The times., 1897-04-12
BAD BLAZE IN H|LLsDALE
Several Houses Burned, IncIud-
ing Historic Douglass Hall.
FIREMEN HAD DIFFICULTY
The Loss Not Fully Estimated.
Colored People Will Mourn the
man Malone Was Slightly Injured.
Two Horses and Mule Crenated.

Hillsdale, u superb OF Anacostia, was
visited by most destructive fire curly
last evening, and before it was gotten
under control the historic Douglass Hail
was almost totally destroyed flour and
feed mill, together with dwelling house,
was burned to the ground, and two other
houses partially burned.
The fire originate in the rear OF william
Garrison * Sons flour and feed mill, on
Howard street, one door from the corner
OF Nichols avenue, and it had gained con-
siderable headway when Policeman Ryan
discovered the flames bursting from a
back window. He at once telephoned the
alarm, but, owing to the remote location
ana the lnfldmnable nature of Uhc material
inside the building. 1T was raging uuss
of flame before the firenen arrived. The
fire quickly redcfed the dwelling house Of
George George, on the right, and a few
moments later the rear OF the Douglass
Hall was also burning
Two engine companies responded to the
first call, but as the nearest fire plug was
almost a quarter OF Il mile distant all the
hose was used for one stream, which availed
| little against thtspreading flames. \ second
call brought extra hose, and after a short
time four streams Were playing on the
burning buildings Chief Paris arrived on
the scene promptly, and under his direction
the firemen put up splendid fight under
most adverse conditions. 1t was seen that
the Garrison Inill anu the George house
We're doomed. SO every effort was directed
toward saving Douglass Hall and pre-
venting the fire from spreading further.
Houses on both sides of Howard street
were blistered by the terrific heat, and at
| one time the roof of the house occupied
| by DR.. w. X Scott was burning, but the
blaze was quickly extinguished
The house Of Abe Willis, which stood nest
TO the George building, was on fire several
times, and the fircnen saved the building
| only by the most desperate work. Douglass
| Hall, which was an ancient frame building,
burned like tinder, and the intense heat
| made il almost impossible for the firemcn
| to work efficiently The entire building
| WAS Quilted before the fire was finally
| gotten under control, and only the tottering
| she'll of what was AnacoStia most historic
| structures remained.
| The cigar and confectionery store Of
| Henry Say.es, on the corner Of Howard
| street and Nichols avenue was partially
| burned, but the stock saved.
Two mules and a horse. o. wned by the
| Garrisons, were confined in stable in
| the rear of the mill, and they were Gre
| mated, as it was impossibeto get them out
The exact cause OF the the is mystery.
| Both Mr Garrison and his two sous Were
| viz in ViIpiuia left
on Saturday night, the mill being securely
| locked No estimate of their loss can he
| gained until they return, but it IS known
| that the building was insured for 81 200
| and the min fixtures for 81 GOO. A small
| insurance was carried on the George louise,
| and it was estimated that the Joss viii
| amounts to 81 800
| The damage TO the Willis house was not
| great, and will be covered by the 81 200
| insurance on it,
| Fireman Malone, Of No. 8, was injured
| by falling chimney in the Garrison mill,
and was conveyed to the office Of DR..
| watson, where it was found that he had
| been temporarily blinded by the dust
| and ashes from the falling bricks.
| Douglass Hall, which was almost total
| ly DESTROYED, was one OF the landmarks
| OF AnaSOStl3. llS history DtinS identilSu
with that of the town from the very begin
| Ming Shortly after the close of the war,
the Freedmen's Association, composed OF
| prominent colored men, and of whom
| Frederick Douglass was the moving spirit,
Offered special inducements to ex-slaves
| to settle in what is now known as Hills
dale The hall was the first building con-
| structcd and it was named in honor of
| Douglass For years 1T was used as g
place of assembly by the colored men of
the section, and In it Douglass delivered
many speeches, which not only made him
famous, but did much for the uplifting OF
his race or late years the lower part of
the hall was used as tenement, but for q
wear IL has not been used for any purpose
other than as public hall for colored or
panizations. TT was owned by a Mr.
Nash, of Washington, and tits not known
whether any Insurance was carried or hat