Evening star., 1898-12-05
HEAVY LOSS BY FIRE
lexington Trolley Cans and Shed Destroyed
Saturday Night.
Nearby Residence and Contents Also
Damaged-AsGfeEate Loss Es-
timated to he $65.OOO.


The large. barn-Hke car shed of the Eek
ington and Soldiers, Home Railroad Com
pany at the corner of 4th and T streets
northeast was totally destroyed by fire
Saturday night. About thirty cors includ-
ing the Robinson radial car, a motor affair
valued at $4,000, and ten double-decker OBJ
servation trolley cars, valued at $1,000 each,
were destroyed in the fire. The total loss is
estimated at 1900. The residence owned
by Col. George Truesdell and occupied by
Mr.. John Huddleson. the druggist, which
was situated near the scene of the coufia-
grafton, was damaged to the extent of $1,000
by the flames. while furniture and personal
property owned by the tenant suffered
heavy damage. In each case, it is said the
loss is covered by insurance.
Frank Schoepf night foreman of the COM
pany. who was the only person in the Eek
ington car shed when 1t caught fire, de-
cIares the whole building seemed to be en-
veloped in flame at the same time. He first
noticed it shortly after 10 O'Clock when the
office was the only part of the building not
affected. He rushed to the telephone in an
endeavor to send in an alarm. The wires
had already been damaged however, and
the instrument would not work. Mr..
Schoepf hurried to alarm box No. 61S, at
the corner of Sd and Seaton streets. The
box also failed to work, he says. In the
meantime Policeman Pearson had discover
ed the fire and sent In an alarm.
Fire Engines Arrive.
Fire engines from the vicinity were soon
on the scene, but it was IL o'clock before
water was effectively thrown upon the
burning building. second alarm brought
number of additional engines to the scene,
but already the railway companys property
was practically in ruins. The residence Of
Mr. Huddleson was also scorching in the
heat, and by the time the fire department
was in working order had caught fire in the
rear. Mr.. Huddleson was Ill in bed at the
time, but was taken to the house of friends.
Members of the family removed a quantity
of their personal effects before the fire
reached their home and in this way saved
many of their more valuable possessions.
The library was badly damaged.
Little remains of the shed today to tell
the story of Saturday nights fire except a
pile of ashes and twisted and broken iron
girders and such minor wreckage of the
cars that withstood the powerful heat.
In the electrical room at the southwest
corner Of the building large quantity of
supplies. mostly armatures. were complete
ly ruined. A number of gasoline tanks ex-
pIoded during the fire, adding fury to the
flames.
No Interference With Schedule.
All of the lexington and Soldiers Home
property, including the burned shed and
cars, was recently acquired by the City and
Suburban company. The cars burned were
mostly of an obsolete pattern, unused troll
ley cars, which the COMPANY was awaiting
a favorable opportunity to sell. The fire
did not interfere in the least with the
schedules of the company, either on the
horse car lines in the city or the suburban
trolley road. The power house near the
car shed was not damaged, and the dyna-
mos were yesterday working in perfect
order. Il
An official report of the are and its origin
has been made to police headquarters by
Sergeant Siatterly of the eighth precinct.
He says that, after investigation, he reach
ed the conclusion the fire was caused by
the electrical apparatus,on one of the motor
cars ignitng. The car had been turned in
and left standing in the doorway, where
Foreman Schoepf first discovered the
flames.