Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-07-14
PLANT WRECKED BY FIRE
Washington Brick Oompany's Works Sus-
tain Serious Damage.
Total LOSS Estimat ted to be $6,OOO-Nl
Interruption In the BUSH
ness Is Probable.

Fire broke out this morning in the stable
of the Washington Brick Company's plant,
at 14th street and Florida avenue north
cast. about 100 o'clock, and before the
flames could be controlled the building
was almost complete wreck. Fortunate
ly all the horses and mules engaged in
the work of hauling the brick from the
plant and the clay to the work rooms were
cut at the time. and not one of them was
lost or injured. The stable contained about
100 bushels of corn and 800 bushels of oats
some new hay, several sets Of harness and
other articles required about stable, and
the loss incurred will amount to about
81 POD. The damage to the building will
reach probably $4,000. although at this
lllne hguring on that is mere guesswOrk.
The harness was saved and only the feed
was burned. Two valuable dogs, one
hound and the other night dog that was
considered one of the best watch dogs
IN the city, were burned Last night was
the first time they were tied up for sew
eral years. A brown setter with them, but
not tied, was saved.
Gave the Alarm.
About 7:30 o'clock this morning Foreman
Schu had occasion to go into the loft of
the stable at the southeast end and no.
ticed that the room was completely filled
with smoke. He quickly gave the alarm to
those having charge of the fire apparatus,
which is part Of the plant, and then hur-
RED to turn in the alarm, both by tele-
phone and through the box at the yard.
10 which engines 10 and and truck re-
sponded. Upon the arrival of Chief Par
rlS second and subsequently third
alarm vas turned ill, bringing four more
engines and another truck upon the scene.
by this time the east end of the stable
was a mass of flames. and the firemen
turned their attention to the grain loft,
WHICH is in the west end of the building
Despite their efforts. however, the flames
.; seuT r.,; heanWay. and the only thing the
hre laddles could do was to confine their
attack to the stable. which they did with
the utmost success.
Stubborn Fight.
stable Boss John Mckeever had by this
time, with gang of men, brought out the
sets OF harness. while Policemen Cross and
fayne, the first on hand, rendered efficient
service to the company's fire department in
saving the small building adjoining and
part of the stable on the west end After a
stubborn fight. particularly in the east end
vi tne building the flames were gotten I'M
def control Inc east half of the structure
Is IN all probability total wreck while the
west half will need a new roof and also
new hoor1lS both the ground and in the
iGlt; PRESIDENT and General Manager T. L.
Hoibrook states that the total loss will be
in the neigh5orhood of 5000 and that the
building and its contents were fully insured
during the progress of the fire the work
az the klins and in the work room where the
DTlcks are made was not stopped for an in
slant, and no one, TO judge from appear
anceS at that part of the plant would SUD-
pose LOT an instant that a conflagration was
raging within a short distance. The fire
VIII not interfere, it is said, with the filling
or the contracts already entered into by the
company. as neither kilns nor work rooms
were injured in the slightest and the wae-
ois ana mules and horses were saved.
Origin IA Mystery.
The origin of the fire is a mystery so far
as any one around the yard is able to state
The hay, in which it is supposed the blaze
started. was new. and had been put in but
Gay or two before. Just before the flames
were observed a wagon load of this mate
rial had been driven into the yard and was
waiting to be unloaded. Had this been done
promptly. the fire would have been discoy-
cred earlier and in all probability been put
out with little effort.
About o'clock this morning a large fire
was put under the kiln now being burned
and when Stable Boss McKeever went after
his breakfast he was told that the yard was
abidZe. Thinking that his nformers were
mlsied by the smoke from the kiln 1t is
said, he paid no attention to them until he
looked for himself. Then he was satisfied
that the fire was out of the ordinary, and
ne Immediately started for the scene arriv-
ing in time to join forces with Foreman
Schu in saving the smaller buildings about
the stable and the contents of the larger
structure.
The feeling in the section of the city where
the yard is located was one of rather grave
apprehension, as the yard employs great
number of men and it was feared that these
would be thrown out of employment A
great crowd gathered as soon as the fact
became known that the plant was threat
ened. but the police had no trouble in han
ding the spectators, the stable being To-
Gated inside of the fence and in the rear of
the kilns, so that the onlookers could be
easily kept at distance.