National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-02-25
. TIE FIRES YESTERDAY:
FOURTEEN HOUSES PARTIALLY L
STROYLD.


sTRoYtD.
1t is an old and generally credited adage inc.
sit never rains bat It poufs." So We have heard
il said With equal truth that We never have one
fire, but that it Is followed by dozen in rapid
succession. The credibhity Of this has been sga'n
verified within the pas week.
Yesterday about noon On alarm was turned In
frem box 81 corner Of Fourteenth street and new
York avenue, and three companies OF ING at1 NC
parod for active wolk. The preliminary fnvesti-
Cation by the CHIEF Of the department however,
revealed the fact nat the nre was IN us
dences Nos 1917 And 1879, and had been caused ny
the negligence # some workmen who had Dccn
the ISS 81 not o upon the
roof adjacent 10 q chimney. from which some
sparks had emitted, and falling upon the tar,
gnited M ss Is melted ,t eaa ibe giames run
few buckets Of water were at once applied. and
after thorough investigation the hre department
Scarcely hal tho engines returned to their re-
spcc.ive houses when an alarm came in from box
CO. located al Eighth and T. streeis and compa-
mics i. and 1, with the Hook and Ladder, were
soon upon the
SCENE OF THE CONFEDERATION,
which WINS alarming In the extreme, as It was
seen to esvelop an entire row OF fourteen newly
built brick houses facing on Tenth street, west
ward from Rhode Island avenue to X street. Inc
dense smoke was pouring simultaneously from
the roofs Of the entire row, While the tongue Of
flame was to be seen stretched out through the
erevces in the corniee and s,.n angry apPesae
alarm was 1t once sounded b Chi.f Cronin The
FIRE department arrived at lt:34 O'Clock, and soon
with axes. hose and pipe in hand were doing val
liant and vigilaut service far the occupants and
owners OF the houses. Opsnings in the cornice
were effected at the seTe msss
Much to the disgust Of the experienced ones
and against the Of the CHIEF hsaS Of ns
tiTo mers aSSa q Effects embracing
wearing apparel, honselSld furniture and orna-
These were deposited n great piles upon the
pavement, where theyrenained in many instances
pass In f OFT .n,,s MIN I'm
was under control, cctsiderably more damage
having been effected bt the removal Of tho goods
and the flooding by wder than by the nre.
press-brick houses coz aiming about seven rooms
each, and were built Jess than three years since
by l. s. Chapman, wlo sold them 20 20 tnedf recent
being but three tenatts in the row who did not
own the houses thief occupied, viz: F. widows,
tof the chimes anS MT: Proctor, messenger T a.
owned by MIR. Whefley, lumber merchant: and
Geo. Jessup Of Internal Revenue Sv p nppas
ment, VINO GesapiP the p panng mill. The other
houses were occupied and owned as follows; Mrs
Department: Dr. ]. i. Winter, elcrk c:iariyr,:.s-
ter Generals oifcc; Nathaniel Freeman, clerk
Land Offices ar. Bartlett, private secretary to the
Secretary OF the Treasury: w. J. Collinicr, ca
aminer in Patent office; Mr. Redington clerk in
ternal revenue; Mrs. Campbell, q widow lady;
w. Redman, dfaughtsman Navy Department.;
Mr. Cooper, cIefk Sixth Auditors office, j. W.
Wisner, clerk Indian office: and II. Dingman,
clerk Interior Department. 1t is understood that
all Of these parties had insurance upon their
houses except MIR. Wheatley and Mr.. Bartlett,
the latter ge.tlcman's having expired about
week since.
The fire originated in the residence Of Mr.. Red
ir~tc- who hnyinr recently married the daughter
Of his kelghbor, Mrs Canipocl;, and wishing e
have q warm house, put in large latroSc.
defective flUc from this set ire to the Woodwork
between the ceiling and roof Of the house, which
soon communicated with the same apartment oil
the other houses, there being no partitions OF any
kind in this portion separating the houses. The
$3.50 Tor each house. but the Inconvenience and
damage TO furniture. through the indiscretion OF
Its removal from the houses, is considerable. Inc
law regulating buildings should require partition
cwalls In such rows to the root.
All parties seemed to accept the disaster with
the best grace possible and we hope will soon be
costly reinstalled in their homes, benefited by
this to some the first, experience Of housekeeping
The efficiency and promptness Of the hre ae-
partment was much commended.
Fire Commissioner b. w. Reed captured q gold
watch and chain from colored man on his way
out off OF the back door of one Of the residences
and turned IL oyer to the police. Detective Me
Dewitt in going into one Of the houses, found MY
dollars in bank notes, which he restored to the
owner. Other valuablcs were saved by the police
and restored to the frightened losers. Wearing
apparel and other valuabies were missed in the
up their scattered goods but It Is hoped they are
in the hands of neishbors through mistakes and
will hnd their way home again.