The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1915-02-11
Flames Entrenched in Automo-
bile Supplies and Oils Gain
Great Iieadway
Families aiken
Out by Officers
Chemi Company's Establish
nent Destroyed and Flames
Spread to Other Nearby
Buildings

Fire first discovered shortly before
o'clock this morning. when clouds Of
smoke were seen pouring from the
mobile dealers OF s2s East Main street,
was threatening the entire business
block thirty minutes later. and al
Though the fire depa ttnent was work
Ing at a,t5 e'riock.
X is cstiina ted AZ this hour that the
Chemi Company hiss suffered damages
estimated al $4,000 or So 600 to their
stock OF goods. consisting of automo-
bile supplies. which is valued at about
$l5,ooo The building has been dam
ged about $4,000 or more. The build
ing and stock, which are owned by
different parties, il is understood, are
insured.
The flames were first discovered by
Sergeant Marion. of the Second Pre-
cinct station, who from the rear saw
smoke pouring from the building. lie
walked around TO the front and found
Patrolman smithers, who was patrol
ing the Main Street beat. examining
the cause of the smoke II was soon
seen that the building was on Are.
Sergeant Marion ordered aa alarm
turned in. and this was done at .
o clock,
Six steamers on scene.
chief Wise, Of the Are department.
arrived with q combination hose and
chemical wagon, but upon inyestigat-
ing he discovered that the flames which
originated IN the basement had already
gotten good Roadway. A general
steamers Including two OF the big
auto IRE engines were soon upon the
sceEe,
Family Rescued.
Families residing over the J. :. James
3eweiry store at Seventh and Main
Streets. which is next door. were called
from their sleep by fireinen. who rush
ed into their fiat over the store and
brought them cut. Ladders were
placed against the James building ard
frantic children were taken out in the
arms of firemen who reached the win
dows Of the fiat
Mrs. Joyce. mother Of large fam
lily OF children. was taking screaming
from the building by patrolmen. A
child which she refused 10 leave. had
rushed back into the building and
brought the child out It had been
overcome in it's bed by smoke
Prcsr~ss Of Flames.
AZ ; O'Clock the fire had caused n
loss TO the chemi Company of approx
mately $4,000 The entire stock of
the automobile supply dealers had been
destroyed and the building was en-
quilted in flames which then threat
ened the entire business section In
the block bounded by Sixth and Sew
enth Streets south of Main
AT ala O'Clock the building at SET
East Main Street. which Is also &C.
cupied by the chemi Company. had
caught and the goods contained In
i, were already considered as a loss.
The flames at this time seem to be en-
welcoming tine adjoining buildings. The
upper floors OF the J. s. James Jewelry
Company at the corner OF seventh and
Main streets seemed to be on IRE
Al 81 g o'clock an alarm calling out
nearly every fire company in the city
was turned in. and the entire lower
Main Street section was crowded with
thousands who had left their beds 10
watch the growing flames. which were
ieaping high above the buildings. For
blocks all OF the IRE plugs are con-
neeted with a line Of hose and II is
estimated that fully thirty streams
were playoing upon the most threaten
ing FIRE which Richmond has had In
years
At the hour of going TO press smoke
was pouring from the roof OF the J.
$. James ieweiry store, at the cor
ner OF Seuenth and Main, and there was
ner OF Seventh and Main. and there was
flames under control
A Remarkable Career.
Smiling through 1t all. Il. r. Bur
ton. president of the Cheml Company,
this morning said that his company
would again open up. Their loss. he
said. WAS partially covered by insur-
aimee. The company here Is the head
quarters Of this large automobile sup
ply house which has branches in Nor
folk and other cities
Mr.. Burton is one of Richmend's
most prominent business men, Under
the name Of Ralph A. Clarke. he was
in New Work sanatorium several
years ago. He escaped, coming to
Richmond. working his way here on
freight trains. As an obscure laborer,
under the name OF b. r. Burton. he
fought his way upward in the bust
ness world He studied and practiced
as a manufacturing chemist in shop
here on Virginia Street
His conduct in Virginia was the
cause OF remarkable verdict being
rendered by New York court. He
regained possession of fortune which
had been left him. but he had never
been able TO secur II while In the New
York sanatorium. Tie organised the
Chemi Company here a. few years ago.
dealing in automobile supplies. with
branches In several cities. and has met
with marked succass-