Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-07-25

A -
13 1-2 stree. southwest
Dennis Donohue, fireman, No. l.
THE INJURED.
j. G. Wilson, 525 18th street southeast.
broken leg.
James KcIhaI, 462 Virginia avenue
southwest. sprained back; seriously in jured.
Lee Bell. 1902 1 street northwest. burne
about hands and face.
james A. Hooper, truck A. 5Il + ctreet
northeast. lacerated forehead
Edward Cahill. citizen; shoulder broken.
Unknown employe of Knox company,
probably fatally burned about head and
chest.
Three brave iremen were burned to dea tn
and hundreds of thousands of dollars OF
property was destroyed by fire this morn
Ing. The mammoth four-story stables and
warehouse. situated at the northwest cor
ner of ID and b streets. belonging to the
George w. Knox Express Company. took
fire few minutes before . O'clock AMI by
the end of two hours there was nothing eft
OF the home of this big business but pie
of charred bricks and timber
1t was far and away the most destructive
ccn1agration that has visited WASHINGTON
ago. From the time that the blaze was
first discovered by some men sleeping in
the building 1t spread with such amazing
rapidity that there was little the fire de-
rartment could do in the way of ex-
tlnguishing the flames. Within a very few
minutes both of these immense buildings
we're simply a seething cauliron of flame
so hot that it was dangerous to approach,
within working distance. The Intensity of
the heat interfere1 seriously with the la
borS of the firemen, but they kept at 1t like
iroJans. pouring great streams of water
into the writhing, whirling mass of fir. If
they had been streams from little toy en-
gines they would have had as much an
parent effect. IL they had been streams OF
kerosene they would not have increased the
intensity of the heat
One of the saddest features In conpac,,o,
with the disaster was the fact that over
two hundred horses lost their lives Moth
ing could be done to save them. for they
were stabbed on the second floor and it
would have been courting certain death for
any one even to have attempted their res
cue An immense amount of sympathy VA :
Sewn oy the big crowd Of people who were
watching from safe points of vantage near
by when they realized that all those fine
animals that were familiar sights around
town In knox's big express wagons were
peined IN and beyond all hope of escape.
Half n Million.
1t Is difficult matter. from APPEARANCES
even to approximate the amount of damage
done from a financial standpoint. or To es-
innate the actual loss suffered by the va
rious people whose property went I'D in
smoke. The heaviest loss, of course falls
upon the Knox Company. but In the big
storage warehouse scores Of people had lef;
their belongings for the summer and many
were heavy losers. There were a number
of people who had shut UP their houses for
the season and had stored everything they
owned beyond what would go IN trunks. 1t
would probably be within bounds to say
that more than a half million dollars worth
of property was destroyed.
For over two hours the fire ragel as no
fire has done in this city for years When
1t died out it died for the reason that there
was nothing left for the flames to feed up
on. In the rapidity with which IL spread
ard the intensity OF heat thrown OF the
fire was not unlike the burning of the big
cold storage warehouse at the worlds fair
when SO many men lost their lives.
When the engines were called off there was
not even a wall standing where yester lay
all was hustle and activity. They had all
fallen into the fiery furnace or out across
the streets. In the thirty years since the
elder Knox established the business doing
general express work 1t has prospered and
grown, until it had almost a monopoly in
this city. Most Of the large wagons that
are used for moving big safes. machinery
and things of that sort were owned and
than one are likely to be crippled for the
time being by their destruction. Mr. Knox
died couple Of years ago. but he left two
sons, who were trained in the business. As
at present constituted the firm consists of
Messrs. William S. Knox. George Il. Knox
and NJ X. Van Arsdalc Mr.. William s.
Knox Is the general manager of the busi-
ness.
The Rapid Spread.
TIE buildings which were brrrel this
morning occupied the southeast quarter of
the square bounded b. AMI streets and
I'll and 81 streets. They ran back To wide
center alleys which were largely used by the
horses and wagons Of the Conp9ny. At the
corne: was the main building OF the ex
I.ress coIapa ny. of red brick. four stories in
height and comparatively new structure
ON n street. and adjoining the main build
ing, was the big fire-proof structure that
was used a ware house. The two build
ings were separated By = narrow passage
way. but were also connected by 4 covered
bridge on the second fioO-, which gave the
fire an excellent chance TO spread. From
what The Sta reporters. who were the
scene shortly after the fire broke out. could
learn froni those in the place. the fire start
ed In the stable building near this bridge.
The building contained a large amount OF
hay. feel and in1ammable materials of one
sort and auothsr, 81 that the fire. when
once started. spread as though 1t were fol-
lowing trains Of powder. There was no one
at the fire this morning who seemed to have
The slightest idea how il started. Flames
were discovered about 2.1J O'Clock. In adj
lition 10 the night watchmen. there were
several others who were accustomed TO sleep
in the building a. night. and they were
awakened by clouds of dense smoke envel-
oping them. They had hardly time to cs-
cape alive. for instantly the whole rear part
Of the second floor was afire. By the time
they had left the building the flames had
spread to the Brock building adjoining on
II street. and occupied as the stables for
Adams Express Company. More than a
hundred horses We're stabbed here. but a
number o. men rushed into the building and
succeeded in turning the horses from the
building before the fire had got much head
way. This building was badly damaged
but was not entirely destroyed.
Splendid Work.
tn" frst aiarH: was sent IN by ar officer
from \ neighboring patrol box. Two en-
gines and truck responded. A second
alarm was sounded q few minutes later and
this was followed Immediately BY he gen
eral. which called out the entire depart
Inent OF the District. The chief Cf the de-
partment directed the work in person. while
Maj. Moore. Capt. Austin ana other officials
Of the police department directed the eff
forts Of their men in keeping back the
crowds which th-onGed the streets. BY the