Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-12-09
SERIOUS FIRES IN THE srBURHs.
The Need of Firs Engine EmphaticaiIy
Demonstrated.


Between and 10 O'Clock last evening two
disastrous fires occurred in the northern sub
ures Of the city. most effectively demonstrating
the utter helplessness of the section against the
IRE nend- shortly after O'Clock the explo-
sioa OF e gasoline stove in the kitchen Of the
cottage occupied by Mr. Christopher s.
Geo-ges. on the south side Of Columbia road
between l4th and 18th streets extended. was
followed IN very short space Of time by the
complete destruction of the cottage. Mr.
Georges. In attempting to extinguish the flames.
was painfully burned about the face. breast
and hands. and was removed to the house of
MI Berry, near by, where his injuries were
dressed
telephone message sent to police head
quarters brought TO the scene Engine Company
No .. but By the time the company arrived the
hamss had gained such headwsy that it was i'm
possible 10 save the building The building
was owned BY Gen. ID. q. Swain aud is said TO
have been fully insured. Mr.. Georges los.
everything IN the house. amounting to about
sJOO- tlve or SIX men employed on tho cable
road, who boarded at the house lost all their
$500.
ANOTHER TIRE BEEAKs or.
Before this fire was e1tinguishe,' the two
story frame house on Sheridan avenue between
Walisch and Marshslls streets. just a square
east o! ttA street extended. was discovered to
be on FIRE In the rear. The house was occupied
by Mrs. Caroline Brown. colored, who was
away from the city and who had left the house
closed up. NeighboTs who were first to reach
the house found the front door open and the
back Of the house full Of FIRE. The neighbors
worked vigorously to remove the furniture. and
before IL had all been taken out their efforts
we're needed elsewhere. A brick wind
blowing from the north and a row of three
two-stOry frame dwellings just south of the
Brown house was soon aire. They were
eupied hv TOliver Thurston. John Scott and
Cyrus Field. all colored
telephone message brought Engine Com
Panv No and Chief Paris. and Company No.
later came over from the first fire. They
found great difficulty IN doing effective work
on account Of the lack of water. The nearest
hydrant was at Whitney avenue l. 500 feet from
the IRE. The hose OF the Mount Pleasant fire
company was attached TO this and both engines
we're required to puTnp "a stream. This hose
burst soon after the water started and
there was further delay while the hose from No.
was being put Ia Use.
An old colored deaf and dumb woman was
rescued In her night clothes with some diffi-
Guilty.
SERIOUS LOSS.
The three larger houses were owned by their
occupants, who said they were bought from
". ". Metcslf the real estate dealer. last June
The t. Ia loss MAS estimated at $4,000 The
rNnets ala thHt the houses were insured and
that the Insurance hal been transferred 10 them
- a part Of their purchase. but they could not
tell In what company or for what amounts the
insurance WAS carried. Furniture and house
hold goods were piled in the neighboTing
houses. and neighbors kindly cared for the
burued-Out families In an hour from the
starting Of the IRE thc frames were burned to
the ground The occupants were all working
men. uVCa whom the loss will tall heavily.
IL j. believed that the origin OF this fire was
inccrdiary.
President lille OF the Mt Pleasant Citi-
zen- Association has called meeting .. the
association for tomorrow evening - taAC action
IN regard TO the fire. Great md. ,nstiJn Was ex-
pressed by the citizens < ut Pleasant and the
adjoining suDu.b. last evening respecting the
lack Of prOp~- apparatus and sufficient water
supply . effectively guard against fire. why,
-Ir. said one Of them 10 a STAR reporter. we
nave no earthly chance against ire and Il is an
outrage that We should j. so neglected.