Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-05-20
AN OLD MAN FATALLY BURNED.
Aaron Jones Dies From Injuries Received
While Hrs House Was on Fire.

While Hrs House Was on Fire.
This morning shortly after midnight discs
trous fire occurred in McCarthy's alley near 18th
and E streets which caused the destruction of
three dwellings and the loss of one life. The
houses that were destroyed belonged to Aaron
Jones, Philip Smith and Benjamin Fleet all
colored, and Jones was the one whose life was
lost during the fire and excitement
Nearly all the houses in the alley were frame
shanties and they were occupied by colored
families. 1t was in Aaron Jones house that
the fire started, but as he asleep at the time
he probably could not tell how it originated if
he were alive. The bright blaze and the crack
ing OF the burning timbers attracted the atten-
ton of persons outside the house first and be-
fore those in the burning building could be
aroused a large crowd had assembled. There
is a stable near the houses and the horses we're
all rescued as soon as possible. Those living in
other houses in the alley had been awakened by
the noise and in their efforts to save their fur
niture and othe- effects they came near forget
ting all about old man Jones.
CRAWLING FROM A BACK WINDOW.
The old man. however, had been awakened
by the intense heat and was making every eff
fort to save both himself and his property,
when he was noticed crawling out the second
story back window to the shed. Two able
DOuleu cOlOreu women went TO mis- assistance
and lowered him to the ground, but he was
very weak from having inhaled so much smoke,
and almost fell to the ground. He was carried
to the house of his daughter, Just around the
corner, and was made as comfortable as pos
sible.
In the meanwhile the excitement at the scene
of the fire had not subsidized. Men, women
and children had gathered in the alley and on
the vacant lots and were watching the fire. when
they saw the many occupants of the burning
houses come out of doors and windows, both
on the first and second floors. Some we're in
their night clothes. some were half dressed and
others were nearly naked
The fire department had responded, but those
living in the alley established small-sized de-
partment of their own, and several hundred
buckets of water were thrown against the
houses to prevent the escaping sparks from
causing further trouble.
DEATH OF THE OLD MAN.
Poor old man Jones was very sick, but the
excitement was great that no one thought
about sending for q doctor until it was too
late.
When it became evident that his death was
only question of a few minutes the residents
OF the neighborhood began to pour into the
house of the old mans daughter and remained
until all was over.
Those who escaped from their houses sought
refuge in the homes of their neighbors where
they could see from the windows their own
homes going to the ground despite the large
streams of water that were being played upon
the flames
When the firemen had succeeded in extin-
gushing the flames they found that many of
the houses in the alley had been vacated. and
furniture was piled up higher than what was
left OF the three houses that were destroyed.
FIRE on TWENTIETH STREET.
Shortly before this fire occurred the firemen
were called to house in the rear of No. 1902
Goth street, where colored man named John
Tucker kept confectionery store. John and
his wife lived in the house and they were
asleep on the second floor when Policeman
OBrien discovered the flames and turned in
an alarm.
Tucker and his wife we're forced to leave the
house by getting out of the second-story window.
The only injury sustained was a sprained ankle
received by Mrs. Tucker.
When the officer discovered the fire the
flames had gained considerable Roadway, and
fearing the fire would spread to other houses
the officer tried to arouse the inmates of these
houses, which he did after much diff
Guilty, and two boys in one house had to be car
ried out to save them from the flames. Besides the
house in which Tucker lived two other houses.
we're burned. The damage amounted to about
81 500. DR.. Reyburn owns the property.