|
  |
|
|
Paper torch ignited inferno in Lynchburg Virginia
It was 10 a.m. on May 30, 1883, the same year Lynchburg's volunteer firemen became professionals. And one of the city's most tragic fires had just ignited. It became knowns as "The Great Fire of 1883," and started at Jones, Watts Brothers and Co. Hardware Store on the corner of Tenth and Main Streets. When the new alarm box at the corner of Ninth and Main streets was pulled that morning, the heavy black smoke billowing out of the building let the newly professional firefighters know they had a battle on their hands. The fire began when a store clerk used a rolled up paper for a torch to light his way in the basement. As he was walking through the basement, he accidetnly igniged oilsoaked material. The flames spread rapidly through the building, forcing customers and employees to flee the building. Firefighters were hampered by having to use only one of their two steam pumpers and desperately struggled against the fire. Fueled by gusting winds and combustible materials in the store, the fire spread to the Virginia Building and into the the new Virginian Newspaper offices. Crowds gathered and hampered firefighters from moving with the fire along the 1000 blocks of Main and Church Streets. Mayor A.H. Pettigrew feared the city firefighters would not be able to contain the blaze and sent a wire calling for help from Richmond and Danville. About 1 p.m., before the additional firefighters arrived, the winds died down and the fire began to die out. The block was completely torched but the real tragedy occurred hours later. After seeing a flicker of flames in the gutted Virginia Building, five volunteers went into the smoldering building agains the wishes of Chief Thurmond. A half hour later, the brick building crashed on top of them and killed all five within seconds. The deaths hit the city hard and the city bought three new hose wagons and new fire hose on July 4. It was the first real commitment from the city toward improving the department since Lynchburg's common council authorized the Lynchburg Fire Company in 1799. That outfit was Central Virginia's first volunteer fire company, and at the time it was not easy to fight a fire. When a fire was discovered, every able bodied man in the area who could draw water or stand in line was called. Usually, that wasn't enough. After the loss of several homes and tobacco warehouses, a hand pumper was purchased. Until an electric alarm system was installed in 1883, a constable on the street was the ciyt's only fire alarm.
|
Contributor's Note
For more information about Lynchburg go to my website.
|
|
http://nannettesaunders1.point2agent.com
No reactions yet.
Please login or sign up to rate this intel.
Please login or sign up to add a comment.
The copyright for this content entitled "Paper torch ignited inferno in Lynchburg Virginia" has been specified by the contributor as:
All Rights Reserved
This content may not be copied, distributed or adapted by anyone under any circumstances.
|
 |
May, 2012
2008
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2009
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2010
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2011
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
2012
January, February, March, April, May
|
|
Not a member yet?
Qondio is a powerful network for making it online. If you have a website to
promote, we can help.
Sign up and get in on the action.
|
|
Welcome to Qondio! Discover the awesome power this network can deliver by going to our About page. Or you could skip straight to the Sign Up form.
|
|
