The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1914-03-12
FIRE EARLY TODAY
CUTS BIG TOBACCO
SUPPLY CO. PLANT
Eleven Engine Companies Call
ed to Three Alarm Blaze In
Congested District---Probable
Damage $4,000. ..r

Fire of unknown origin early this
morning Quilted the plant of Neals &
Binford Tobacco Supply company. II
South Eighth street. bringing out
eleven engine companies in answer TO
the third alarm, and doing damage.
which, according to NJ. n. Binford, one
of the firm may approximate Slo,Ooo,
Mr.. Binford said that while he did
not know positively he thought that
the plant and its fixtures were iufty
covered by Insurance.
The first alarm was turned in by
Patrolman Crump, who noticed the
heavy smoke over the building. Cap
tain Rust, Of Engine Company No. z.
which was first upon the scene, I'M
mediately turned in the second alarm
when he arrived, for by that time the
flames were gushing from the win
dows of the second floor. This alarm
was soon followed by a third. which
brought every piece of available APP
paratus to the scene.
Patrolman Crump. thinking that
there might be Waterman within.
started rounu OF the building. His
knocks at one OF the windows in the
front of the plant awoke NJ. c. Dick
inson, a friend OF NJ. NJ Binford, one
Of the proprietors. The man was di-
rectcd TO window and aided In max
ing his escape down ladder from
second story window. None OF the
firemen wereH seriously hurt, although
several were cut to some extent and
all suffered considerably from the
cold.
The fire was Of short duration. but
was fierce from the time the hrst
fame broke through the roof. The
building is completely isolated by al
leys and this aided the firemen In their
battle. allowing them to direct streams
into the furnace within and to prevent
the flames spreading. For a time it
appeared that several of the buildings
in the near vicinity" would catch. but
each time the flames were beaten back
and kept within the Neaie 4 Binford
plant. The glare of the fire. which
was directly at the base of the tail
First National bank building. against
the sides of this structure could be
seen from every point IN the West
End of the city and lightened the sur
roundings of the blaze until il. was
almost as bright as day.
A dozen or more streams played on
the fire within the building for more
, than an hour before the blaze was
extinguished. Several OF them contin-
ued TO pour gallons of water on the
smouldering mass after the signal of
! "all out" had been given. and care
full watch OF the site was kept until
nearly ddSIiEit titfS HiOIHiH III tiic
fear that another blaze might be
started
According to members OF the firm,
the building was used chiefly for the
storage of supplies used In the manu-
facture of plug and certain kinds of
smoking tobacco, although there we've
several drying and other machines in
the plant. The drying machines con
tain ovens, and il is thought possible
/ that the fire may have been started
from one of these, although no con-
firmation OF this could be made last
night
The man Dickinson was sleeping in
a portion of the building which had
been fitted up by Mr.. Binford and
in which was kept quantity of very
valuable family furniture. This fur
! n!ture has been In the ia naily for
years according to Mr.. Binford. and
much fear for it's safety was felt last
night
Property of A Hatke & Co. and
the Southern Printing company, Inc.
although in close proximity of the
fire. was unchanged.
The horse drawn apparatus of the
fire department again encountered
difficulty in getting to the fire be-
cause of the slippery condition Of
! the streets.
! Patroman Crump at 1915 O'Clock,
and Captain Rusk sent in the second
fifteen minutes later. The third.
which brought TO the scene every