Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-09-22
THE DEVOURING FLAMES
An Apartment House Takes Fire From the
Furnace.
Exciting Scenes Incident 10 Removal
of Helpless Occupants-Dama
Not of Great Extent.

Fire was the cry which resulted in the
calling of help to the apartment house at
No. 2115 II street this morning about 1890
o'clock and from three sources the fire
department was summoned. Before the ar
| rival of the firemen and police several ex-
| citing incidents had occurred. and among
others may be noted the heroic work of
Misses Ada and Katie Cummings without
which their aged father. Edmund II. Cum
nines, might have been suffocated Mr.
Thomas L. Jett was asleep in room on
| the third floor, and it was some time be-
| fore me could be arous ed and made to
| realize that the fire was in his house
Luckily, the fire1nen reached the burning
building in time to prevent its total de-
struction, and the damage done. it is es-
| timated, will not exceed $500.
Because of the cool weather this morning
| the janftor, William Mitchell, colored. was
requested to heat the house, and this he
made an effort to do by starting fires in
both furnace and range, which were in
the basement Soon afterward he left the
building, and when he returned the sight
which n ct his view frightened him that
| he could hardly speak. He explained that
the furnace was repaired only a few days
| ago, and he supposed it was in COOL work.
| ing order. When he had built the fires, a
| few minutes after o'clock he went away,
and expected when he returned the build
ing would be warm. and that he could then
close the furnace and put out the fire in
the range. But instead of finding every
thing lovely he discovered a big crowd
about the house and the building slightly
| damaged. The occupants of the house
were mostly outside viewing the ruins,
! while some were still trying to save their
effects
Family ON Each Floor.
There was family occupying each floor
of the house, and seven persons Were in
the building when the fire started. Mr..
Cummings was in bed, suffering from
nervous affection, having been ill for more
than year. With him lived his wife, who
is advanced in years, and his two daugh-
tiers. Mis-. Cummings was seated beside
the bed of her sick husband, III the rear
room on the first floor, just back of the
parlor. On the opposite side of the hall
the two daughters were together. and their
room was just over the range and fur
mace, where the fire originated. The house
is frame structure, with a brick front,
and It was al easy matter for the flames
to eat their way through to the first floor.
Smoke coming into the room occupied by
the daughters was the first warming they
had of the danger. A quick investigation
satisfied them Of their peril, and their
father was first in their minds. The room
was fast filling with smoke, and they real
lied that quick action was necessary.
Carried Out on Mattress.
the father was calling for help. They had
an idea that Mr.. Jett was in his room, but
they had no time to wait for him. For
tunately there was rear door, and il was
through this exit that they succeeded in
taking their father on a mattress. He was
nervous and excited, and made frantic
outcries.
Mrs. Cummings, the aged wife, was also
nervous and excited, and the shock to her
was something terrible. Two young men,
the scene about this time and removed
the sick man to the house of Mr. Ennis, a
reighbor. where he was attended by a ply
sician.
was sleeping in his room on the third story,
having returned home from night work
carly in the morning. He was finally
aroused by hearing cries of fire." and got
up and went to the window. thinking the
alarm was from neigbboring house. He
had been out OF bed only few minutes
before smoke came in beneath his room
door, and warned him that the fire was
nearer than he had supposed.
Down Through the Smoke.
Putting on garments sufficient to cover
Kim, he managed to get down the stairs
through the smoke and reach a place of
safety. The flames had about demolished
everything in the bed room occupied by
Mr.. Cummings. daughters. while smoke,
water and dirt had almost ruined the con-
Mrs. Cummings returned to the scene
of the fire when her husband had been
made comfortable. She was anxious to as
sist in saving her furniture and other house.
hold Effects but the firemen had extin-
guished the flames, and there was no
further danger of an outburst of flames
above the basement.
In the basement water was then more
than a foot deep, but firemen were kept in
there with a hose line for fear there was
some place where sparks were still hidden.
During. the progress of the fire some of
the effects Of the Cummings family as
well as some goods from the rooms of
Misses French on the second floor disap-
were not in the house at the time the fire
started.
UnfOunded Reports.
The sounding Of the alarm. from box 314
caused some excitement. a report gaining
currency that the Grant School building
was burning. and the parents of many OF
the children attending the schools were
among those who were first to respond.
When the facts were ascertained the anx-
fous ones were relieved.
Because of the big crowd In attendance
at the fire 1t was necessary to call out the
police reserves from the third precinct,
and the officers rendered the firemen some
valuable assistance. The department was
praised for checking the flames SO soon,
thus preventing the total destruction OF
the house.
The house was formerly the home Of In
spector Pearson OF the police department
He sold 1t to Mr.. Wilmer. who made ex-
tensive improvements and converted 1t into
v<rv ant t~Inra