The Washington times., 1895-03-21

Dense volumes of black smoke poured
from the caves and windows of the top
story of the lofty Central National Bank
building at Seventh street and Pcnnsylva
MIA avenue about $50 O'Clock last even
ing and soon scene OF intense excitement
was presented in the vicinity. Into the
hurry buny of humanity that crowded
about the great brown stone structure came
thee fire engines with changing bells and
the patrol wagons from the First and Sixth
precincts filled with policemen.
Ropes were quickly stretched to keep
back the surging crowd and Engine No.
. and the chemical, which were the first
10 respond TO the alarm from box 124, were
soon at work and kept the flames from
spreading to the front of the handsome
building. The other companies and trucks
were quickly on the ground and Chief
Paris took personal command and directed
the work OF his fir&nen.
CAUSED BY CARELESSNEsS
The fire started in the rear of the sec
ond floor of the Janney building, No. 629
Pennsylvania avenue northwest, which
is an annex to the Central Bank edifice,
II was caused by lighted gas Jet in the
toilet room OF II. c. Davis * CO.. rail
road ticket brokers on the second floor
OF the annex. The burning gas jet had
been carelessly thrust back against the
woodwork of the window.
Adolph Price, young man who clerks
for Davis X Co. saw the volumes OF smoke
coming from the toilet room and ran to
the automatic break the z lass" fire
alarm next to the elevator in the bank
building With his "develine" nickel
whistle the pane of glass was smashed
and the great fire bells commenced to toll
the alarm.
TIE flames quickly spread to the COM
bustible material in the ticket brokers'
office, and young Price, remembering
that there was a considerable sum OF money
in the cash drawer, dashed through the
smoke and fire ard secured IT, although
ne was considerably scorched in doing so.
e From the appearance of the upper stories
OF the Couble structure at 600 O'Clock IT
looked as though the costly and hand
some edfice would be Quilted, but the fire
men, under Chief Paris, worked with sys-
TEN and dispatch, and socn had the blaze
under control. The building was quickly
flooded from top to cellar, and the long
safety ladders enabled the firemen 10 pour
streams Of water through the upper win
dows.
The Railways and rooms Of both build
ings Were filled with smoke, and Jantor
j F Shectz had considerable difficulty
in removing his family 10 the street from
rooms in the upper story, which are occu-
pied by them.
LIVE ELECTRIC LIGHT WIRES.
About O'Clock new danger was caused
by live electric light wires setting fire TO
the woodwork between the ceilings and
flooring above. The firemen We're COM
PEELED TO break great holes in the plaster
ing in order 10 get at these hidden biazes.
( BY 7.l5 O'Clock the fire mad been subdued
and all danger was past
The blaze, which started in the toilet
I room of the annex, Gid not reach the bank
/ building proper, but asCended the narrow
stairway OF the Janney building like a
! fiery cyclone, and did great damage TO
! the rooms and passages in the second,
/ third, fourth, and fifth stories, also badly
damaging the roof and cornices. The
I flood OF water from the fire hose also
I wrought great havoc TO the rooms and
contents in the Janney building. 1t poured
down to the second story and filtered
! through the ceiling, drenching the dairy
Iunchroom of Norman, Browning & Smith,
on the fiTst floor of No.-629 PENNSYLVANIA
/ avenue
The building in which the fire started
! is owned by MIR Henry Janney. The adjoin-
| ing edifce is the property OF the Central
/ National Bank Company.
The Jdnney structure is occupied by Silsby
/ & Co. bankers and brokers; Davis & Co.,
agent: some of the upper rooms for storage
/ by II NJ. Kingsley, and the National Life
Maturity Insurance Company.
In the upper rooms of the bank building
are located F. G. Graf broker; A. r. Me-
/ Chesney, broker; j. II. a. Fowler, r. G.
/ Dun & Co., Joseph l. PeytoD. A. Z. Randle,
/ Hartley & Pike. brokers; X. ID. Graham,
James Bayne, the Third Cooperative Build
! ing Association, and Others.
The damage by fire and water will amount
! to several thousand dollars; fully covered,
I it is believed. by insurance.
HISTORY OF THE BUILDING.
The Central National Bank building has
an interesting history. In the good old
1 times before the war. there stood on the
+ site OF the present picturesque structure
/ a quaint three-story brick building, ghostly
/ and gabled, and as Old as the city of Wash
ington itself. For many years it was
| occupied by venerable Mr.. Statt, as a
pharmacy, and Venable's old daguerrotype
! gallery.
DR. z. d. Gilman, the druggist, remem-
F bers when the original brown stone build
4 ing, which is now the bank building. was
! EfrEAeu 1t was III ltlc lGtbcI DdIU VI
1853, OF at the beginning of 1860, its
owner being John II. Sommers.
AT the outbreak of the war, the brown
stone building was occupied by the Daily
Morning Chronicle newspaper, and on
1 It's outer wall was posted the first public
/ copy of President Lincoln's proclamation
calling for $4,000 volunteer troops to sup
press the rebellion. In later years it
became the st. Marc Hotel. and about
nine or ten years ago the building was
reconstructed into its present shape, at a
cost of fully $4,000, by A. B. Mulett,
ex-Supervising A rchitect of the Treasury
Department. Two cupolas were added to
the roof, the lower floor made fire proof.
| the rooms remodernized and the structure
/ then became the property of its present
owners, the Central National Bank Com
pany.
Struck on the Nose With Brick.
A brick, thrown by persons unknown,