National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1882-02-06
JEFFERSON SCHOOL nulLplno.
The Dcstruction orthr Building Complete
AuInvcsttcntIon- What WIN re Done


As stated in THE REPUBLICAN OF Saturday morn.
ing the Jefferson School building was wholly con.
sumed, and nothing is now standing save the bare
walls. Commencing at 3i5 Saturday morning on
the first floor 10 burned until three o'clock in the
afternoon. The fierce snow storm Of the day did
not begin until about two hours amer the fire
broke out John Kane, Of No. 3 Company, was
severely burncdby the explosion ofsomc chemicals
in the second story, used to run the electric clocks
and bells. He was burned about the face and head,
and his lips were fearrilly torn. Foreman sor-
rell, Of No. engine, struck by falling tmbers
his uniform hat saving his life Charles Boss and
Adams OF No Company were burned 10y the eN.
plosion ofchemicals. All ofthese men are bciDgwe
cared for During the progress of the fire the hospit
able people Of the noighborhood served hot coffee
and Catables TO the gallant firemcn. The fire is
believed to have been the result of careessness in
somebody throwing lighted cigar or cigarette on
the floor during meeting the night before ofthe
Jefferson Literary and Debating Society. No 4 En-
gine- House ndJourns the school. house, and the
company was promptly ut work, but could not
save the building, as the fire had gained TOO much
hcadway The eutirc department was called out,
and the men work hcrocnlly.
ONE or THE GRASDEsT SIGHTS
outside of the burning building itself was the
glare Of the flames on the Capitol and other public
buildings ofthe city. The whole west front Of the
Capitol looked MS If painted fiery red while tho
shHdOwy flames tipped the other lofty structures
o. the city looking like grand sunset I'm autumn.
Notwithstanding the early hour In the morning,
thousands of pcrsonsgathcrcd around the FIRE, and
q number Oftrains on the Baltimore and Potomac
Road were stopped in consequence of the lines of
hose across the track.
THE LOSS.
1t is estimated that the loss will reach fully
100000. The building cost when first erected
sl20,OOO Joseph Williams, who is now In Denver,
was the builder. II was opened during Mayor
Emcrys administration. The plans were altered
alter he took the contract, which cost him nearly
$1,000 in addition TO what he received lie has a
claim still pending before Congress for that
amount. The jefferson Literary and Debating
society lose their whole library of between six
hundred and seven hundred volumes; no insur.
ance. The teachers lose their roll-books and
other papers. The buidingwas insured for $4,000
aud the furniture for $500 mostly in foreign
companies. The School Board and the Fire Board
will probably both investigate the cause of the
connagration. All things considered, the fire. oc-
curing at the time 1t did, is tho best thing that
could have happened. The building is not fitly
located for school house, and, with the insurance
money, together with what Congress may nppro-
PIRATE, two, or even three, nice school houses
could be erected in different localities "on the
Island" This has been wanted in South Washing
ton for some years past