The times., 1897-04-29
4 BLAZE IN GEORGETOWN
J. E. Dyer's Storehouse and
Stable a Total Loss.
FLAMES FED BY COAL OIL
A Two-Hours' Fight With Fire
Large Quantity of Hay and Oats
burned Small Quantities of Pow.
der and Dynamite Exploded Loss
About Eight Thousand Dollars.

Georgetown was yesterdayfvisited by one
of the most destructive fires which has oc-
CURED IN that section for some time. The
fire broke out shortly after o'clock, In a
stable at the rear of j. i. Dyer's whole
sale grocery store, and beforeft was gotten
under control, the stable, together with a
big storehouse and its-faluable oatents
were completely destroyed
The blaze was list discovered by an
employe in Dyer's store, and he at once
telephonsd to engine-hotse, No. 5, which
company responded promptly.
The stable was filled with hay and other
inflammable material, and tie lire burned
so fierceiy that the adjoining storehonse
was soon ablaze. Great alarm was caused
by the report that Il lot OF dynamite and
powder was stored in the burning build
ing, and the crowds which had gathered
in the vicinity, beat a hasty retreat.
Fortunately the stock OF explosives was
comparatively small, and, though several
explosions actually occurred, they were
not of sufficient force to do any harm.
Several barrels of coal oil also exploded,
hut this was hardly noticed, except for
the added intensity OF heat which the burn
ing Oil caused.
The fire department was greatly handi-
capped by the local alarm telcpiloned to
No. 5, and 1t was fully twenty minutes
before the general alarm was sounded. By
the time the extra companies Were II the
ground the burning buildings were lrac-
tically doomed, and all efforts were .,irect
ed toward preventing the fire fron spread
ing Several times the woodwork about
the windows in the rear OF Dycr's store
was ablaze, and it was with the greatest
difficulty that the fireuen saved hc build
ing.
The canal, on the lower side OF The fire,
prevented a spread in that direction, al
though at one time it looked as though the
Electric Lighting Conpanys building was
about To catch fire.
The burning hay, oats, etc, caused great
volumes OF smoke to ascend, and many reo-
pie thought that alarge area was being de-
vast ated.
However, after more than two hours
hard work the fire was gotten under con-
troll though several streams Of water were
kept playing on the ruins for hours.
The origin OF the fire cannot be defi-
nitely ascertained Several clerks in the
ing about the stable just previous TO the
time the blaze was discovered, and tley
were disposed TO think these boys dropped
q lighted match in the hay.
Others Were disposed TO favor the theory
of spontaneous combustion, though this
war a mere surmise.
Mr.. j. r. Dyer, the owner of the prop
erty destroyed. IS in New York ON bust
ness, and It cannot be learned just what
his loss will be.
The burned building was two stories In
height, with d frontage of sixty feet On
the alley, aud extended back TO depth
of seventy-five feet. II was used as a
with its contents of hay. oats. crockery,
powder, harness, etc. was a total loss.
c. W Macintosh, d clerk for Mr. Dwyer,
estimated that the loss would, at the lowest
figure, easily reach $4,000. This is un-
doubtedly a low estimate, as the stock
stored in the burned Buildings was both
arge aud valuable
Three fine horses We're quartered in the
stable, but they We're taken out just in the
nick OF time 10 prevent their being in
cinerated.
While the fire was in progress rnnor
was started that three boys were inside
the burning building, but this rurnor was
they were confident that the boys left the
stable several minutes before tile fire was
discovered.