Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-11

cupied by r. A. Golden; $40 G street. owned
and occupied by Lewis Johnson; go 18th
street, owned by c. H. Parker, and occupied
owned and occupied by w. E. Carney as a
cigar store. and the house Of William Fitz-
gibbons G street between Sth and 9th, were
snghtiy damaged. Included In the property
OIL the Home Ice Company were thirty very
fine Ice wagons of a new and improved de-
sign and which were valued at $500 each.
Houses on G Street Burn.
While the fire was raging along the river
front the sparks and burning timbers were
carried through the air like so much chaH
and houses for squares away were endan-
gered There are rows Of houses not far
IRON the river front which are shingle
roofs, and these houses were especially en-
dangered, as were the wood yards, saw mills
and railroad depots and shops. Bucket lines
were formed along some of the streets to
prevent what threatened the destruction of
a large part Of that section of the city and
some effective work was done. On G street
between 9th and 10th streets, however, the
sparks did some damage, totally destroying
two houses and slightly damaging other
property.
For while the residents Of G street
this square were frantic, and several wo-
men became hysterical or tainted. Some
Imagined their houses were burning when
they were not. and one woman became so
hysterical that 1t was feared she would die
AT some of the houses the frightened oc-
cupSHt Tore up carpets, pltcneu furniture
and other household effects to the street,
when there was no necessity for 1t, and the
less occasioned in this way will amount to
several hundred dollars at least.
Located on high elevation on G street
were two frame houses Nos. 923 and 925.
The latter house caught fire on the roof
from q spark from the big fire at the river
front and got good start before 1t was dis
covered. Soon the fire burned through
the frame walls and both houses were a
solid mass of flames.
Whole Row I'm Danger.
Mrs. Annie Gibson, who lives in the house
where the fire started, was not at home. but
many of her household effects were saved
by the police firemen and citizens. Mrs.
Garden, who occupied the adjoining house,
was at home and she assisted in rescufng
her property from the burning structure.
For few minutes the entire row of houses
adjoining was in danger, especially the
frame house of Mrs. Carney, No. 921 against
WhiCh the heavy gale blew the flames from
| the burning houses.
! Mrs. Carney and others Of the family were
In the rear Of the house watching the other
| fire when a crowd Of men from the street
| rushed in the front door and soon had the
| carpets from the floors and the furniture
and other household effects on the sidewalk
| in pile Dishes were smashed, and consid-
| cradle damage was done the property thus
| removed.
| While these houses were burning per-
| sons living in the neighborhood were bus-
| lily engaged In an effort to protect the
| other houses.
! Overcoats, trousers and undergarments
| were in great demand. as were bedding, for
| all these articles We're soaked and put on
| the shingle roofs of the houses to prevent
| them burning from flying sparks and tim
| bers from the other fire.
Peril of the Oyster Boats.
More than score Of oyster boats were
| at the wharf. and their owners sought to
| save them from destruction, while tugs in
! the river Were employed to remove from
within the supposed danger line all boats
! which could not otherwise get away in
| q short time. The oystermen wet their
| sails and decks and stood about on their
| boats to throw water on the large pieces Of
| burned timbers which were coming down, 1t
times as thick as hall. They were success
| full in their efforts, for none of the boats
| were burned.
| Need of Hnrbor Fire Boat. -.'
This mornings fire shows tGe necessity
of a harbor fire boat, such as Harbormaster
Sutton has asked Congress to provide. Had
| there been a good fire boat in service this
| morning, the river men think, some effect
| i've work could have been done, and the
| flames would not have proved so destruc-
4 tive. When the flames reached the wharf
| at the waters edge men on fire boat could
| have poured water on them in a way more
effective than could the firemen on the
| land. ''
The "Joe Blackburn" was at the harbor-
masters wharf when the fire started, but
was soon afterward its way to the
scene Of the colfagration. The little boat
however, was of no use at the fire, and
the men on board were, Of course. power
less to be of any assistance.
with today's lesson" said fireman
Congress ought surely to appropriate e
money for harbor fire boat" Harbormas
ter Sutton's recommendation, he said, was
good one and he hoped Congress would
not act adversely upon it until the commit
tee had given the matter every considera
ton.
Two Small Fires.
There were two slight fires last night
which called for the assistance Of members
of the fra department. Early in the even.
ing coal oil lamp at the house Of Mr.
Hess, -. 631 X street southeast, exploded
| and caused about SIS damage About II
o'clock an alarm of fire was sounded from
box ga for fire in the house of l.. J. Mel
! choir, No. 1113 Park place northeast. For
tunately, the flames did not gain much
| Roadway before the arrival of the fire de
| partment. and the damage did not exceed
500. The cause Of the fire is not known.