Evening star., 1897-06-03
Loss WILL Be VERY SERIOUS
Washington Fire Department Sent
an Engine to the Spot.
SCENES AND INCID ENTS
Evening Star Bureau.
No. $50 King street,
PaIl Tolonhana No 1(N


trous fines ever seen or. heard Of by. the
oldest Of her inhabitants. The entire river
front from Prince to Duke street was
completely devastated, as well as most of
the buildings running back from the Strand
through to Union street This section is
covered principally by warehouses and
manufacturing properties. The whole block,
bounded by the Strand. Duke, Union and
Prince streets. was almost completely
wiped out, only one warehouse, with its
contents. being saved.
Shortly after midnight, while Sergeant
Smith and Officer Ferguson were patrolling
that section Of the town, they discovered
fire in the fertilizing establishment of Mr..
Herbert Bryant, which is located on the
corner of the Strand and Duke street.
The policemen rushed up the street, both
blowing the fire alarm on their whistles
long and loudly, doing everything in their
Efforts to get the fire department on the
ground as quickly as possible. in order that
the burning building might be saved
BY the time however. that the fremen
arrived at tie scene; the entire warehouse,
which wai a metal-covered frame building
of large dimensions, was completely III
flames. This building, together with the
engineering building, about twenty feet op-
posite. was completely destroyed by fire.
1t contained about $4,000 worth of fertil-
izer, and material for manufacturing same,
and was partly insured. The engine house
across the street. which was razed to the
ground, contained complete set of
gines. boilers and other machinery, which
IS now complete wreck having been ut
terly demolished by the roaring flames.
The Flames Spread.
From Captain Bryant's plant the flames
leaped to the Old Dominion brass works,
which they completely gutted. and ruined
about $4,000 worth of machinery and tools,
in addition to patterns that could not be
replaced for $150.O0O. This building is also
completely demolished, so far as its use
fulnesS is concerned.
From the Old Dominion brass works the
flames caught the Old Dc c1inion Boat Club
and as it was frame stru cture it took but
few minutes to burn it to the ground,
with its entire contents, which will make
the clubs loss about 5000. partially cover
ed by insurance. Mr.. De Wilton Aitcheson,
who owns the coal and wood yard just
alongside of Moores foundry, was another
sufferer to an extent that he unable at
this time to estimate Another the burn
ed buildings Is the piece of property belong
ing to Mr.. j. d. Hooe, used by the Godfrey
Laundry Company This building is COM
pieteiy Quilted inside. the roof gone and
most of the walls fallen in This piece of
property is insured for 5000, which will
be very close to its value.
An Old Landmark.
A piece of bad management on the part
OF somebody caused the loss of the old
Pioneer n,ill which has been a landmark
in this city for number of years. 1t was
built before the war by Mr. William H.
F'owle, and operated by him as a Touring
mill For time it was used as a grain
storage warehouse by Mr.. George Y
w orthinSton. and Messrs. ]. T. and J. G.
Beeknam. of late however. it has been
w phar
tTe building has completely rotted away.
A week or ten days ago the Pioneer mill
was soid to trustees representing, it is
pany. for $500, and it is said was insured
1or s21O. although 1t cost many times that
amount to build. It was in litigation in
some way. hence the low price for which
it was sold. for the bricks in it were worth
nearly 1900. 80
The Virginia Beef Extract COMPANY. of
which Mr. Penniek Of Washington is man
az ager n,.nt was = another of the heavy losers
loss to Its stock will amount to more
tnan S,OO0. 1t had ready for shipment
this morning over 81 900 worth of goods, for
the United States government
Mr. William Fl. Brooks lost two bricL
nii.c cnines. which were stored In one of the
sutted warehouses. The building at the
corner or Union and Prince occupied sby
"A. ~ brockett & Company. brokers'. was
very much damaged. and a large quantity
OF lard stored therein damaged to such an
extent as to be all but useless Officer Fer
suson DISTINGUISHED himself by going into
an an, adJoining warehouse. where a large
quantity Of gasoline and kerosene oil were
on storage. and being the first man to com
mence to roll the barrels away from the
flames. e
The Wharves Burned.
The fire extended for quite two blocks along
the Strand. and within those two blocks
there were number Of wharves, nearly
aH or which were burned to the waters
edge. On one Of these wharves there was
arout loo cords of cord wood. belonging to
Mr.. De Wilton Aitcheson, which was burn.
eu SO as TO be almost useless. The steam
yacht Amer1cus, after great deal of trou-
pie ana danger, was gotten out of its build
ing py several members Of the club and
ar chored safely in mid stream Several
vessels and tugs which were moored at the
being burned.
Messrs. William A. Smoot & COMPANY
very kindly rendered the services of their
hand fire brigade. and did some very ef-
1ective service, for which they deserve
great credit. Along about half-past IL
O'Clock II looked very much as IL the dam
age would be a great deal more serious
and spread from square to square through
out the eastern and northern parts of the
town, as the wind was blowing strongly
from the south. and all the buildings on
the entire block bounded by the Strand.
Duke, Union and Prince streets were in a
roaring blaze. with sparks flying in all
directions.
Washington Ffremen.
Fortunately, under the control Of Chief
Engineer Warfeld Of Alexandria and AS
sistant Chief Engineer Belt of the Wash
inston fire department, ably assisted by the
foremen of the various volunteer fire COM
panles. the flames were soon well in hand
not. however, before Assistant Chief Belt
was conferred with in Washington, and
brought over an engine, No. (sta ationed at
Virginia avenue and AZ streets, Washing
tom. No. played two streams on the
burning buildings, assisted by the Colum-
tia Steam Fire Engine Company. and the
hre was ston gotten under complete
control. With the engine from WASH
inston was hose wagon, with
the foreman and ten men. in
charge of Assistant Chief Belt Of the
Washington fire department. There was
some little delay in getting the Washing
ton engine started from Washington, on
account Of the refusal Of the captain of the
steamer Columbia to allow the boat to
leave the wharf without the consent Of
Superintendent Ridley. despite the fact
that it was impressed upon him most
strongly that absolute haste must be made
In order to prevent the further destruction
OF property. Ii not the utter demolition of
tfat entire section of the town. 1t was not