From the Richmond Times, 10/18/1894, p. 1, c. 7

FIRE AT THE TREDEGAR
A MOST DISASTROUS BLAZE AT THE BIG IRON WORKS.
Flames Broke Out at an Early Hour This Morning and Great Damage Has Been Done – The Loss is Covered.

A large part of the extensive plant of the Tredegar Iron Works was destroyed by fire at an early hour this morning. It was just 3:15 o’clock when the alarm was turned in from Box No. 84, the private box in the Tredegar Works, and about ten minutes later a second alarm was sounded. The whole of Byrd Island seemed to be wrapped in a sheet of flame, the sheds and dry buildings burning like paper. The fire originated in the horseshoe department, and burned with such rapidity that the whole structure was in a blaze before the men at work in the spike mill, just across the track from it, were aware of it.

A train of box and flat cars stood on the track between the spike and horseshoe mills. One of these cars was cut loose and pushed back out of the war, but the rest were consumed. Six engines responded to the two alarms, but the place is so difficult of access that their work was for some time ineffective. The large and powerful pump of the company, which throws a four-inch stream, was located just back of the horse shoe mill, in the fiercest of the fire, and could not be utilized. The whole building of the horse shoe, blacksmith, pattern and car shops, which were of brick, and numerous sheds, were consumed, from the spike mill to the river, and part of the rolling mills were also consumed. Two small locomotives and a number of cars were burned.

Nothing could be learned as to the cause of the fire further than the fact that it originated in the horse-shoe department.

I saw Mr. E. R. Archer, who is one of the officials, this morning. He was at the fire directing the movements of a large force of the Tredegar men, who were doing all in their power to assist the fire department. It was impossible to obtain any definite information from him either as to loss or insurance, further than the fact that he believed the whole loss would be covered. The insurance, he said, was placed with firms in Richmond, but he could remember none of the agents except Montague & Co., nor could he tell what amount was placed with what firm.

It is a matter of impossibility to state the loss accurately, but if the loss at the recent Johnson Foundry fire was $100,000, this must certainly be even greater than that, as the fire was much more extensive and the buildings much more valuable. Mr. Archer, however, said that he did not think the damage could be over $50,000.

At 5 o’clock this morning the flames were still burning fiercely, and a desperate effort was being made to save the valuable machine shop.

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