Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-22
DAMAGED BY FIRE
Academy Of Visitation, in George
town, Suffers Heavy Loss.
ORIGIN OF THB BLAZE UNKNOWN
The Property Injured to the Extent
of $4,000.
GOV Erred BYINS SURANCE

Fire was discovered this morning in the
old building of the Academy of the Vista
ton on 35th street just north of p street.
AT the conclusion Of several hours of hard
lighting the fire extinguished after a
damage estimated at $4,000 had been done.
The entire upper story Of the building was
gutted and the roof destroyed by the
flames, and ali furniture and furnishings
destroyed, while the lower floors were dam
aged to a more or less extent by the water.
The loss is fully covered by insurance.
There was no loss of life.
No one knows, it is said exactly at what
time the blaze started. From the different
reports it is evident that the flames had
gained considerable headway before they
We're discovered, the portion of the build
Ing not being occupied by persons at the
time. Some of the inmates of the institu-
ton in different parts Of the building did
not know there was d fire near them, even
after the engines were heard coming up
35th street. As near can be learned it
was about 9:1J o'clock when the fire was
first noticed.
The statement was made that a consid-
cradle period elapsed between the disCoV-
cry of the fire and the appearance OF the
engine company. This Is explained to be
due to the fact that before turning in an
alarm some attempts We're made TO save
property, and thai by this means much
lime was lost before the alarm was sent in
for help. A number of people residing in
the vicinity had entered the building and
were assisting TO save the materials from
destruction before the arrival Of the fire
fighters.
The Origin Unknown.
The origin of the fire seems to be un-
known. The blaze is said to have started
in the extreme east part of what is known
as the sewing room. in the garret of the
old building. There small stove in
this room. which furnished heat, though
the main portion of the building was heat
ed by a furnace. young lady Of the
school said of the sisters entered the
sewing room about half an hour before
the discovery of the fire and shook the
CRATE OF the stove. The fire was rather
low at the tirns. and the stove doors were
shut to make it burn better. The stove
being forgotten. the fire burned up, and,
through thc extra heat. which resulted by
the increased draueht. spread to the wood
work surrounding. Another theory advance
ed is that tns fir, originated from a defec-
tive fiue and spread to the woodwork be-
tween The ceiling aud rafters Of the build
ing.
When headw-y was once obtained the
fire blazed hereby The material in the
building was well seasoned and burned like
kindlins wood The fact that the roof
of shingles only helped the spread of the
fire, and in q short time the top of the
western part Of the building was in flames
or emitting smoke through the cracks of
the shingles When the engines arrived,
men Went al once 10 work, but owing to
the fact that the fire was confined between
the ceiling and rafters, it was exceedingly
difficult to reach.
Blaze Spread Eastward.
When the flames in the western portion
of the building had been fought until the
fremen obtained the mastery the blaze
had spread eastward until it enveloped the
entire portion of the old building. Dense
clouds of smoke were visible, but very
little flame. A small lookout about the
center of the building, which was reached
by an extra flight of stairs from the gar
ret. soon became enveIoped in the flames,
and this was about all Of the fire the spec
tatorS could see from the outside.
There was considerable danger of the fire
spreading to the main building, the
structure adjoining the convent 35th
street. but the hremen redoubled their eff
forts. and in a short time got 1t under con-
troll and prevented it reaching the new por-
ton Fearing il would spread, however
the most valuable treasures of the institu-
tion were carried TO pac of safety.
In order to get at the flames it was found
necessary 10 cut into the roof, and the fire.
men with their axes made quick work of
q large portion of the structure What the
fremen did not do the flames completed,
and before they were eXtinguished only the
charred pieces Of the timber beams were
visible. The roof was hard to work on.
Ing to its slope II had been constructed
on the old colonial style.
Drc6 organized.
Before the arrival of the engines Detect
I've Frank Burrows and several other men
had reached the convent, and they con-
nected a fire hose TO the pipes, the hose
having been installed IN the academy for
Just such emergencies. 1t was run from a
supply pipe on the floor below the garret
to the scene Of the FIRE, but the limited
quantity of water. coupled with the practi-
cal inaccessibility Of the burning timbers,
of
the tiremen arrived the larger hose was
put into use.
The place where the fire was supposed to
have originated is known in the academy
as the garret- The extreme east was used
as bed room for the servants, and last
evening there were six girls enployed at
the academy who slept in the room The
girls. according to the usual custom had
arisen early and We're al their regular du-
ties, and some did not know of the exist
eace Of the fire until The arrival of the en-
glneS-
Adjoining the sleeping quarters was a
large room, which was used 4 store
room, and next 10 this was another room
equally as large which was also used as "a
storerOOm for bed clothing and in which
one or two persons connected with the in
sntuuOn usually slept. Adjoining this was
The sewing room, where the fire is supposed
to have started After the blaze had been
eXtlusuished, an examination was made BY
Flre Marshal William o. Drew to ascer-
tain the cause. but al the time he cOuId
Hnd no direct cause. II left the origin
Couottul though ii seemed certain that
this was the place where the fire first com
menCed. N 1
Nnhln hali an hour after the appearance
. " ttiS IFSI engines special alarm was
turned In, which brought several more en-
elhes 10 the scene, and later Chief PARIS
appeared The men had by this time ont
i,ss Ihr2ush the roof, and by his orders the
cellins oi the gdrret was broken through in
order 10 hght the fire more quickly ana
more successfully. An immense quantity Of
water was used before the iireInen succeed
ed in their object
Fuel for the Flames
Hardly single piece of furniture ,yas
saved on this floor One or two small beds
escaped entire destruction. though they
we're badly scorched- Everything else was
fuel for the flames. Most OF the clothing