Richmond, VA Fire Kills Three Firemen, Oct 1915

Fire Threatens Business Center of Richmond, Va.

(Associated Press.)
Richmond, VA., Oct. 10.-Fire early today destroyed a block of warehouses in Richmond’s wholesale and tobacco district, and at 2 a.m. still was spreading. The loss at that hour was estimated at $250,000. The Crenshaw Tobacco warehouse and other buildings near Thirteenth and Virginia Streets had been burned and two watchmen were reported to have lost their lives.

At 3:30 o’clock the fire had been confined to the block in which it started and was believed to be under control. Practically all of the buildings in the block had been destroyed or were badly damaged.

Montgomery Advertiser, Montgomery, AL 10 Oct 1915

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Richmond Business Block Is Burned

Loss Estimated at $250,000; Two Watchmen Thought to Have Lost Lives.

Richmond, VA., Oct. 10 (Saturday)-Fire early today destroyed a block of warehouses in Richmond’s wholesale and tobacco district and at 2 a.m. still was spreading. The loss at that hour was estimated at $250,000. The Crenshaw Tobacco warehouse and other buildings near Thirteenth and Virginia Streets had been burned and two watchmen were reported to have lost their lives.

At 2:30 o’clock the fire had been confined to the block in which it started and was believed to be under control.

Gazette-Telegraph, Colorado Springs, CO 10 Oct 1915

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Three Firemen Killed

Crushed Under Wall Weakened By Fire Which Did $500,000 Damage At Richmond.

Richmond, Va., Oct. 10.-Falling brick walls, following a fire which destroyed Crenshaw’s warehouse in Shockoe Slip and tobacco and other stock valued at more than $500,000, caused the death of three members of the city fire department today. The dead are: CAPT. RICHARD M. NORMENT, C.L. ATKINSON, and W.R. ODELL, members of No. 1 Fire Company.

After the fire was practically under control the firemen ventured too near one of the walls of the Crenshaw warehouse. It fell with a fearful crash. Captain Norment was instantly killed, while Atkinson and Odell were crushed so badly that death occurred a few hours after they were rescued by the comrades. A.K. Davenport and D.D.C. Johnson were injured and are in a serious condition.

The fire was discovered shortly after 1 o’clock this morning the Crenshaw warehouse. Thousands of pounds of tobacco, stored there for shipment to Italy, were lost. Other buildings burned were those of F.V. Gunn & Co., the Federal Sugar Refining Company and the R.A. Canthorne Paper Company.

A strong wind was blowing and only by the hard work of the entire city fire department was the blaze confined to the square within which it started.

The Sun, Baltimore, MD 11 Oct 1915

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Three Firemen Killed.

Falling Wall Burns Richmond Men After $500,000 Blaze.

Richmond, Va., Oct. 10.-While firemen were at work among the ruins of buildings destroyed by fire early today a brick wall toppled over and buried them. R.M. Norment, Captain of Fire Company 1, was instantly killed. O.L. Atkinson and W.R. O’Dell were so badly injured that they died soon after reaching the hospital. A.K. Davenport and D.C. Johnson were seriously injured.

The fire, which destroyed Crenshaw’s tobacco warehouse and a dozen other buildings, caused $500,000 damage.

The New York Times, New York, NY 11 Oct 1915
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Transcribed by June. Thanks June!