The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-01-18

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Quently to DO relieved. Tho lines OF
hose were charged from the side of
the canal nearer to the building to
the opposite side.
City Elcctrician Thompson aud As
ristants B0wery and Speights arrived
after the second alarm, and cut all the
live wires In the vicinity. Two wires
which were beyond reach of the danes
were left But around all tho other
wires and the police lines the water
: frozer and the whole surrounding
ground was covered with Ice. Two
lines of hose burst on the north side
OF the building and spouted their con-
tents into the canal. making smother
layer OF Ice. In an effort to got across
to cut of tho water two dremea broke
through the ice and went into wato-
Up to their armpits. But they continu-
ed the night. Edward Hail. of No.
truck. smashed his hand In breaking
ShrouGh window, but went doEgedly
on after being treated by DIR. Hulcher,
of the City Ambulance Corps.
Walls Give Way.
AS the fire gained Roadway. Elbows
OF flame and smoke burst out from the
roof. and Chiefs Joyncs and RATIO.
seeing that their men were in danger
of being crushed by falling walls,
g O'Clock a huge portion OF tho wall
on the north side of the building crash
cd in, and the sidewalk and tho canal
were alied with debris. An hour later
tons OF brick crashed outward from
the south wall. The other walls tot
tered. Truck No. . WAS hauled by
hand to the north side of the canal.
end its water tower was placed il posi-
ton. Truck No. s. which had been
Fought from the Sixth street side, was
dragged out OF danger b. twent, men.
1t WAS not long before the roof caved
in. binding shower OF sparks
fared up through pillows of smoke
into the sky, and the tense crowds
gave vent TO q long-drawn breath.
Street car traffic on the Hull street
limo was blocked, and passengers had
to be transferred across the danger
zone.
Coffee and Sandwiches,
For two hours the men fought with
out relief. Then came Adtutant Wig
gins. OF the Salvation Army. and his
whole corps of men and women. bear /
ing coffee. sandwiches and crackers.
Robert Leoky and w. D. Crensnaw al
SO ordered coffee for the men. and
stil others brought more san iwiches.
AS the men were relieved. they had.
time TO eat and warm themselves be- (
fore fires built for them on the street. I
All were drenched through by the !
slashlng streams Q: water hurled back
from the walls. They shivered. but
fought samely on.
Altogether. gu; OF l7s men empl edG
IN the regular service OF the Fire Del
partment. there were $50 hremcn at,
Vulnerable runners and call men. Thei
others were stationed with engine COM
pan!es Nos. IL ~ and lS. held in re- /
serve IN ease Of other fire.
At 1880 o'clock all hope OF saving .
the building was given up. the famas
having eaten through the annex on the
youth side, and after that the men ,
fought only to eXtinsnish the flames
AID to save other property.
Loss sl7U0oo.
II. s Binswanger, president OF the |
corporation. was al complete loss TO !
stated tina, the only FIRE In the build |
ins was in the Office, and that the !
snloka was FIRST seen to come from the /
basement Steam heat Is furnished !
through underground conduits from
the Allegheny Box Company, on the !
other side OF the street Seven years
ago. on May 6. 1905. the BinswanseG
arm suffered Its hrst disastrous fire. \
the building Being gutted a loss OF
100000 was enta!!ed. The fire OF last
nigh. utterly destroyed the building,
valued ct $4,000. and ali It's contents
OF 6aSaes, o!!NdS, plate glass, mirrors
and paint, valued at $40. 900. making I,
total loss 0. $4,000. The building
was owned 3! the BlnswangArs, having.
been erected in 1902. Between sew
enty-five and eighty men were en-
Dloyed.
10! tho tim. Being the work having !
oeen carried on hero VIII be trans
5erred to Memphis. Tenn. where the I
3inswangers have another plant An (,
.o,her building Will be ersctcd here on
the old site, warehouse having bean
rented until the new building is put
UP. It was stated last night that the
loss Is practically covered by !asur-
&nce.
The FIRE will go down In the history
of the local department. as one CT the
greatest with which {; has had 20 con
tend. The suffering among the IRE
men was intense. They Encountered
difficulties at every turn. Plugs we're
frozen. aGa for. more than an hour
they were ,.nebfe to discover the source
Of the blaze on account OF smother
Ing smoke.
II was nineteen years ago yesterday
that the plan; Of Allen & G!nter was
Destroyed by one OF the fercest ar.s
R!chmond has ever seen.