Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-01-03
Especial to The Tlmes-Dispatch.l ]

GORDOSSVlLLE. VA, January g.
Fire. originating IN the restaurant and
cleaning and pressing shop Of G. Mas
& Co., located in Faber's old jewelry
store on Main Street. close to the
bridge. ignited several other buildings
in the Immediate vicinity shortly
after IL o'clock. and by 1880 o'clock
this morning had completely destroy
ed one OF the principal business blocks
of the town.
Up TO o'clock this morning the fol-
lowing firms had been burned out:
Mrs. NJ l.. Faber. general notions: War
rcns and 10-Ccnt Store. the Gordon
Printing Co. E. d. Niche. grocer; May
hughes Meat Market, n residence oc-
cupicd by George Wilkins and an un-
occupied storeroom beneath: a. K.
Cloves, jeweler: w. +. Cloves. pho
tographer; l., II. Acree. general mer-
chandise; j. w. Sullivan. mems fur
nishings.
Calls to Orange and Charlottesville
for assistance resulted in engines be-
ing rushed here on special trains. and
1t Is hoped that at least one, and per-
haps two, OF the other blocks directly
In the path of the fire. which is spread
ing east rapidly. may be saved. Mem
bers of the Gordonsvillc Fire Depart
ment and several hardware merchants
resorted to the use Of dynamite In an
effort to stop the spread OF the con-
dagration.
DYNAMITE CAUSES
PLANES TO SPREAD
The explosion was placed in May
hugh's meat market. on Main Street.
n MI hn lOli c1, n
However IL Immediately caught fire
and flames spread to surrounding
buildings. a high wind Is taking the
fire directly through the heart of the
business section, and. should the Char
ilottesville and Orange departments be
delayed. II is feared that the entire
town, with the exception of the resi-
dences to the west. may be lost.
Battling with a hand-engine and n
few feet of hose. members of the Cor
donsville Fire Department have str.vcn
vainly to gain control Of the confagra-
tion, but without result. In despera-
tion. they turned to the use OF dyna-
mite: but, probably through un-
familiarity with the use OF the explo-
sive. again they failed to be of assist
ancc. The explosion that wrecked the
meat market started two other fires
and led to the destruction OF the last
buildings on this block.
Buildings on both sides OF Main Street
have been burned on the block next
the bridge. among them heing the
telephone exchange. the Gordonsvlle
National Bank and many Of the prln-
cipal stores of the town. IT Is believed
that the bank vault will protect COM
parativcly large sum Of money and n
number of valuable securities said to
be in it.
The Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
received the calls for special trains
to hear the fire engines to the stricken
town. and at once made up special
trains to leave Charlottesville and
Orange. Each of these trains bore one
engine and company Of fremen. 1t
is thought that they will be able to
stay the spread of the conlagration
IL they arrive before 1t gains q foot
hold In the remainder of the business
section.
NO FATALITIES OR
INJURIES REPOItTED
Tn TO an early hour this morning.
Go:donsvillc was cut off from tho rest
of the country by everything save the
wires Of the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
way According 10 reports there had
been no serious injuries or fatalities.
man named Warren, living on Main
Street, was found asleep In bed and
assisted from his room In his night
clothes. All OF mis- clothing and per-
sonal property was destroyed.
Tho special trains bearing the fire
engines are reported making good time
for CordonSyIlle after leaving Orange
and Charlottesville. and It was believed
they will arrive in time to save ror-
tIon of the husincss section.
At o'clock practically all OF tho
business section was burned or blazing.
Most OF the buildings destroyed thus
far arc substantial brick or concrete
two-story buildings. generally owned by
the firms occupying them. Captain
Wright, n Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
Continued on Second Page.)