The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-09-30
FIRE LOSS OF $500, 10000
TRACTION COMPANY POWER HOUSE
AT WASHINGTON BURNED.
Big Building Destroyed and Losses
Suffered by Many Tenants-Destruc-
tive Fire Mt IrOnton Last Night.

WASHINGTON, Sept. 29.-Fire broke out
in the central power station of the Capital
Traction Company a few minutes before IL
o'clock tonight and in thirty minutes the
magnificent six-story structure was
doomed. The building occupied the entire
block from Pennsylvania avenue toe street
and from Thirteen-and-a-half street
to Fourteenth. The blaze started on the
southwest corner and despite the efforts of
the entire fire department swept like wind
through the enormous building. The heat
was so intense that the men were driven
from the adjoining streets. When it became
evident that no Efforts could save the pow
er station the department turned its atten-
ton to the adjoining property, but the
flames leaped across Fourteenth street on
the west to a big livery stable and then
across Thirteen-and-a-hal street on the
east, and attacked a row of three-story
brick houses. So fearful was the heat that
the firemen could not get within reach of
the burning buildings. They were driven
back foot by foot until the streams from
the hose pipes could not reach the fire.
The entire department was on the scene,
but so fierce were the flames that it's eff
forts were futile. The power house was
built four years ago. 1t was six stories in
plant of the Pennsylvania aVenue lines of
the Capital Traction Company, was occu-
pied by dozens of offices. The walls began
to fall by II O'Clock and with the decreas-
ing heat men We're enabled to get to work
{, on adjoining property Several houses,
however, were Quilted.
Two hours after the first alarm was given
the huge building was reduced to a few
crumbhng walls. The loss on adjoining
are Old and small At one time the offices
OF the Southern Railway were threatened,
the flames. AS result of the fire the navy
YARD ana Georgetown division of the Trac-
ton Company will be tied up until power
can be installed at some other point.
The fire started in the printing office of
Harvey & Gettinger. 1t had soon gained
such Roadway that it was evident nothing
could be saved and the alarm was sounded
TO the large force of men at work in the
building. Many of them were compelled
to jump from the windows, so rapidly did
the flames progress. Within half an hour
after the fire started the entire building
was enveloped, and the flames seemed to
soar over a hundred feet in the air The
falling of the heavy six~story walls shook
the buildings for squares around. Joyces
large carriage factory situated directly
across from the Traction Company's build
ing. on Fourteenth street, is one of the
structures partially destroyed. Up to this
time there has been no report of lives lost,
but the firemen suffered severely from the
intense heat. The Southern Railway Claims
Company occupied an entire floor, and the
National Printing Company also had ample
The secretary of the Capital Traction
Company estimates that the insurance on
the building and contents owned by the
company is $20O.000 distributed among
number of local and outside companies.
The property of the traction company, in
Guiding stock and machinery Appropriated
in value $780, 900. Losses of concerns occupy
ing rooms in the building will swell the
total loss to about $500, 600. Other losses on
surrounding establishments are the Alex
andria & Mount Vernon Railway Com
pany's building, $4,000 probably fully in
sured; two-story blacksmith shop, $1,000; J.
F. Mannings marble yard, stock damaged.
The Joyce carriage factory not de-
stroyed as at first reported, but was badly
scorched.
Following is a list of the concerns having
offices in the burned traction companys
building: Harven & GettinRer; the National
Fireside, newspaper; the National Intell-
gencer, newspaper; the Sunday Herald; J.
G. Bromwell & Sons, silver and nickel plat
ers; T. C. Schofield, electrician; Thaddeus
Cahill, lawyer; the Durham Billiard Table
Company; the Globe chuck tool holders;
the Lanston Monotype Company; the Wash
ington Venetian Blind Company; the Fran
zee laundry: Charles N. and Frank Hahn,
photographers; the National Publishing
Company; the Southern Railway claims and
purchasing agency: George e. Howard q
Co. publishers: Alexander j. Wedderburn.
publisher: William E. Smith, builder and
Hamilton f. Rothrock, printer. 1t IS i'm
possible to ascertain the amount of insur-
ance carried by these firms.