Evening star., 1886-10-26

Marches store door was broken open and DO
licemen and citizens rushed in with the view OF
saving the property. In the rear of the building
was stored a large quantity of gasoline oil.
w hen the HarpeS approached this oil some one
gave an alarm, and those in the building made
a rush for the door. The fire reached the oil,
however, while number were still in the build
ing the building and making a report which
was heard long distance. The window glasses
in the adjoining houses were shattered by the
force OF the explosion.
THE INJURED.
Many persons were injured. Among those
most seriously hurt were Charles A. Willard,
young man OF 1e, living at the corner of Sd
and a streets, whose right eye was destroyed
and nasal and frontal bones fractured. Young
Willard was among the first to enter the store,
and was just stepping out of The door with an
armfui OF goods when the explosion occurred.
Henry e. Ranke, son of Police Officer Ranke,
living at 3O4 9th street southeast, had his right
arm broken. Fireman Philip w. Nicholson, of
truck A company, received serious injuries
about the head. John R. Harris, colored, a
pany, residing at 1913 Pennsylvania avenue
southeast, had one of his legs badly fractured
besides sustaining other injuries. Policeman
Thomas A. Clements, residing at AIT c street
southeast, was badly cut and bruised about the
head and body. He was thrown violently to
the ground. Mr.. John r. Mahoney, the paper
had one of his eyes seriously injured by piece
of glass and his face badly lacerated. Mr.
AiiCo AoA"luSuau1, LLe tedCuer Oh QaQClOg,
who was among those in the building, had his
face and eyes burned and lacerated. John
Maddox, assistant chief OF the fire department,
| residing 475 street northwest, received Sc
we're cuts about the head. George Dice, q ma
chinist at the navy yard; George McCathran, q
clerk in Shuster's dry goods store; William
wright, a young carpenter; William Obi, q
musician in the Marine band; George Getz, q
tailor: Jno. Gerhoid, Chas. MeEwen, B. Beuhle,
FRANK Morgan, Chas. Ford, John Latham, Ber-
nard Mallory, Charles Meades, George Wood. a
Watchman at the War department.; William
Wright, Sergeant Mulhall, and John Braxton
were among those injured by flying debris,
named VIM. Skeen, living at 123 9th street
southeast, and employed at the government
iently and received several bad cuts and
bruises. He remained unconscious for an hour.
SCENES AT THE FIRE.
Assistant Chief Maddox had Just arrived at
the scene of the fire when the explosion oc-
CURED, and had stopped his wagon, driven by
front OF Marches store. The terrific explosion
injured both Nicholson and the horse The
frightened animal started to run, but was soon
stopped. The wagon was filled with broken
glass blown out OF the front OF the store. The
horse had one OF its eyes cut out by the flying
fragments.
the drug stores and physicians offices in the
neighborhood were converted for the time into
hospitals and the police patrol wagons were
Kept busy removing injured persons to their
homes.
Meanwhile the fire was rapidly doing its
work OF destruction, and within halt an nour
the row OF frames was in ruins.
THE BUILDINGS DESTROYED.
The report OF the explosion seemed to have
alarmed all the citizens of East Washington,
for they gathered In thousands about the burn.
ing buildings and watched the efforts OF the fire.
men. The buildings destroyed were low and
not very valuable. The structures DESTROYED
We're We No 2l9, occupied by Alexander Howard;
Justice OF the peace, as an office; Marches store,
No. 223; A. 8. Browns shoe store. No. 225, and
The to- the No 22
to Michael Mccormick and Jacob Myers, it is
thought, amounts to $4,000. Mr.. Brown lost
Mccormick suffered a loss of about the same
amount on his stock. Mr.. Marches loss is es.
,imated at $4,000 Mr. Howard. the barber,
iost the fixtures OF his shop, and Justice TAFT
lost many valuable papers and the contents Of
his office to the value OF about $500.
THE ORIGIN OF THE FIRE
could not be accounted tor last night Marches
store, in which 1t originated, had been closed
several hours, and there was no fire left burning
in 1t. AS Marches has been discovered to be
ON fire twice before within two months, 1t is be-
lieved that last nights destruction was the
work Of an incenciary.
THE INSURANCE.
Mr.. Marche states that he had $500 in
stock insured for S2,4OO in Washington com.
panies. Mr.. McCormick's stock is insured for
81, 900, but that falls far below the value Mr..
Brown was insured for $5, 900 ON a stock con-
siderable exceeding it. The barber, Howard.
was insured for $500. Col. TAFT had no insur.
ance. Mr.. jacob Myers owned the building,
which was insured. ~
INJURED MEN DOING WELL.
Officer Clements, VINO is under the care of DR..
S. A. H. McKim, is doing well. The piece of
glass, which went entirely through his thigh, is
an angular piece 21a inches long, nearly an
inch wide and about "a inch thick, and 1t was
found in his drawers. Fireman Nicholson, at
tended BY Dr. Mckim, Is also doing well. A.
Sistant Chief Maddox is out to-day.