Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-11
MANY HORSES BURNED.
Rfhy-One Animals Perish in . Disastrous
Fire on the River Front.

Sfhy-One Animals Perish in . Disastrous
Fire on the River Front.
I Fifty-one horses were burned to death last
r!yht in the stable Of T. W. Riley Sons, near
tie river front, and no one knows how the fire
I originated. The stable was ON the square
bounded by r and G, 10th and 18th streets, and
In il just before the fire started were fifty-fve
~ fine work horses as were in the city The
stable was a large frame structure, part OF
which was one story hign, while the end near
est 11th street was two stories, hay loft form
ing the upper story.
There was no one in the stable after 9 O'Clock,
for by that hour all the horses wsre In and the
work Of cleaning and feeding them was finished
The doors were locked and nothing more was
heard from the stable until about midnight,
when flames coming through the frame struc-
ture lighted the neighborhood and aroused
many Of the residents.
The fire burned some minutes before an
alarm was turned in. Policeman Bauer, who
lives IN the neighborhood and who was
noise, turned in the alarm from box 416. Per-
sons who were at the fire were surprised ct
the quick response OF the fremen. 1t took but
few minutes for the fremen to get several
streams OF water on the burning hay and tim
bers, and second alarm, sounded nine minutes
ditional companies to the scene.
A TERRIBLE SCENE
In the meanwhile the citizens who we're at
trscted to the fire rushed into the yard and
stable and erdeavored to save what property
they could. The flames had cut of the only
avenue of escape for the horses, and to rescue
them while the flames were spreading SO rapidly
was an impossibility. The burning Of the
hhlters and tmbers released some Of the
animals, and they oouid be seen rushing wildly
about the burning br'iding. One fine animal
was released and led out into the yard by a
citizen, but the Infatuated beast became un-
manageable and In a short time had returned
to the interior OF the building. After running
through the flames the horse returned to the
yard, but the fire had caused such
serious injury that tho poor animal had
TO be killed. Three other horses were rescued,
leaving hfty-one horses in the building.
Ihe wagons were all saved from the stable.
ADJOINING PROPERTY SAVED.
The FIRE started near the northeast corner Of
the building, whore there was large quantity
OF hay stored, and near this part of the building
was door leading to the hay loft. When part
Of the roof had fallen and the showers of sparks
were dropping about the neighboring premises
the firemeu turned their attention to the ad-
joining stables and lumber yards and succeeded
In combining the flames to the Riley stable. All
night long the nremen labOreC at the stable and
poured water on the large piles Of hay, under
watch were sparks enough to threaten q renewal
Of the confagration.
ISCENDIARY WORK SUSPECTED.
How the fire originated is not known, but
Mr.. W. W. Riley. a member Of the firm, said it
looked TO him like the work Of an incendiary.
He said that there was some insurance on the
building, but nothing like enough to cover
the loss, which would amount TO at least
100000. He said that no one was In the stable
when the fire broke out and that the stable
doors were securely fastened. During the sum-
mer months, when it is necessary to keep the
stables open all night for the benefit of the
horses, said Mr.. Riley, three watchmen are
kept in the building. but when the weather Is
cold enough the stable is closed and no one is
left there at night.
LARGE CROWD.
Although the fire occurred Just after mid
night the flames attracted persons from ell sec
tons of the city and the work Of the firemen
was witnessed by large crowd
The statement that No. 2 engine Was delayed
several minutes at one OF the grade crossings
by train Of cars is denied by members Of the
FIRE company mentioned.