Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-02
FIRE IN A PRINTING OFFICE.
The Establishment OF r. J. Gray Robbed
and Then Burned.

ana Tneu Burned.
Thieves broke into the printing establishment
Of E. J. Gray, go Pennsylvania avenue north
west, early this morning. and after rifing the
desk OF about S200 went upstairs in the press
room and set fire to the place.
Officer Gilbert was making his last round this
morning about half-past o'clock when he dis
covered the flames leaping from the eth floor
OF the Independent Ice Company's building,
$40 pennsylvania avenue northwest, where ar.
Gray has his Office. He ran at once to the fire
alarm box at the corner of 9th and d streets
and sent in an alarm from box l29. The
hre department responded promptly. Fore
man Maddox. with Engine Company. No. 2, was
the hrst on the scene. 1t was the work OF a
moment to get the company into service and
form plan OF attack. 1t was decided to con-
centrate the force Of the company at the en-
trance of the burning room Upstairs went
the hre ladies OF double quick. As they
ran past the Office of Mr.. GRAY that gentleman,
who had been sleeping peacefully undmindful
OF the danger, quickly opened the door
The sight of the fremen was answer
enough and he was dressed in jiffy. Up on the
NTH floor the fire ragged but the firemen fought
II bravery, although driven from their position
several times. A few moments later truck C
arrived and the flames were mounting skyward
out the full strength OF the fire department
Chef Paris. assisted by Assistant Chiefs Lowe
and Belt. directed the attack and before long
the fire was out
INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE.
Meanwhile the police we're conducting an in
vestigation down stairs. In the first place the
large doors on the first floor had been forced.
and 1t was through these the burglars gained
admission. On the fourth floor the door lead
ing to the Office of Mr.. Gray was forced and his
desk was burst open and papers scattered all
etor and publisher of the National
Illustrated Magazine, The Young American,
and the Union Veteran, and always has
large number Of stamps on hand. The stamp
box, which contained about $50 worth Of
stamps, was emptied and the specie boxes one
OF I. $. coins and the other of Canadian pieces
aggre2atlng III all about $l25, were also rifed.
A case containing five Swiss watches, which
were used as premiums for subscribers, was
also contiscated. After ransacking the Office
the burglars went upstairs and set fire to the
place.
Mr. Gray. the proprietor, occupied the room
adjoining his office, but he slept soundly
through all the noise which the burglars evil
IDENTIFY made in bursting open the doors
THINKS 1T WAS SET on FIRE
He said this morning to a reporter Of TIE
STAR that he had no doubt that his place
had been set on fire after it had been robbed.
The persons who did the work were familiar
with the Office. and while the robbery might be
accounted for he could not understand why
they had set fire to the place. He knew of no
enemy of his who would do such a thing, and
thought probably that in ransacking the place
the burglars had dropped piece of lighted
paper and thereby set fire to the building.
MIR. C.. Ii. Church. president of the Independ-
ent Ice Company. which owns the building
made an inspection of the premises this morn
ing. At first he thought the fire caught from
the Dynamo which is located on the fifth floor
but investigation showed but little fire there
abouts.
Mr.. Gray places his loss anywhere from
S2,oo0 to $4,000. While the presses on the top
floor ere injured they can be repaired but there
are about $4,000 cuts and engravings used in
connection with the magazines, which are
total loss.
The building throughout is more or less dam
aged by water, but covered by insurance. Mr..
Gray is also slightly insured.