The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-06-26
BOLT OF LIGHTNING
CAUSES BIG BLAZE
Barrel Factory Destroyed, With
$4,000 Loss, Partially
Insured.
FIRE is SPECTACULAR ONE
Drenching Thunderstorm and
Falling Electric Wires Handi-
cap Department.

1gnitcd by a bolt Of lightning, a
large brick warehouse occupied by
Mayo & Co.. Inc. barrel manufacture
ers at 3o5-l3 North Eighteenth Street.
was destroyed, together with it's con
tents. by fire which started at S:k5
clock last night. The loss will prob
ably total $4,000. but the owners Of
both building and stock arc partially
protected by insurance.
The fire blazed briskly for more
than an hour. and rivaled the electri-
cal display in lighting the heavens
with the red glow. During the whole
time, the frcmen worked in a blind
ing downpour of rain. but, in spite Of
the handicap. prevented tho flames
from spreading to adjoining structures
From a spectacular standpoint, the
fire was one of tho most brilliant ever
witr essed here. The building was
stored with barrels and other inflam-
mablc material. ana the flames mount
ed many feet In the air. Lightning
played around the heavens the vivid
flashes lending Il picturesque effect TO
the scene, while at times the reflection
from the fumes turned the rain APP
parcntly into sheets of fire. The blaze
could be seen from all parts OF tho
city, and. in spite of the rain. hun
dreds of spectators were attracted to
the scene
LIEUTENANT GREAN NIGER
HAS MARROW ESCAPE
Practically every minute the fire
men worked they were in danger, first
| from swirling clouds of gas-ladcn
steam. and later by heavily charged
wires, which were wrapped around the
ruins. and lay In the street. Only by
the GOODNESS Of Lieutenant Grcaneer
of Engine Company No. =. was a
fatality prevented. when the front of
the building came crashing to the
ground For many minutes he had
been standing beneath the wall OBJ
serving 1t care fully and, Just AS It be
gan to topple. he shouted the warning
which prevented more than a dozen OF
his comrades from being crushed be-
meath the tons of brick. lie reached
shelter himself In the nick of time
ana for several minutes II was be-
licvcd that his life had been snuffed
out.
The outbreak of the fire occurred
Immediately after a tremendous crash
of thunder. Persons in the neighbor-
hood assert that they saw the bolt of
electricity sweep downward Before
the echoes had ceased. broad sheet
of flame shot through tho top of the
building. and at times reached a
height OF scvcnty-flvc feet.
An alarm was sent in from the First
Police Station. and Engine Companies
Nos /, and 3. and Truck No. re-
and Assistant Chief RATIO. In ten
minutes more than a dozen streams OF
water were playing OH the fire.
INTLAMMABIE BARRELS
MADE bright BLAZE:
1rc barrels and other woodwork
made excellent material for fire. and
when once iii a blaze, were almost i'm
possible to eStinSuish. 1t was carly
seen that the building was doomed.
@l,i ,F 2. ri
ment was to prevent the spread to tho
adjoining buildings. This was made
doubly hard by the brisk wind.
AS the flames rlvaled the lightning.
so did the exploding liquor barrels at.
TEMPT to rival the thunder. The hun
drcds OF spectators were treated to u
mimic warfare with the elements. with
the latter ever in the lead. The bar
rcls greatly endangered the fire fight
"rs. not only because of the gases
which they threw of. but on account
OF the living particles OF fire
One Of the peculiar features of the
fire was the clouds of steam and gas
that would sweep from the building
immediately following each fash OF
the lightning. The smoke would be
mounting upward. but with the light
ming e. would cease. and then after the
the fremcr.
The building was owned by the
Richmond Structural Steel Company
Inc, and was valued at $4,000. parti-
ally covered by insurance. The ten
ants, Mayo e Co, had stock valued at
more than $1,000, and they are also
protected by insurance. The damage
10 the adjoining buildings and con
tents will reach about $4,000. being
caused chiefly by water and smoke
While the side walls are intact the
building is complete wreck The
front wall fell after the rear one had
given way. IL pulled with il many
high power wires. and these added
much TO the danger of the nrefghters
until cut away. The lights in the vi
cinity OF the fire were carly cxtin-
ruishcd. and darkness further handi-
CAPPED the department in its work
No other fires. except at two DUMPS.
wer" caused by the heavy electrical
storm. Other damage. however. oc-
CURED in many parts of the city. Trees
and shruhbcry suffered heavily, while
many windows were shattered by the
winl and rain.
The fire demoraliZed the street chr
traffic. as II stopped all lines cast and
West. except the Main Street line.
Marriage License.