The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-01
FLAMES EkD.NG.R
MOTHER AND RABE
They Are Rescued From Blazing
Homo, Which Was Historic Old
McCabe's School Building.
FIRE ENGINE IN MsBAP
Steering Gear of Automobile Engine
No. o Breaks, But No One Is Hnrt.
Owner of Property Appreciates Fire
mems Work.

Rescued from flames which threat
ened to destroy the home OF F. w.
Martin. 4O1 East Cary Street, yester-
day afternoon shortly before o'clock.
Mrs william l.. Brinkley and her
week old child. who were in room on
the second floor of the home, were
last night reported as resting easily
and that no bad effects had shown as
result of the excitement which fol-
lowed the discovery of fire. Mrs.
Brinkley is the wife of William l.,
Brinkley, q clerk In the employ of c.
w. Antrim. wholesale grocers, 14l7
East Cary Street.
AS result OF the confiagration
| which started about 1880 o'clock yes
terday afternoon, the building, which
was three-story structure, formerly
used and known as the McCabe School,
was almost totally destroyed. Engine
Companies Nos. and 6, and Truck
Company No. /. answered the alarm
and quickly had the flames under con-
troll. The fire had gained considerable
Roadway before an alarm was turned
in.
The blaze originated In the kitchen,
1t is thought, where is was said that
some grease caught fire and igrited
the wall of the building. The blaze
Immediately spread to the second and
third floors and the occupants ran out
of the house. The screams of Mrs.
Brinkley brought a crowd to the door
before the fire department arrived on
the scene. A. Isaac Wasserman, Of ITO
South Fourth Street, was the first to
attempt to enter the building. He
went up to the second floor. but found
that he could not rescue Mrs. Brtnkley
and her child alone. Robert w. Pref
low, a bookkeeper. of 306 South
Fourth Street. heard Mr.. Wasserman' o
call for help and went to his aid. The
two brought Mrs. Brinkley and her
child out of the now flaming house
and removed her to the home OF
neighbors great crowd witnessed
the rescue. A wild cheer went up
from the throng when Mr.. Wasserman
and Mr.. Pretiow came out OF the
burning building.
Chief Otto +. Wise had his men
working soon after the alarm was
rung, but was forced to use but one
engine, due to mishap to automobile
engine No. G.
What might have resulted In a
serious accident with possible loss OF
life happened when the steering gear
of automo bile engine No. 6. answering
the alarm 70 the fire. was broken Had
the automobile been going at fast
rate Of speed the members of the COM
pany would probably have been fatal
ly injured. because there remained no
way in which to guide the heavy on
CINE. The brakes were applied and
the huge wheels brought to a halt with
no one injured. The motor could not
be used in putting out the fire, az Il
was too far from the water plug for
use.
The firemen we're somewhat handi-
capped by the loss OF the service of the
motor engine, The No. Engine Com
pany, however, proved sufficient TO
keep two streams OF water on the
blaze
The motor engine was towed back
10 the Hrehouse and will he repaired
Immediately. No reason could be as
signed for the mishap, but 10 is
thought that the constant use OF the
gear weakened t. and the Earring OF
the rough paving on Cary Street
strained H.
MIR. Martin was high in his praise
last night OF the work OF the Are de-
partment. The men did everything
possible TO extinguish the flames" said
Mr.. Martin over the telephone. II will
appreciate II II you will let the pub
lie know that the department showed
its efficient methods by tits quick work
in getting the flames under control -