Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-02-11
FIRE DESTROYS $4,000
STOCK OF CHEM| COMPANY
Building at 02O Fast Main Complete
ly Gutted by Early-Morn-
ing Fire.
WOMEN HAVE NARROW ESCAPE
Mrs. It. w. Joyce and Seven-Year-
Old Daughter Carried by Police
men Out of SmOkc-Fillcd Apart
ment Over Store of j. S. James.

Fire. supposed to have originated
through spontaneous combustion In the
basement. guttcd the establishment of
the Chem Company, 62s East Main
Street, at 2:l5 o'clock this morning. de-
stroying large portion OF the stock
of automobile tires and accessories car
ricd by the firm. The stock was rough
ly valued last night at $4,000.
The dense smoke arising from the
fire ascended to the flat over the
jcwelry store OF j. s. James. 633 East
Main street, nearly suffocating the
family that occupied ii. Mrs. Il. w
Joyce was carried down by Patroiman
Jennings In n scmiconscious condition.
Belle Joyce. her seven year-old daugh-
ter. was carried out OF the smoke filled
apartment by officer Bertucc Miss
Helen Anderson. who lived in the apart
ment with the Joyccs. was brought
down by G. T.. Ward.
OCCUPANTS ESCAPE
IN THEIR NIGHT CLOTHES
All OF the occupants OF the HAT were
clad in their night clothes. They were
carried across the street 10 an ALL
night restaurant, where residents in
the immediate vicinity brought them
blankets and emergency wraps
DR.. Stern arrived early upon the scene
in the City Ambulance and ministered
To the partially overcome women At
o'clock this morning the fire was still
raging fcrceiy, with the fircmen work
ing under extreme difficulties owing
to dense volumes of smoke. The estab-
lishment was heavily stocked with lub-
ricating oils and other innama BILE ma
tcrial. and the frc-fghting work pro-
cecded In imminent danger of an cx-
plosion
Tho fire was discovered shortly af-
ter o'clock by Nlghtwatchman Smith
ers. Sergeant Marin. of the Second
Precinct. who happened to be in the
immediate vicinity turned in the alarm
which within few minutes brought
down Chief Ioynes. of the Fire De-
partment. and several fro companies
Fire Companies No 3, 4, Z. Q. ; and G.
and Truck Company No. l, were bat
Ting with the fire at 3:l5 o'clock when
Ii appeared that the threc-story build
ing occupied by the Chemi- Company
was complete loss. The fire had spread
to the housekeeping apartments over
this building, as we'll as over the corner
building at 633 East Main, and had
rapidly consumed the furnishings DR.
l.. n. Pusey and Or. r. !. Pusey, who
occupied an apartment over the corner
building, escaped in their night clothes
z. Il. Rcnton. chief stakeholder in
the Chcmi Company, estimated the
value of the stock carried by tho com
at $4,000. He said that 1t was not
fully protected by Insurance. The
stock, il appeared ut 3:l5 o'clock this
morning, was n total loss
Despite the combined efforts OF the
seven firc companies. the fire spread
rapidly To the upper stories of the three
story building occupied by j. S James.
Inc, jewelers.. Officers of the compnny
opened the doors. and with the aid OF
the police and firemcn began piline The
stock OF raluahles on the street The
large vault containing the diamonds
and precious stones was left untouch-
ed
Tho officers OF the Chemi Company.
whose stock Of automobile accessories
was Il total loss. are Il II. Benton.
president: c. :. Ogletrcc vicc-presi-
dent. and -. l.. 'ralman, secretary
urcr The hrm conducted ono OF the
most widcly-known automobile acccs-
sorry houses in the South.
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