse. Marguerite, who
frightened by belchnS flames ana
amokc. realized that the children were
In danger. Charles D. larus. Jr.. four
years old. and Anne Harrison. two
years old. united their vocal efforts OF
terror with the colored maid. MIR.
Larus was rudeiy awakened from his
slumbtrs while his wife. terror strick-
en-, rushed down the stairs.
Chilled on City for Help.
without thought OIL the damage to
their home. both AIR. and Mrs Larus
gave their first attention to the safety
Of their children. They were removed
TO the home OF their grandmother. after
which telephone message was sent to
Hunter B. Frischkorn. chief OF the
Ginter Park Fire Department, FOR help
The department answered at once but
before It arrived the fire had eaten its
way UP the broad nue to the altic, and
the help % the Richmond department.
vas At once asked
Captain T. H. Davis, in charge Of
Engine Company No 10. with his lieu
tenant. George H. Davis. responded
There was plenty Of water in sight
hut no facilities for pumping 1t. The
Richmond help made this possible, but
not win hope OF saving une structure.
fhe flames had made such headHay
that while the Richmond dcpa. tmeut
was crossing the bridge all hops was
lost. despite an exceptionally fast run
from the city. Work was then centred
on saving the home OF Charles G. Tay-
Tor. next door
Fortunately. though by great effort,
this residence was ief, intact smoking
caves ct times pointed TO It's destruction
but a timely stream from an Inch and
# half nozzle prevented IL. Not 10 be
caught unprepared, Mr Taylor with
the aid OF friends. had removed all OF
the furniture and other valuables 10 tho
home OF nearby friends.
In binding Snowstorm.
a binding snowstorm ragged during
the f.c. Workers at nozzle and at
engines were chilled from, the frisid
blasts. But for the fact that a home
was being destroyed. the hundreds OF
onlookers. who braved both the colo
from beneath and the cold from the
winds which hurtlcd and hreathed
through the adjoining trees might hay
reveled in the really glorious sight
y picture OF the dwelling might have
told some OF the story. but words could
convey no idea OF the multitudinous
colors which ran riot through the Ice
and snow and names
Flremen suffered. although Ginter
Park people supplied smoking not cof-
fee and other stifnulants to ease the
Dangs OF the polar weather The fre
lighters drank the warming cups and
went back to their task. hopeless
though IT was. with renewed energy.
The fire simply spent Itself after
having devoured everything which
could BIO burned
The Larus residence was of the col
onial type or construction. with wide
vcrandas and immense rooms, contain
ing broad. open freplaccs
The house was stucco-built with n
facing OF concrete and the inner Sec
tons OF wood. The flames, being
famed by the winds. found a ready
hue. There was no back-draught 10
act as an Offset. When the GInter
Park department arrived It was wholly
without power to render effective aid,
and by the time the Richmond depart
nent had made the long and dangerous
trip the flames had obtained such head
way as to make It impossible to save
the building.
The loss is partially covered by in
surance. carried with Davenport G.
Company. though Mr.. Larus was un
able to give any definite information
either as to the amount or to the com
panies through which it was placed
Tho nearest he could come to the ap
proXimate loss was $4,000
brave Work ny Tiremen.
Though depIoring the destruction Of
his home, Mr.. Larus. together with his
wife, is thankful that no lives were
lost and that his children were saved
All Of his neighbors offered asse,tance
and there were numbers of friends
from Richmond who sought to do wha,
they could. Mr. Larus Is secretary and
treasurer Of the Larus & Brother Conn
pany. manufacturers of tobacco
Too much praise cannot he given the
men who fought the flames In the
face of the coldest weather which has
visited Richmond in many years, they
stood bravely al their post OF duty and
poured water at the rate Of $50 gallons
a minute into the seething cauIdron.
Nor can too much praise be given to
the water department Of Ginter Park
The flow was always sufficient DESPITE
the fact that It was Sunday night
when most of thu men connected with
the plant were off.
However. number OF men living In