Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1918-12-01
THREE ARE INJURED
INF|RE DESTROYING
NEWSLEADERPLANT
Reuben Scher, w. B. Ladd
and Wexford w. Ladd, En-
ployees, Badly Burned.
PROPERTY LOSS ESTIMATED
AT MORE THAN $125,OOO
Machinery Damage Approx
mately $4,000; Building and
Supplies Valued at $4,000.
BLAZE STARTS IN MAILING-RooM
Two Women, Cut OF by Flames,
Leap From Office Window TO
Pavement to Escape.
PROPERTY LOSS ESTIMATED
AT MORE THAN $125,OOO
BLAZE STARTS IN MAlLING.RooM

Three persons were severely injured
two young women barely escaped death.
and the News Leader plant, 8 North
Eishth Street. was almost entirely de-
stroyed as the result Of fire which
started shortly before o'clock last
night.
1t Is estimated that tho News Leader
damage will amount to approximately
$4,000. while tho destruction Of the
building, which Is owned by the
Charles L. whitlock estate, will put
The combined loss at more than s125,.
600.
Those injured include:
Reuben Scher. 702 North Sixth Street.
foreman Of the News Leader mailing
department, severe burns about the
face, hands and shoulders
w. B. Ladd, Brook Hi, mailing
room clerk, burned about the head and
Wexford w. Ladd, Brook Hill. mail
ing-room clerk, shoulders hands and
face badly burned.
at II wa WAS stated sta, isst nigh, that scher
INC basement of the building when
me fire broke out. were compelled to
pass through a sheet OF flames in es-
Gaping from the building. The three
Young men were cut off by the flames
which had nscended from the bhsement
through the elevator shaft and spread
ihe rear Of Of the buildlns. tn s"' where here all al
hree dropped to 'het ground.
TWO WOMEN CUT OFF by
FLAMES JUMP TO GROUND
Miss Emma Goff. cashier. and Miss
Ruth Martin, accountant. were work
ing In room at the rear OF the build
front hallway. Before they could mass
the elevator shaft the flames had eaten
Ineir nnfro%., way Upward lnsa and wall Of fire
sasu n 4fo fs2a1,as 1l wsao 5eoas t%a n
tGHxement; about fifteen feet below
ously hurt, although both sust aimed
shgiit bruises. was thought for a
fire,
1t is believed that the fire started
IN paper baler In the basement: The
but before the fire department could
reach the scene the entire building
VAS aoiaze from top TO bottom. Ten
70 the alarm and in short time score
of water streams were being poured
into the building from the streets and
surrounding windows and roofs
Mechanical equipment valued at more
than 100000 was destroyed by the fire
and water. Two new presses. but re-
aged, although through the efforts OF
the fremen, who played two streams Of
water upon the machines continually
hey may not lie beyond repair. Ten
typesetting machines, valued at more
han 100000 may be repaired. although
great quantity of tyne and other
printing paper I'm the basement OF the
building was either ruined by fire or
water. while the fixtures Of the build
ing were destroyed.
LITTLE DAMAGE DONE
TO UPPER DEPARTMENTS
'InSDCctfOn Of tho b,iiIdinr NV Iobp
Stewart Bryan, publisher of the News
Leader: DIR. Douglas Freeman. editor,
fact, that the fire had done but lit
tie damage on the second floor of the
building, Although the water had
soaked the files and many books kept
lieved that these losses could be re-
stored The greatest damage was done
on the third floor in the composing
ROOM several of the typesetting ma
chimes being entirely ruined. Other
equipment was intact: although much
type was destroyed. The mailing list,
paper plant, was found to be safe. as
were the business and editorial files.
,fhc two large presses are believed to
be in such condition as to insure their
repair In short time.
Mr. Bryan and DR.. Freeman accented
the. offer OF the use Of The Times Dis
announced that publication would he
maintained as usual. a business of
flee will be opened on Main Street. at
place not definitely asccrtained as
yet, and plans will be hastened for new
quarters.
Although their burns are painful and
in the fire are not believed to be ia
tally injured. Both the Ladd brothers
are suffering from painful burns about
the face and neck. while scher's cloth
hand, was burned from his body from
tho. waist up. All three men were
rush rushed ,srrsG to GraGe Hospital as soon as
Scher is Well known in newspaper cir
cles here. having been connected with
various concerns for number OF
years
Mr.. Bryan and DR.. Freeman were
called from their homes as soon as
the'fIre was discovered. Both assisted
firemen in handling hose about tho
BRYAN VIEWS HIS Loss
os WITH PHILOSOPHY
-'ePhe loss OF the plant is as nothing
compared to the fact that our organi-
during the fire. Before the flames had
been Quenched plans were under wav
for, the re-establishment of the plant
Freeman and department heads was
called. At the same time publishers of
The Dispa tch. Times offered Mr. Bryan
for publication Of tho News Leader un.
til that newspaper can secure new
equipment and quarters. T, -
twas after o'clock before the fire.
men succeeded In entirely extinguish-
ing tho. fire. Tho fire was confined
largely to, the exterior OF the building
which, within n few minutes after ::..
hlaze was discovered. became an in
f6rIfo Of flame. It was impossible to
h Was feared that the walls OF the build.
ing would fall. At the front OF the
bullding, on the third floor. q large
motal melting pot is situated, and In
dioations were that the weight OF this
and other n1elha ical equipment on the
Sss3g tinaed son Second PaEe.)7