The morning times., 1896-02-12
KEPT VIGIL ALL NIGHT
Close Watch Maintained On the
Scene of the Fire.
$4,000, But the Insurance Has
Not Been Determined

There was but one topic OF conversation
in South Washington last night. Everybody
talked about the fire completely described
in The Evening Times yesterday.
All the afternoon and ey ening and far in TO
the night knots of men aud women stood
upon the corners and looked upon the sodden
water soaked mass of burned and blackened
wreckage.
They talked of what might have been had
the firemen fought less bravely or been
unable TO get the flames under Control before
they had gained too much headway. Under
the conditions that prevailed yesterday the
possibilities of such q fire are awful 10
contemplate. The entire river front would
have been devasted and the losses would
have reached up into the hundred thousands.
To the passer-by on Water street but few
evidences of the fire are visible. The high
white board fence that separates the yards
from the street hides the scene OF ruin
within. From the river side, however,
a full view of the wreck can be had. The
peculiar odor that always hangs over the
scene of a fire, pervades the surroundings.
Electric lights in the street and the rail-
road yards beyond bring out the scene
of disaster with neat distinctness.
ing, was Willis ice house stand out clear
and distinctly against the glare OF the
,ity, the charred timbers towering above
the heaps of ice. at Johnson Brothers
wards the darkness hides nearly all traces
of the fire, but here and there burned
log sticks up as reminder that the flames
had been there.
In every coal and wood yard along the
water front buckets OF water have been
placed at intervals of twenty or thirty feet
in case the fire should suddenly start up
afresh.
Every precaution has been taken TO pre-
vent a new outburst, as it is impossible 10
len whether the flames are not smoldering
beneath the huge piles of coal. Had the
fire occurred at night the danger would have
been greatly increased.
There was but little danger from falling
walls or the usual mishaps the firemen have
20 look out for. The thing most to be feared
was that a spark, caught by the fierce wind,
would catch in the clothing of fire fighters
or bystanders.
Several times Ma ior Moore was discover
ed to be ablaZe, and it needed the prompt
attention OF the men 10 put out the flames
before they gained Roadway. One young
man stood chatting with friend and watch
ing the firemen, entirely unconscious til at
his own coat was burning, and his trousers
beginning to smoke. A policeman noticed
the flames, and quickly stripped his coat
from him.
The members of No. engine company h ad
an experience they did not bargain for, and
which they will remember for some time.
The men were ordered out onto the wharf
and while working on the fire the plankin g
gave way, and every man received cold
bath that considerably danpened their ardor
for fire fighting.
The figures stated in the Evening Times
regarding the damage are practically cor
rect. About $4,000 will cover the loss
but the insurance cannot yet be definitely
stated.
The only accident reported was that TO
C. W. Hopkins, a member of truck A, who
was hit on the forehead and quite badly
cut by the nozzle of hose.
Hopkins was holding the pipe, when the
water was turned on, and the force OF
the stream threw the brass nozzle against
his head. He was taken to Emergency
| Hospital, where Dr.. McGrath sewed up
the cut, and later he was conveyed to his
home, No. 2O5 1-2 E street northeast