Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-12-10
FIRST EMERGENCY CALL
IN TWENTY YEARS

The emergency military call. fifteen
strokes, was sounded in Richmond yes
t"rday for the first time in twenty
years II was the first summons OF the
kind since tho destruction Of the shoe
factory at the Virginia State Peniten-
tary. The militia WAS then called out
by Governor j. Ho.c Tyler to prevent
the escape Of tho convicts The fire at
the fcnitcntiary shoe factory broke
out about o'clock one Sunday after
noon. Major Luther l.. Chcntwood,
deputy commissioner OF the revenue.
was in command OF one OF the com
panics. Recalling the event yesterday.
he said: The shoe factory was prac-
;ic;,lly destroyed. Being inside the
walls OF the prison. the fire did not give
the convicts any avenues of escape
II was feared however, that ii might
be necessary to remove them if the
flames should spread TO other parts OF
the prison. and there was also danger
Of mutiry, riot and panic. We went
there expecting trouble. We found the
convicts diligently engaged in fighting
the flames. They were assisting the
Richmond firemcn at every turn and
rendering splendid service. Not a
prisoner escaped attempted to
escape"
The six companies that left Richmond
for Hopewell carried the fun equip
ment for field service in winter, in
Guiding tents. blankets. heavy over
coats and ammunition sufficient 10 dis
tribute twenty rounds for each rife.
No official request was made for as
sistance to the Richmond Fire Depart
ment while the flames dcvourcd the
HopeweN buildings. Shortly after 3
o'clock. however. a telegram advising
the Fire Department that the town was
in danger of destruction by fire was
received from citizen OF the Gun
cotton City. Anticipating a distress
call. Chief William II. Joynes detailed
Il corps of fifteen men, with an engine
and hose wagon. for the emergency.
The men and apparatus were held in
readiness for immediate shipment until
IL was ascertaincd that the fire was
under control and outside assistance
for fire fighting not desired.
ADDITIONAL TROOPS
SENT FROM RICHMOND
The State troops at Hopewell were
further augmented last night by
seventy men from Richmond, members
of the several militia companies, who
had been unable to report at their
armories in time to proceed with their
respective companies, and Il company
Of militia from Newport News Prac-
tically the full strength of the New
port News company was sent to the
devastated community by James River
boat last night.
The quartermaster's department sent
over supplies last night for the use Of
the troops, including rations. ammuni-
ton and blankets.
Governor Stuart and Adjutant-G Gen
cral sale We're in constant communi
cation yesterday afternoon and last
night and reports from the stricken
city were eagerly scanned Commune
cation. both by telephone and telc-
graph, was broken for some hours. and
tho officials had to depend on delayed
Information brought to Petersburg by
automobile and telegraphed from there.
Later the Western Union cut in n tenn
porary sen'iinP Office In an open field.
DRIVER FILES HIS
REPORT WITH GOVERNOR
AT midnight h. r. Driver. who since
the early days OF the development of
the Euncotton city, has acted as special
agent Of Governor Stuart at HopewolI,
brought to Petersburg and forwarded
to the Governor report that all was
In hand, that Major Bowles had taken
command with 800 men under arms.