The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-05-19
AWhoIs Block Of Commercial Buildings
Swept Away In the City Of Washington.
A QUARTER MILLION DOLLARS IN ASHES
The Latest Messages Over the wires
Brought the Sad Tidings that
Several Brare Eiremen Are Buried
I'm the Debris Scene Surrounded
by Sympnthizine Friends.

washington, May 1S.-Fire swept away
81 whole block of commercial buildings
opposite the Smithsonian Instution soon
after o'clock this evening. The lives of
at least three firemen were crushed out
by falling walls. The loss will exceed
100000. The buildings covering the
block adjoining the Centre Market held
large part OF the commercial and pro-
duce commission business of Washing
ton, and while not of great value, their
contents burned so fiercely that a great
portion of the residents from all portions
OF the city were attracted TO the scene Of
the confiagration. From seven TO eight
O'Clock the district was visited by one
of the most terrific thunder:t orms in
years, and it is thought lightning travel
ling on the telegraph wires entered q
postal telegraph sub-s;at!on and started
tae flames. which rapidly spread through
the h:ghly infiammable materials in the
stores fronting on Louisiana avenue,
Ninth, Tenth. and Il streets
Nh!ie the iiremen of No. s engine were
working hose through one of the old
buildings, the roof fell without warning.
Dury:ng them in the ruins Alarming
reports spread at once that a dozen men
We're Killed. The wrecked building at
once began burning fur!ously. and any
attempt at rescue was beyond question.
NOT until an hour later had t.ae flames
sutnc!ently subsidized at this point for the
ilremen to begin clearing away the de-
DIS Ihen three men-Joe Mulhau. Dom
uiaSon. and kennedy-sti!l alive. but
scorched alal crushed beyond all hone az
recovery were taken out and removed TO
inc Providence Hospital AT miduipht
Lhe hremen came upon another bodv
Others are hi!ll believed to be In the
ruins, ana are being searched for.
Among the principal sufferers are the
.oioWins William Il. CLARK. Agricul;u-
~,
nue.; ,. Bens!nger. horse and carriage
auction-housa, $40 Louisiana avenue.
compton Bros, butter and eggs. s34 on
isiaha avenue; o. ID. Spicer. butter and
eggs, 936 Louisiana avenue; T.. NJ. Wal
hei d Co., $3.50 Louisiana avenue. T. (
eMaihe d Son. $50 Louisiana avenue
me buildings on the b street eide
"hich were entirely ies;loped were
occupied by Edward Adams. commisssio ion
merchant; Taylor Wad>. dealer in butter
ana eggs: frederick Fishiere. J. A. Davis
SON w. ). Anderson. two stores: w.
y. Shreves. Brown Brothers Matthew
son " Co, and William Semms.
1eweii crowley. who keeps a small
restaurant midway of the block lost
everything and barely rescued h,fs fam
lily alive.
Later information is that Firemen
Giles and Griffin are dead and that Fire
men Mulhail, McElroy. Keppler and
Nenheuy are danSe! ouSly, perhaps ia
tally injured. Four others are known to
De IN the ruins and several Others are
missing and search is being continued
late into The night for them.
rms fire is one OF the direst calamities
and Is only one of its kind since the
notorious Knox fire OF about two yea, 8
ago. The buildings tina, were burned
were comparatively of small value.
though quite Il whole block of them
were swept out of existence. The full
extent of the terrible calamlties tha, at
tended the con1agratfon was not known
unfil late hour. and the neighborhood
sur ounding the scene was thronged up
10 long after midnight by excited and
sympathzing groups of friends of the
unoftunate men buried in the wreck of
walls and ruins.