Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-23

4
Special Officer jana turned in the alarm for
the FIRE at Francis Millcr's paint store Satur-
day night. His attention had been attracted
to the place by seeing smoke issuing from the
cellar and before the FIRE bells had finished
sounding the alarm the flames had reached the
roof and were shooting high into the air.
When Chief Paris arrived upon the scene he
had but slight hopes of saving the other build
ings on the block. Merchants on Market space
we're also of the same opinion and some of
them got their goods in shape to move in case
their buildings visited by the flames.
The FIRE started in the basement of store No.
307 9th street, where the paints and oils on tap
were kept. There we're no full barrels of in
/ 6ammable material there and that, it is thought
/ is the only reason why the firemen succeeded in
keeping the flames confined in the three build
/ ings.
ITS ORIGIN UNCERTAIN.
How the fire originated is not generally
known. as the only men who were in that part
Of the store at the time were burned. Death
has since scaled the lips of one of them and the
other one Is too Ill to about the affair.
While 1t is generally thought to have been the
result of an accident. some advance the theory
that gas from a leak in the gas main had got into
the cellar and caused the trouble. As stated in
saturdays extra STAR there was an explosion in
the electric light conduit in the street. which 1T
II thought WAS undoubtedly the result of
leaky gas pipe somewhere
However the fire started the flames spread
with lightning rapidity, and in a few moments
the stairway leading from the top to the bot
tom of the building enveloped in a solid
hame, which coon found its way through the
roof. IL also went to both sides Of the build
ing in which it started. The building to the
- l~1s
ment. while to the north the flames got into the
Goodyear Rubber Company's place. In the
rear of the stores the flames spread across the
alley and slightly damaged the Bunch building,
which is occupied by the Mills type foundry.
The firemen did good work and prevented
the flames from reaching the vaults where the
barrels of oils and paints were stored, thus
! averting an explosion which might have re-
suited III Wholesale loss of life.
FIREMEN IN DANGER.
The fire was attended with several exciting
scenes and several persons were burned. When
the extension ladder was raised to the top Of
the burning building the fremen went up in
order to get in good positions to fight the
flames Foreman Boss of No. company and
Private Williams was on the ladder, when sud-
denly the flames burst through the window
Williams was forced to retreat and as he did so
he lost his footing and would probably have
gone TO the ground had not Foreman Boss been
bold enough to remain At his post in defiance of
the flames and save him When the spectators
saw the perilous posltionin which the men were
an earnest prayer for their safety went up from
| many a heart. stream of water was directed
against the burning ladder and the men below
soon had the ladder away from the building.
TWO EMPLOYEES BADLY BURNED.
Mr.. Blake Miller, son of Mr.. Francis Miller,
and Mr.. Louis Towers, who were clerks in the
store, were both badly burned and had to be
taken to the Emergency Hospital, as was also
Foreman Boss.
The two former were severely burned that
the physicians would not let them be ques-
toned as to the origin of the fire, but it
certained that they were burned in an attempt
to extinguish the flames in the cellar.
MR.. TOWERS DEAD.
Yesterday Mr.. Towers was able to converse
with Mr.. Miller. ST., and he said he thought he
had not inhaled any of the flame. He, how
ever. probably mistaken. for later in the
day there was a change in his condition for the
worse. and at IL O'Clock last night he died
Mr.. Miller. the other injured one. was not so
badly burned and the physicians think he will
recover.
The losses to stock and property of the paint
store and rubber goods establishment, it is
thought. will amount to fully $780, 900, most of
which will fall upon Mr.. Miller. He carried an
insurance on his place, but nothing like enough
to cover his loss.
MR. MILLERs STATEMENT.
To STAR reporter he said that if he got all
the insurance money he thought he would still
lose as much as $4,000 or perhaps s4O, OOO
The insurance, he thought. would about put the
buildings in order and his stock would be
complete loss
damaged by water and on the third floor fire
destroyed a large stock Of horse covers. This
loss, it is thought. is fully covered by in
surance.
Business men in vicinity Of the burned build
ings were pleased with the work Of the firemen
and the police and Mr.. Aman. the restaurant
keeper. was given orders to supply them with
hot coffee. food and Refreshments. Duncanson
Bros. Guy, Curran h Co. and Seaton Perry
were the merchants who were so thoughtful,
while Messrs. Schneider.t Borens sent a large
supply of coffee and sandwiches.
MR.. GUYS THEORY.
Mr.. Guy of the firm Of Guy, Curran 4 Co.,
who suffered from fire only few days ago. says
ne thinks that both fires resulted from leaky
gas main in the street. When his establishment
was burned out he was in New York attending
the opening of spring novelties, and when he
got word of the fire he thought gas had caused
IT. He had detected strong odor of gas in
his cellar before he went away and had been
unable TO detect any leak in his pipes, and he
lhtrclOre tnOugnI III must nave come from the
street. The night before the fire in his place
there was an explosion in the electric light con-
duit. and the fact that there was a similar ex-
plOsiOn at this fire fully convinces him that his
theory of the origin of the fire is correct.
MR.. LOUIS E. TOWERS.
Mr.. Louis Z. Towers, who died at the Emer-
sency Hospital from the burns he received in
endeayoring to extinguish the fire when it first
caught, was the son of the late Edward Towers
and was native of this city. He had been
in the employ Of Mr.. Miller for twenty-one
years. and during that time had put in two
thirds Of all the glass in the various depart
ment buildings and in many of the most ex-
pensive private residences. He was man OF great
energy and untiring industry. and met his death
| IN the performance of his duty. He was fifty
one years old. He leaves a wife and one child.
Mr.. j. Blake Miller had SO far recovered from
his injuries that he taken to his home this
morning.
The Pinta Club.
The members of the Pinta Club held q reg