Evening star., 1870-03-04
LOCAL NEWS.
The United States Hote, ON Fire
DAMAGE BY FIRE AND WATER.

DhAAck III flRE AND WATER.
About 81 o'clock this morning smoke was
seen issuing from one of the upper stories in the
back building OF the United States Hotel. and
an alarm was raised, when officer Mccol,.n
went TO the box at the corner OF AZ street and
PENNSYLVANIA avenue, and endeayored 70 turn
in an alarm, but failed, and then ran to police
headquarters, and an alarm was struck for box
Il, Adams express office.) The apparatus OF
Nos. ., and 4, and the Hook and Ladder Com
pany, were quickly on the spot, the truck run
street. south of the avenue. and Nos and
from that at the corner of b and Sd streets, the
two last-named forcing water through the back
way, and the other through the bar-room and
up the main stairway. In Consequence OF beam
being between the wall OF the back building
of the hotel and an adjoining building It was
with some difficulty that the ladders could be
raised. Fer a time the flames baftied the ef-
forts of the firemen, who were ably assisted by
the police, including the detective corps, and a
general alarm being sounded Union No. I re-
sponded. The flames were finally extinguished.
not, however, until a large quantity of water
had been thrown into the building, flooding the
floors and damaging the ceiling. Three Of the
servants rooms were burned ont, as also a por-
ton of the roof, occasiOning a loss of perhaps
three or four thousand dollars. This loss viii
fall principally on MIR. w. III. Upperman, who
owns that portion Of the building in which the
fire originated Mr.. Upperman has an insurance
OF about $4,000. That portion of the building
owned by the estate of the late Joseyh Follans-
bee, on which there is an insurance of IS 900,
WAS aisO oamaged somewhat by water.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE THIS MoRNrNG-The
alarm of fire turned in at o'clock this morning
from box 50 (Surgeon Generals office) was
caused by the burning OF the block of three
story buildings on the southeast corner of 18th
and streets, known as Smiths row. The fire
originated in the attic of the corner building
and was first discovered by Mr.. w. III. SiRcei,
who lives three doors below, and he immedi-
ately ascended to the roof of his house from
whence through a trap he obtained an entrance
into the house of Mr.. Jabez JAY adjoining the
corner and notified the inmates who had barely
time to escape. The corner building the first
story OF which was occupied as a restaurant and
the upper stories by an Italian family, WAS
almost entirely destroyed as also the house
OF Mr.. Jay adjoining. The house of Mr..
Sincel, adjoining jays, was damaged con-
siderably also, the back porches being
entirely destroyed. The three-story frame house
Of Mr.. VIM. ID. Crampsey, adjoining on + street,
was also damaged to the amount Of $1,000, the
damage to each Of the buildings not being COW
cred by insurance, although they were all
insured for small amounts. The fire depart-
ment were promptly on hand, and but for their
efforts most disastrous confagration would
have ensued. The origin of the fire is unknown.
Ihe hye houses were occupied respectively by
VIM. &. Crampsey, Herman Smith, Henry
Sincell. Smith Petit and Jabez Jay. The total
loss is estimated from $1,000 to $1,000. WIN.
e. Crampsey, owner of the building in which he
resided, was insured for Al 500.