Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1894-07-26
Associated pre,s Dl,paton BY Special wire.

Associated Press Dispatoh by Special Wire.
WASHINGTON, D. G., July 25.-Knox's
stables at d and Second streets and the
other buildings in that block were de-
stroyed by fire early this morning.
Not since the big fire in the patent
office, many years ago, has the fire de-
partment of the district had to cope
with SO fierce a contlagration. All its
appliances were brought into action, but
all efforts were unavailing to save the
property from destruction.
THREE FIREMEN KILLED.
Five brave firemen had been crushed
under the falling wall, and four men
were injured by falling walls and
timbers. Three Of the tlremen lost their
lives.
Over 200 heavy draft horses, nearly
all of the company's express wagons,
and the contents of the large storage
building were burned. The Adams
Express Company's stables, adjoining
the Knox Building to the north, were
also almost entirely consumed. About
100 horses were in the Adams Express
Company's stable, but all were taken
out by the hDrd work on the part OF
citizens and policemen.
Eight two-story houses on the alley,
| north of the Knox Building and two
small frame houses back of the Adams
stables were destroyed. Six or eight
| other residences were more or less dam
aged. Mitchell's blacksmith shop, on
Second street, was crushed by falling
walls.
LOSS OF OVER $250o00.
The total loss will exceed quarter
of million dollars.
The bodies of the following named
firemen have been recovered: Samuel
E. Mastin, Michael Fenton, Dennis
| Donohue, all tiremen of No. Co. One
| of the Knox stable employees was
burned and may die. Fully a dozen
tiremen and policemen were overcome
by heat and had to be carried to places
Of safety.
The injured are; j, G. Wilson, 225
Eleventh street, S. E., broken Leg james
Kelhal, 462 Virginia avenue, $. W.,
sprained back, seriously injured; Lee
Bell, 1902 street, N. W., burned about
hands and face; James A. Hooper,
truck A, lacerated forehead; Edward
Cahill, citizen, shoulder broken.
OTHER FATALITIES FEARED.
The police reported that some labor,
ing men were also lost in the building
being overcome by smoke while en-
deavoring to save some of the property
and books from the office, but this re-
port could not be verified.
ADAMS EXPRESS STABLES AFIRE.
The warehouse and stables occupied
over block. The fire was discovered
about $50 o'clock. A number Of men
who were sleeping in the Knox Build
ing were awakened by smoke. They
found the entire rear of the second tlool
of the building in flames and had hardly
time to escape with their lives. Before
they had left the building the blaze had
communicated to the three-story real
part of the Adams stables, and was
darting out Of the windows of the
second and first floors of both building!
in the rear.
A policeman sent in an alarm through
patrol box. 1t was still alarm, anC
brought out two companies and u truck
IL HOTTER FIRE NEVER RACED.
Five minutes later general alarr,
was turned in and in five minutes NOR,
the entire fire department of the cit,
was on hand. Every company anc
every fireman was needed. A hottie
fire never ragged. The flames poured il
great sheets from the doors and Windows
Of fhe great stables. All this was in {
very few moments. A hundred mel
fan into the Adams stables and cut loos
the 100 horses they contained. The
animals were cut loose and turned into
the street. Not one attempted to rur
back into the stables, US horses fright
ened by fire usually do. The terrific
heat seemed to warn them, and in spit,
of the binding smoke they made thei
way to safety.
200 HORSES PERISH.
Tho horses of the Knox Co. could no
be reached. There were 205 of then
and they were on the second story o
the building, which was seething mas
Of flames from the very start. The mos
of them must have persisted from tn
terrific heat and from the dense smok
before the flames reached them.
The Knox Building was four-story
structure of brick. On the first foo
were the heavy wagons Of the concern
on tile second floor the horses, on tn
third and fourth floors hay in larg
quantities and merchandise of all kinds
which had been stored with the com
pany.
Another four story building of tn
Knox Company, facing on Secont
street and connecting with the stables
. separated only by thin, brick wall
was used entirely for storeage purposes
1t was packed from basement to roo
with furniture and merchandise. FAM
lies had stored their entire household
belongings here, merchants had left cal
loads of supplies, and there was loa
after load of incoming and outgoin
! freight. 1t is in this building that tn
greatest loss occurred. Thousands wi
, not touch the property lost in this grea
, storage house. The insurance canno
begin to cover it.
e AS the fire ragged persons could no
. pass on this or Second street on accoun
of the intense heat. The fircmen wer
obliged to throw water on each othe
| repeatedly before they could approac
within working distance of the build
ings. The men who had to hold line
of hose on the b street front Of tn
Knox Building were obliged to lie tls
1 on their stomachs and hold their face
, to the ground, so awful was the hea
Q Policemen who had to help drag til
3 hose about were obliged to remove the
! outer clothing and be frequent
: drenched with water. About 10 minute
q before o'clock portion of the wall {
e the rear of the Adams Building fell int
the alley and across the back ext
Instantly the crowd set up cry "Tt
hremen are In there !"
CRY OF HORROR.
IL xunu q Org Of hnrrnr IL 1unn trn