National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1877-06-14

Destructive Fire In II Lumber Yard Last
Night.

Night.
One of the largcst fires that has happened In
the District for some months past occurred last
night. At DID o'clock an alarm was struck
from box ~ for n fire discovered in the lum.
bcr-yard Of Messrs. Wilctt and I.ihbcy, corner
of New York avenue and Sixth street north.
west
The fire originated in the large stable in the
yard, and was the work of un inccndiary
shortly after the first alarm was struck
Chief Engineer Cronin turned In u general
alarm, which brought the entire fire depart
mcnt to the ground. In the stable where the
fire originated We're two horses aud two mules,
which were burned to death before they could
be rescued. The flames extended from the
stable to large lumber shed filed with dry,
dressed lumber, which was soon destroyed.
The fire next ignitcd the private Office Of the
firm, where were two safes and their private
papers, which, together with the office furni-
ture, were removed before being damaged
The Office building was entirely consumed
The flames next crossed the alley-way and de.
stroycd another shed, containing large
quantity Of holdings, flooring and dressed
lumber. The fire next extended to the second
stable q smaller one, in which were one horse
and two mules. This building was also de.
stroycd, but the animals were rescued.
The flames next passed to the piles of lum.
Der on the west side of the yard, and some
| three or four of them were burned. Had the
| fircmen not worked as manfully as they did
the entire stock of lumber, to the value Of be,
tween $4,000 and 10000, would have beer
destroyed. As it is tho loss sustained by
Messrs. Willctt 4 Lihbcy will be between
5000 and 5000, which is covered by insu
rance.
One Of the animals burned was very fine
draught horse. for which the firm would mol
have accepted 800. At IL o'clock last night
the ircmen Were still ut work. Had the wind
been blowing in nOTtherly, instead of a west.
erly direction, the entire stock in the var
would, despite the strenuous efforts Of tn,
frcmen, have been destroyed.
1t is singular fact that at fires there are
certain class OF people who make a practice o
crowding about the tlrcmen and seriously in
tericre with them in the discharge of thei
duties, and last night the police had as mucl
as they could well attend TO to keep this elias
Of busybgdies out Of the way
AN INvECrIvE AssAuLr-In the case @
Edward O'liricu, charged with assault on VIM
Spencer, which came up in the Police Cour
yesterday, the most interesting witness was
Slaughter. A. Slaughter was a solemn look in
ColorGd man, with white GhOker and a sane
tilted expression, who spoke with a dciibcra
ton that characterized him as man VIII
prided himself upon the correctness of hi
speech. Edward OBrien was drunk, an
while staggering along the street bumped u
against VIM. Spencer. Spencer said that h
had better come back and try that over AGAR
and O'Brien did come back and kicked Spence
on the shns.
Spencer said, come hack" testified NJ
Slaughter, "and Mr.. O'Brion iIvcctively sal
What he would"
"What, invectvely2" asked the Court.
YES, sir"
The Court smiled and said, On"
"JIe came back three times and kicker
him." continued Mr.. Slaughter
Where did he kick him. asked tho prose
cutting attorney.
"On the third trip"
"Whereabouts-on what part Of his body ?
rob, on the knee"
Anything else occurF'
There the chaos ended" replied tho wit
ness, with an OratoriCOl roll of his voice. an
he was excused from the stand.