Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-21
FIRE AT REFORM SCHOOL.
The Institution for Girls Seriously
Damaged.


fire was discovered yesterday afternoon
shortly before o'clock. in the laundry
room of the girls reform school. situated
on the Loughborough road, near the Con-
duit road, and only a short distance from
the District line. The blaze was extin-
guished by the employees of the place after
damage OF about $500 had resulted to the
pullding and 30 worth of clothing de-
stroyed. The fire Is supposed to have been
the work OF one Of the girls confined in the
school, who, with four others, managed to
escape during the excitement of the AFFAIR.
Three of the number, including the sus-
pected girl, We're arrested this morning
ABOUT $50 O'Clock, while walking in South
east Washington near the poor house and
the police are looking for the other two
Inc bell had just rung for supper at the
schooi; whea Stella johnson. a ten-year-
OLD coiored girl, who is known as the in
rant OF the place. came rushing up from
the laundry, where she had been sent On
an errand, screaming that the place was
on fre. This naturally created consider
able excitement, and. to make matters
worse, the colored girl had left the door
open, the flames, with the increased
draught, breaking out in full view. The
superintendent of the school. Mrs LaRue
was absent at the time Mrs. Miller the
matron, summoned the male help at the
head of which was Mr.. Schafer, the gem
eral oyerseer of the place and they began
TO fight the flames.
In the meantime telephone message
was sent TO No. engine company, at
Georgetown, and the company started out,
but was unable to locate the blaze. For a
time it looked though the building was
doomed, and the inmates. who were mus
tered in the yard, were placed at work,
saving what articles they could, the fur
nishings Of the place being brought out on
the lawn and piled up in any fashion.
The work of fighting TIE fire was still
kept up. and success finally rewarded The
o. n hn he. Aar
&C tten under control and kept from spread
ing from the laundry room, which, how
ever, was completely Quilted. IL was Only
by accident that the fire was discovered
room was hardly ever visited and but for
the errand of the johnson girl the flames
might have secured Roadway that II
would have been impossible to overcome.
At first Ii was thought none of the girls
Lad made an attempt to escape. There
were twenty-seven confined in the institu-
ton, and during the excitement the in
mates under observation acted in an or
derby manner. When the roll called.
however. 1t was found that Alberta Gibson.
aged twenty; Susie Ross, aged twenty;
Ella Kennedy, aged seventeen; Mamie Co
irgs and Kate Tillman, were missing. The
police were notified. and a strict watch
kept for the fugitives
While there is no direct evidence, II is be-
lieved that the Gibson girl set fire to tho
place. She was the last one to leave the
lal ndry room after Finishing work for tho
Gay, ana Shortly a1ter she had left me
place the fire was discovered. An investi-
cation Us now being made, and If evidence
can be obtained the girl will be held on a
very serious charge II other girls can be
connected with the affair they Will also be
held.
The escaped girls managed to elude the
DC lice all night, but this morning about 30
O'Clock three of them were seen near the
poorhouse, as stated and word sent to the
fifth precinct police station. Policeman
Richards went out and captured the three
and took them to the station. and the re-
form school authorities were notified. Mrs.
LaRue stated that she would send after
the girls some time this afternoon