Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-10-03
ANACOSTIA HAPPENINGS
Mysterious Fine at Garden Memorial Church
Now Under Investigation.
Flames Discovered at 2 O'Clock Sum
Acknowledgement News.

a fire of mysterious origin, which broke
out near here early yesterday morning, is
being made the subject of an investigation
Shortly after 2 o'clock flames were dis
covered issuing from the rear of the
Garden Memorial Presbyterian Church, a
large frame building situated on Mime
sofa avenue between AnaCostia and Twin
ing City. The fire is said to have been
first discovered by q white man named
Samuel Cook, who stated when questioned
that he was on his way down Good Hope
hill about a quarter of o mile away from
the scene of the fire at the time of his dis
covery. He located the blaze at the
church, he said, and at once ran to the
house of fire engine company No. 10 OF An
acostia and gave the alarm His prompt
action and the equally prompt response OF
the fire company was all that saved the
church from total destruction. After
working for about half an hour the lire
men succeeded in extinguishing the names;
An investigation showed that the hre mad
started in the small basement space under
meath the auditorium devoted to the heat
ing apparatus, which, however, has not
been in use for some months past. me
two doors giving entrance to TINS base
ment were not locked, it is stated
One of the members of the church VINO
has of late visited this basement is posi-
tive that there was no combustlbie natter
about. The damage tc the church by hre
and water is estimated to be $500, covered
by insurance.
The auditorium was so badly damaged
that services had to be conducted in the
Sunday school or front section OF the
church yesterday. The ground on which
the church is built is a gift to the Presoy-
terians of Anacostia from the late AleXan-
der Garden. Not far from the church
stands Gardens row, composed OF frame
houses. owned by Peter Garden, WASH
ington business man and son OF AleN IA
der Garden. 1t is said recent fire IN
vacant house in this row has never been
explained.
Last evening about $50 o'clock fire was
discovered in vacant mouse on She[iua
avenue Hillsdale owned by Spencer Cole
man, colored. The blaze was eXtinguished
by Policeman Buckmaster and some cltl-
zens. The damage done was slight. The
origin of the fire is, like the other two,
said to be a complete mystery.
Mrs. Annie X. Hopkins wife of Mr.. &.
w. Hopkins, the foreman of fire engine
company No IL of Anacostia died yester-
day morning at her residence on jackson
street. after an illness of Two months.
Mrs. Hopkins was thirty-two years OF age,
and two small children survive her.
Surveyors are at work upon Harrison
street again, and it is stated that the work
Of concreting will be begun in about two
weeks.
Louis Tabs a well-known colored youth
of this section, was taken into custody
here Saturday night Ly Constable John
Webster for the Maryland authorities
Tabs is wanted on a charge of breaking
into the house of Arthur fudge of Silver
Hill, Prince Georges county, Md
1t is said there is no likelihood that the
headquarters Of the Anacostia police force
will Le moved to a new building for some
time. An examination has been made, II
is said, of several buildings with a view
of renting suitable che, yet it is now an
nounced that an appropriation for rent
ing a building must first be secured. Cap
tain Austin visited the station here yes
terday and made the round of some of the
beats in company with Sergeant Anderson.
Rev. John Chester of Washington began
term of one month yesterday as chap
lain at ST. Elizabeth, to conduct Sunday
services.
At st. Teresa's Church yesterday even
ing the vesper service was sung by the
regular choir as will be the case hereafter
during the season.
Misses Mary Wathen and Henrietta Gray
have returned from a visit of one month
at Leonardtown, Nd.
There are several cases of diphtheria re-
ported in this locality