The times., 1898-11-17
FIRE IN CENTER MARKET.
Explosion I'm Refrixeratinx Plant
CauHen Much Uamaue

| Fire caused by an explosion of bitumas
| tic solution in the refrigerating plant o
| the Center Market almost completed,
struction of the entire market building
shortly after II o'clock yesterday morn
ing. The damage done Is estimated at
about s6,OOo fully insured
The explosion occurred in small room
adjoining the tank room of the refris-
Grating plant. Several gallons of the BIZ
tumastic solution. tar-like liquid, used
for painting the ammonia tanks, were
standing there. ID. W. DeVaughn. who
lives at Ne. l0l5 Jefferson Place, had re-
moved about quart of the explosive
solution and was straining it through a
sieve when the explosion occurred The
force of 1t hurled him across the room
and he WAS slightly burned.
Immediately following the explosion
flames were discovered issuing from be-
meath the floor of the carpenter shop
located just over the tank room Several
carpenters We're at work In the shop and
rushed out for safety. Samuel Amiss, enc
of the carpenters, hurried to the alarm
box In the alley way leading from the
cold storage portion OF the building while
his companions returned to fight the
tameS
When Amiss reached the box he found
1t would not work and an attempt was
made to send in an alarm from Seventh
Street and Pennsylvania Avenue but this
also failed. The engines were finally
summoned from box No. 129. at the corner
of Ninth and ID Streets, and because of
in ft1t s.ta "A
long time responding
When the fire department under the
leadership of Assistant Chief Belt reached
the scene the flames were thought TO be
beyond control. and second alarm was
turned in which brought Chief Paris and
additional engines
Flames were issuing from various por-
tions of the building and it was feared
they would reach that part of 1t where
thousands of dollars worth of clothes
and perishable goods were stored The
firemen worked heroicaily and it is due
to their efforts that the market proper
was saved
After hard fight the blaze was finally
got under control. The firemen were much
hampered by the network OF electric light
wires and the strong odor of ammonia
which permeated the air. The explosion
had wrecked one of the ammonia tanks
and the pungert liquid was soon running
over the floor. burdening the heavy smoke
with its noxious fumes. In the face of
these and other difficulties the firemen
worked hard and at 1 o'clock were able to
retire. the fire being entirely out.
The insurance on the building agsre-
gates S2o0.eo and the bulk of it Is placed
by Edward D. Riggs. the local representa-
tive Of the Caledonian Fire Insurance
Company. of Glasgow. Scotland. with sew
eniy-two companies. The Caledonian com
pany is the heaviest loser and Mr.. Riggs
will settle for the entire loss. Merchants
having stores in the north side of the
building suffered some damage from the
smoke and water, did those In the
south wing of the building.
Among these Were W. w. DAILY. dealer
In cigars. tobacco. paper bags and wrap
ping paper. who suffered loss of $3.50.
J. NJ. Eiker. George Seitz. f.. ". Whitford
& Co, Charles Burger. butter merchants
ard II. W. Scanned, a butcher. Their
losses were slight and all covered by in
stfranc-