Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-08
!, An INCENDIARY FIRE.
AsestructtOn or the Ph9nix Planning
MHi-A MAN Charged with Incemsltar.
lam

ism.
The large building at No 1910 Ohio avenue
known as the Phoenix planning and moulding
mill, went. through the experience OF an at
tempted auction sale and an inccndiary FIRE
last, night. AT o'clock Mr.. Duncanson. the
auct1oneer, In pursuance of an advertised no
tice, appeared In front OF the place and asked
tor bids. The highest bid received was 81 s, GOO
but as the limit fixed by the owner was S2o, ,ooo
the property was withdrawn from safe. The
nfe was more successful In Its way, and the
building, which was a large three-story brick
structure, was completely destroyed The fire
oroke out at twenty minutes TO O'Clock, as /;
sls peiieved. In u pile OF shavings on the first
Hoor NJ the rear of the building Policeman
hathaway. who quickly discovered the flames.
turned Ia an alarm, which soon brought The fire
department to tic ground. Chief Paris, upon
reaching the fire, at once sounded
"A GENERAL ALARM,
anui1n lew minutes had his whole force
at work. Owing to the very infiammaele
character OF the material with which the build
Ing Was stored, the flames made rapid head.
wayand soon burst through the roof. The fire.
meE devoted their energies largely TO prevent +
inS the nfe from spreading to the adjoining
ini,fs and lumber yards, ali OF which seemed
threatened with destruction, but wnich escaped
without damage oi her than that resulting from
n.gration, and at times cheered the firemen.
When the fire had burned some time the third
uoor, IOuueu with machinery, Tell in with u
cfasu ana brilliant display Oh sparks.
THE BURNED MILL
was erected by Mr.. Daniel Smith twenty years
ago It occupied a frontage of S4 leet and ran
through to street. About a year ago, when
MI. smith retired from business. the property
was purchased by Mr.. William II. Mclean, jr.,
for $25.UUO. Mr.. Mclean conducted "a mill.
ing business tor time in connection with MT.
Philip n. Dwyer, and then the mili was closed,
but was shortly reopened. Ly Z. Edward and
George b. Clark, who had since conducted
business there.
THE EsUpposEp INCENDIAEY ARRESTED.
The police came TO conclusion when the
hre broke out last night that it Vas the work
OF an fncendiaTy, aud Lieut.. Arnold arrested
IN front CT the building Melvin ". Washing.
Ton, Tue foreman OF the snop, VINO, 1T was
stated, was seen coming from the building in
company I'll Waller Dozier, the coiored w.. tcu-
man few minutes before the fire. The police
ciaiUed to have evidence that Washing ton
nlaue proposition to workman at HAM
nlond mill. near by. to assist him ia burning
the pace. stating ihat he had been paid Slou
10 90 the work. The damage TO the building
ano'stOcK Was estlmateu a. about p2U,uUu
THE: LOSSES AND INSURANCE.
The Messrs. Clark state that their loss is
about $500, tue value of lumber which was in
the mill at the time. Mr.. Mclean stated to-
day that he had not made an estimate OF his
losses; that the INSURANCE. was oniy Sl1,ooo.
Some OF the machinery, he said, had not ueen
paid Ior and still belonged 10 the makers Ia
Baltimore. aud he did not know whether they
had insured it or not. BY inquiries among iIi-
sur;ahce agents to-day STAR reporter learned
OF the following amounts he'd by different
ihe American, OF New..s; tue
LondoA Assurance corporations; the teunsyi-
vania, OF Philadelphia; Peoples Insurance
company, Oh Pittsuurg; Western Insurance
company, OF Pittsburs; the Imperial. OF Lon-
the North British aud Mercantile, the
Fremen's of Baltimore; the American, the
German American. aud the LIucasnire, 500
fltkAN
anu Aiarlne, and Hartford Fire, S1,uuu eacil,
ana the Providence, Oi Washing ron, 81, ,ovV,
agsregating, Sll,OvO. Tue property was vi
sucn a, character inat no one COMPANY would
insure ii ieaviiy.
rhe Messrs. Clark had large amount of Iumx
Der on the outsiuc vi the miii whicu Was noi iii
JureQ. -IAcy uaQ made arrangements ai Last eve
ming to increase their force and go ahead tuis
nfuFnlnS upon large Quan,lty OF work for
which tney nad recei sesLofasss.N x.s,,. -
Mr. Jonn Al nier, u prominent SoutH Washing
&<sa tuln Der 4eales, lost about s5u tuilI.
yer; =; As had IN the neighDorhoou ., $500 worth
above amount Was destroyed.
THE ARRESTED MAN.
Lieut.. Arnold said this morning that WASH
ington had not admitted setting fire to the
building, Washington is u coiored man, though
SO light in com mpexIon that he passes Tor q White
man. lie nas been empioyed aUout the mill Ior
years. The evidence against him is mainly cir
Que man stated tIat f1e saw Iiin
i'll the mill at 6:25 O'Clock. Washington, the
man arrested, hau i'm his pockets when arrested
about Sl2 la money. A man VINO had been
with him, howeve said that lie had had about
800 within the past day or two. THIS st.,,e-
ment Wa hington denied. The Insurance conn
pan,es, IT Is stated, will make u thorough inves-
tis alton Oh the fire.
lue alarm was struck at GAO.
Mr.. Mclean, lhe owner OF the property, pre-
paratory To Tue sale advertised last night has
been ior several days ana nj CUTS movin., pr.p-
erty beiDnginS 10 nlm cut Ol the building he
said to-day mat he cuuid not see any reason
why unyoie should set tire to the DuiIuing.
There afe trusts Oh the property At the present
Time amounting to Sl3 3,2OU. Mr.. McLean, il is
stated, Was ANXIOUS 10 seal, as II has been 4
rather EN- Uarrassing investment ior nim.
Tue ouiidIns is almost a. COM pietc wreck
thOuk h tue wuiiS are sLIll standing. The nur..-
S,ern corner, In wuIcu olIlce was locd Ted.
was not tOucueu Dy the fire.