Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-01-21
GEORGETOWN.
A Destructive Fire To-day.

HERR AND CISSELS FLOUR MILL CONSUMED.
One of the largest and most disastrous fires
that has occurred in this place for many years
occurred here to-day. At about $50 O'Clock am.
an alarm was struck from box 121 (the engine
house, for fire in Herr Cissers ti0ur mill,
situated on the southwest corner Of Grace and
Potomac streets, in the rear Of the market house
and south of the canal. Immediately afterwards
a general alarm was turned in, and in about
half hour every engine in the District was pre-
sent and at work. The smoke was so dense
that the firemen could d nothing but
play upon the building from the outside and
Into the windows At 10 O'Clock the fire was
at its height and had spread 20 every part Of the
building. The heat was so intense, and the
flames shooting forth at such great distances
that fears We're entertained for the safety of
ing building, and for Herr Cissel's warehouse,
opposite the mill Hill paper mill seemed also
In jeopardy. Thousands OF people were upon
every available space, watching the progress of
the flames Had the fire occurred at night the
sight would have been an appalling. but beau
tiful one. At about II O'Clock it was evident
der control and would confine them to the mill,
which they did. The origin of the fire cannot
be asceI tanned. 1t was discovered by Walter
PaTnes, an employe of the mill, in the third
floor southroom, on the wheat side in what is
known as the cleaning room, and spreading i'm
mediately to the dust room. The plugs in the
Immediately turned on, and it hoped this would
stay the progress of the flames. G.W. CiSsel one
of the firm, stated that at Sis o'clock he walked
through the mill, except the third floor. and saw
nothing of fire. At 9:15 O'Clock the fire was dis
covered, and had evidently been burning slowly
some time, for 1t broke forth Immediately with
great power. There was stored in the mill
about $4,000 bushels of wheat, but few hun
dfed bushels of which were saved the remainder
being burned Or damaged by the water. There
was also about 800 barrels of flour, about 1000
barrels being saved in a damaged condition
All the flour In sacks was saved except that in
the packers. The warehouse opposite contained
most of their stored wheat, being about so, 900
bushels which was Of course not dam
aged. The building was owned by. Mr.
A. II. Herr, who bought it in 1864
from Mr.. Wilson. The mill with its machinery
owing to depreciation in the real estate market
would perhaps not reach more than half that
sum at this time The stock in the mill was
estimated at about $4,000 Insurance on the
mill amounts to 500, 900, on the stock to S15 600
total, $4,000 The mill for all purposes may be
standing-SO that the insurance will not begin
to cover the loss. The bulk of the insurance
was in foreign companies. The Potomac InSllr-
ance Company, OF this city, had s., 900 upon the
MILL and the CorcOran Insurance Company of
Washington was also interested This is the
third time this mill has been burned down,
the last time being when BumfOrd owned it. the
fire having occurred, it is said, on the 18th day
of september, 1884, at midnight Saturday. Mr.
george w. CiSSel entered the firm of Herr a.
Cissel last April, one year ago, and OF course
shares In the loss on the stock.
District Commissioner Morgan, with Fire
Commissioner Hume, were present at the fire
directing and experimenting. Messrs. Herr q
Cfssel had eatables furnished to the firemen for
their hard mornings work. A colored boy named
Elsey Gibbs was arrested for stealing a bag of |
flour which had been brought from the mill.