Evening journal., 1900-10-22
"A HORSES
PERISHED
BY FLAMES
Disastrous Fire in Mcdaniel
Bros Stable Early Last
Evening
COULD NOT SAVE ANIMALS
-Four Fire Companies Bravely
Fought Flames for Nearly
Seven Hours
MORE ENGINES WERE NEEDED
Origin Of Fire, Though Mystery, Sup
posed to be Due to SpOn-
taneOuS Combustion
MORE ENGINES WERE NEEDED

What proved to be most disastrous
fire broke out early last evening in the
livery and boarding stable OF Mcdaniel
Bros, No. 112 West Eleventh street. by
which fourteen horses were burned TO
a crisp.
The fire was first discovered at sos
o'clock, when Harry Keefer, OF No.
1O7 West Ninth street, who was coming
up Eleventh street, noticed smoke is
suing from the second story OF the
stable. He at once ran to the building
and found several members Of the firm,
with a number of friends, sitting in
the office, entirely ignorant Of the fact
that the stable was burning Upon be-
ing notified by Mr.. Keefer that the
building was on fire, the men at once
rushed into the stalls and unlOOsened
the horses. while George Robinson ran
to box No. 8, at Tenth and Orange
streets, and sent in an alarm.
DENSE CLOUDS OF SMOKE.
The district companies at once re-
sponded to the alarm, but when they
reached the scene dense clouds Of
black smoke we're pouring from the
building, and flames were shooting
The smoke within the stable was
sitting and burning brands OF fire
were falling into the stalls and car
riage house from the hay loft above.
By this time a large crowd OF people
were attracted TO the conhagration.
Police Captain Black and a squad of
officers We're early on the scene and
roped off the streets. The patrolmen
did excellent work in keeping the peO-
pie back, and the firemen had a clear
space to work in
Ordinarily, there are about fifty-four
horses Quartered in the stable, but yes
terday being a pleasant day, many pri-
vate teams were out, and only about
thirty horses were in the building when
the fire broke out. OF these fourteen
were burned to a crisp. The cries of
the animals could be heard a block
away as the burning ember5 fell upon
them from above. 1t was with great
difficulty that those horses which were
saved could be gotten out of the build
ing, and it was necessary to use clubs
20 drive them onut. Police Officer
John Solomon did heroic work, and
rescued four OF the animals from the
building. One remarkable feature oi
the fire was the saving OF the horse
owned by DR.. William G. Pierce. Al.
though the interior CT the stable was
n mass Of flames and smoke one houl
and a half after the fire was discover.
ed, John A. Phalen. Of the Water Witci
Fire Company. fought his way into tht
structure and brought out DR.. Piercel
horse. The hair on the animal wal
completely burned off, and his mans
and tail also. How he lived for such
length of time is a mystery Whel
Phalen led the animal from the stabl
n cheer arose from the crowd for tn,
fireman's brave action. James Keenan,
Of No. 1913 West Fourteenth street
got within ten feet of his horse. bu
was driven back by the smoke ant
flames. and was unable to rescue him
George B. Ward president Of tn
health board had a valuable horse il
the stable, but succeeded in gettinI
him out.
MORE ENGINES NEEDED.
During the progress Of the fire muc
criticism was heard by firemen an
spectators about the lack Of engines o
the scene. But three companies re
spond to No box, the Phoeni1
Friendship and Water Witch. TIL
Phoenix was stationed at Eleventh an
Orange streets, the Friendship at Eley
enth and Tatnall streets, and the Wate
Witch at Eleventh and West Bein
between the two other companies tn
friendships water supply was cut OF
and the engine was unable to perfori
the service that it is capable Of tt
Water Witch and Phoenix did hero
work, and for four hours the Phoent
kept two streams on the burning bull
ing. First Assistant Engineer H. J
Wiley, who had charge Of the compal
les, said, when spoken to about 9th
companies being summoned, that ]
had sufficient engines to handle ii
blaze, and did not consider a gener
alarm necessary.
ORIGIN OF FIRE UNKNOWN.
The origin of the fire is a myster
but is supposed to be the result
spontaneous combustion. The bla
started in the centre Of the hay 10
where thirty-five tons Of new hay a,
twenty tons Of straw were stored. A
though the McDaniels lost heavily. {
individual losses were also gre
Thomas Talley lost a valuable pair