From the Richmond Times-Dispatch, 10/30/1920, p. 10, c. 2
SECOND FIRE IN MONTH VISITS TREDEGAR WORKS
Fire-Fighters Nip in Incipiency Blaze That Threatens Blacksmithing Shop.
Prompt use of chemicals by several fire companies under Chief Wise checked what threatened to be a serious blaze in the blacksmith shop of the Tredegar Iron Works on the river bank near the Battery at 8:30 o’clock last night. A month ago fire of undetermined origin caused damage of more than $200,000 to the pattern works of the same concern, the largest of its sort in the South. Last night’s blaze was also undetermined origin.
Twenty-three minutes after the alarm was turned in by one of the veteran watchmen of the Tredegar Company, the men of Engine Companies 3, 4, and 7, and Truck 1 had completely extinguished the flames, not, however, before they had gained considerable headway and done much damage to the walls and roof of the shop, which is part of the general foundry group and contains much massive and costly machinery, such as giant trip hammers.
None of the company officials could be reached for an estimate of the damage done. J. J. Cosby, of 211 North Lombardy Street, is superintendent of this department. He would make no statement. Members of the Fire Department and the Tredegar police force jocosely called attention to the fact that the good luck experienced in checking the fires might have been due to the fact that it broke out in a department where horseshoes, symbols of good luck, are made and kept in great quantities.