Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-19
CAUSES HEAVY LOSS
Fire Destroys Property Valued at
About $4,000.
STOCK YARDS COMPANY THE LOSER
Scarcity Of Water Permits the
Flames to Spread.
HELP FROM THE CITY

HELP FROM THE CITY
A disastrous fire visited Benning this
| forenoon and did damage variously esti-
| mated at from $4,000 to $4,000. The Ben
| ming Hotel was badly damaged, two frame
houses occupied by colored families were
destroyedAes was William H. Winthrop's
general merchandise store, some sheds and
a stable. The property damaged and de-
stroyed belonged to the Union Stock Yards
Company, and their loss is estimated at
about 5000
Robert F. Carroll, proprietor of the hotel,
places his loss at about $500 to $1,000,
while a quantity of copper wire belonging
to the Postal Telegraph Company, valued
at about $1,000 ruined.
1t was about $50 o'clock when the fire
started in a shed or stable in the rear Of
the hotel, and an effort was made to extin-
guish the flames without calling out the
fire department Sergeant McTaggart of
the ninth precinct, who is detailed at Ben
ming, was among the first to reach the
scene of the fire. He thought barrel of
water would have extnguished the flames
at that time, but there was a scarcity of
water, and the flames soon spread. en-
dangering other property of the Stock Yards
Company A telephone message was sent
Chief Sorrell responded with the company.
The firemen We're greatly delayed on ac-
count of the terrible condition of the road,
but finally the scene of the fire was reach
ed, and Assistant Chief Sorrell, realizing
the danger, sent for No. 8 engine company
and a truck company.
Efforts to Save Hotel.
These companies also experienced trouble
on the road, and when the reached Ben
ming no time was lost in getting second
stream the burning building. The as
sistant chief directed his efforts toward the
hotel and the big buildings in the stock
yards. 1t was impossible to save the
smaller frame structures, and the sheds
We're allowed to go without wasting much
water them. In this way the fire de-
partment succeeded in doing good work,
preventing the destruction Of many thou
sands of dollars worth Of property.
Only a short distance from the burning
sheds was the abattoir, a brick structure
Had the flames reached this building the
tiremen it is believed, would never have
succeeded in saving it on account of the
amount of grease about the building. By
hard worn however, such catastrophe
was averted.
While the walls of the hotel building
We're not much damaged, the fire got under
the roof and the ceilings were ruined by
water. The floors in of the rooms
had to be cut While the injury to the
structure is serious it will probably be put
in order in a few days The rear portion of
the Hplel, uSeu as Il Kitchen, was totally de-
stroyed, as was shed in the rear used
for storage purposes
Back of the hotel on the Anacostia road
We're two small frame houses occupied by
Louis Payne and Peter Jones. The house
of the Paynes was first attacked and a few
second later the Jones residence was burn
Ing. The members of the Payne family
saved all their effects, but Jones lost part
of his property.
Residents Take a Hand.
As hot ba
fire was getting beyond the frame shed in
which it was started the people of Benning
turned out to assist in saving personal
property Every room in the hotel was in
use, telegraph employees occupying several
of them. The rooms had been renovated
only short time ago. New carpets were
put down and the walls We're all papered.
The building was in splendid condition, and
the proprietor anticipated good business
during the coming race meet on the Ben
ming track. All the apartments We're
emptied before the flames reached the
building, and personal effects were piled
in the road. From the bar room barrels of
liquor, as well a large quantity of bot
tied goods were removed Lieut.. Daley
placed Policeman Emerson in charge of
this part of the property. The stock Of
liquor that was stored in the cellar could
not be removed on account Of the dense
clouds of smoke and the amount of water
that soon washed down the stairway
Frank p. Hall, who managed the hotel
business for Mr.. Carroll reached Benning
while the fire was in progress and worked
hard to save the property. In this he was
assisted by number of friends who also
drove out from the city. The hard and eff
fective work done by the firemen was APP
preciated by Mr.. Hall. who served them
lunch and refreshments after the flames
were extinguished. Officials of the Union
Stock Yard Company also on the
ground soon after the fire started.
Water was supplied from a branch and
the tank on the cOmpany's property. AS
stated, there was some difficulty expert
enced at first in getting water. Had this
trouble not occurred the store of William
H. Winthrop might have been saved.
His Money Saved.
fortunate victim of the fire was Byron
Watson, a lineman In the employ OF the
Postal Telegraph Company. Fire reached
his room in the hotel and destroyed most
of his clothing The valise in which he had
his clothing was destroyed, but his pocket
book, in which there was $40, was saved
The origin of the fire is not known, but
1t is supposed lighted match was dropped
in the shed by some one who had lighted
Il cigar While the property of the stock
yard company was insured. it is believed
the insurance will not cover the damage
done. Mr. CARROTS personal property was
partly insured.