The morning times., 1896-11-25
LUMBER FED THE FLAMES
Continued from First Page.

flock or sparrows on a telegraph wire.
DREW ENORMOUS CROWDS.
on the rising ground to The east and
across the railroad tracks from. the wood
yard 1t appeared as though every inhab-
liant or Capitol Hill had gathered on
the houses and in the streets.
AT 1888 o'clock, twenty-four minutes
after the firsb alarm was turned IN, the
roof of the burning building collapsed
ana i've minutes later the west wall fell
IN The fire was then at It's height and
the crowd thickest Two rumbIing re-
ports Following close one after the other
warned the firemep back.
moment later the roof fell with a
crash OF splintering timbers and breaking
1oists. great shower of sparks and
iiaming brands 81 hot up into the air and fell
- ini" Unr stetIing Crater Or settled
slowly down over the Gro wd and surround
ing buildings.
fnen The west wall toppled and rell
outward into Capitol Park. The east wall,
the horth wall and a portion of the south
wall followed in the order na med and the
heavens sfone again with the glare.
by this time tn', lire had eaten into the
piles of dry lumber which surrounded the
mill and began TO spread toward the coal
yard. long line of freight cars standing
on the II. Il y. tracks on First street
were in emrninsnt danger. They were
covered with spatks and the firemen could
not reach them.
WAS HASTILY MOVED.
An engine was hastily sent from the
iicihHl 3arus Ii plunged Gown into the
smoke and flames and coupled on TO the
cars. In moment they We're drawn back
TO the main track and beyond danger. but
Tue men who did II risked their lives.
Inc iiremen worked herolcaly TO prevent
lhe flames spreading 10 the coal piles in
the southern section of the yard, but it
SEEMED almost useless to pour riny streams
OF water into the blazing mass.
Tile lirst alarm which had been turned
In by sergt. Lombardy and Policeman
CreaGh and Mr.. Lynch had called out en-
Sines No. D, 3, and 8 and Truck A. on
lhese companies fell the brunt OF the battle
at first.
NO. engine was stationed on q street
almost directly opposite the northwest
corner OF the mill The engine is a new
one and was received by the company yes
lerday. For three hours last night itpuIled
ana strained In the heat without hitch
Iue neat became So intense that the paint
on the wheels hlistered and flaked off in
IN httic patches and the men We're obliged
10 cover the boiler with blankets
AT 1:l9 O'Clock, five minutes after the
first alarm was sent in, a second call came
from headquarters for more engines, and
Nos and 10 and truck ID responded. Be-
iore they mad reached the scene, however
the extent Of the fire became apparent, and
at I:23 general alarm was sent out, call
ing out every engine in the city but the
chemical companies and truck Is.
Win ten companies and three trucks in
action the effect was soon seen, and ali
danger of the fire spreading disappeared
The firemen turned their attention 10
the burning lumber piles, in the hope of i
saving The northeast portion of the yard,
Which had not caught. The stacks Of dry
boards burned fiercely. The narrow lanes
between the tall piles OF lumber were
seethinS vtstas Of flame, but the firenen
pushed down them, carrying long lines Of
hose and drenching everything. Buildings
andlumber yet untouched by the fire smoked
III the heat and water was constantly lash.
ed over them.
WHOLE ROW SCoRCHED
A row Of frame dwellings on q street,
between First and North Capitol streets
northeast, We're scUrched and only prompt
work saved them. Every pane II glass
IN the square shriveled, cracked and Drop
ped out of its frame.
AtNo- 90 u GstreeJ northeast Mrs. Carpenter
an old lady, seventy years Of age, was
nearly suffocated by the heat and sIupxe.
The front of her home was on fire, and sne
was in the second story when Policeman
Hayes heard her cries for help. lie rushed
up the smoldering stairs and carried the
old lady down to place OF safety
The coal and Wood yard OF William A
Linton, which aljoins the row Of frame
buildings caught from a shower of sparks
and several streams OF water We're al once
turned On it.
The home of Mrs. Ganey, at No. Sc
street, and the house next door, Oc-
cupied by James Hoileran, We're badly
scorched and damaged by water.
Vinson Il Perry s coal and wood yard and
livery stable. at No. % q street was
also in danger from flying sparks, and
the rear wall Of. the building had to be
torn down in order to get the horses to a
place of safety;
AS THE HEAT SUBSIDED.
After the mill walls had fallen the
heat became less intense, and the fircmen
Were enabled 10 approach nearer the center
of the fire. The crowd also pushed for
ward and kept the police busy. Fire lines
Were stretched and thethrong kept back to
Il reasonable distance.
The police arrangements Were of the
best and very little disorder occurred. The
entire Reserve from all precincts, but the
Seventh, We're present, under the command
Of Leuts. Kelley and AmisS, and the i'm
Inense crowd was handled in a most salts
factory manner.
Frank TaIbert, the night w watchman, who
was the only person in the building when
the fire started, made a statement. He
said
Il hardly think it possible that the fire
could have originated in the engine or
boiler re ON. l had Inspected 10th these
rooms shortly before | discovered the
flames and all appeared to be right. 1
make my first round at o'clock and the
second at 80.
There was no one in the building but
boiler com and in the lantern | carried
The mill closed down shortly after O'Clock
in the afternoon and everyone left the
building.
Il don't understand how the fire could
have started unless someone set it on fire.
but 1 hardly like to say that think it
started just north of the engine room.
THE wATCHMAN's STATEMENT.
when l first saw the flames it was
blazing up quite fercely. l ran into the
room and tried to put it out. 1t spread so
rapidly, however, that my efforts were use
less, and l was soon nearly suffocated by
smoke. had Just time TO get outside II
l had remained another moment / could
never have gotten out. | cried Fire and
several men who were passing along G
street ran and notified the police, who
turned in an alarm. By this time YOU could
see the flames at the windows. 1t didn't
seem a mon; eut before the whole place was
blazing
when the engines came the entire lower
floor was on fire, and knew there was no
chance of saving the building 1t all hap
pened in a moment. i never saw a fire
burn so quickly. did not have time to go
to the office and get my things / had an
overcoat and suit of clothes there, and
they are gone with the rest OF it.
Il did everything could to put the fire
out, but it was no use, and I'm thankful
to get out alive"