From the Richmond Dispatch, 12/24/1887, p. 1, c. 3

FIRES YESTERDAY.
Five Thousand Dollars’ Worth of Property Destroyed.

Yesterday about 11 o’clock the roof of the spike-mill at the Tredegar Iron-Works caught fire, and before the Fire Department could extinguish the flames about $5,000 worth of property was destroyed. The firemen were promptly on hand, but owing to the water being out of the canal, on account of the break at the Old pump-house, the four steam force-pumps could not be worked, consequently the men had to rely upon buckets. There was great delay in turning in the alarm on account of the recent removal of the alarm-box from the Tredegar Works to the foot of Seventh street, and before the city Fire Department could be gotten to work the fire had made such headway that two of the shed were very much damaged. The Fire Department, however, succeeded in staying the progress of the flames, and in about half an hour the fire was out.

The origin of the fire is a mystery, as these mills shut down several days ago, and there was no fire known to be about the place. It is not thought that any serious damage has been done to the machinery in these two mills.

Early yesterday morning – about a quarter past 2 o’clock – as noted in yesterday’s issue, a fire occurred in the stable adjoining Michael Kelly’s junk store. The damage amounted to about $75. An incendiary is supposed to have done the work.

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