The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-05-15
ruin WROUGHT BY FIRE
The Washington Hydraulic Brick
Company's Plant Destroyed.
Acres of Sheds Consumed by the
FInmes-MachineryB Badly Damaged
Twelve Freight Cars of the Penn
sylvanin Road Burned-Loss Placed
mt, Between $4,000 and $4,000.

Fire broke out shortly after 10 o'clock
last night in the brick yards of the Wash
ington Hydraulic Brick Company, located
in Alexandria County. Va. about half
mile south of the Long Bridge. A loss
amounting to thousands of dollars resulted.
much property. including sheds and the
whole plant of the brick company. togeth-
er with dozen freight cars of the Penn
sylvania Railroad, being practically
wrecked. For two hours the illumination
was plainly visible in this city. and En-
gine Company No. 4, in Southwest Wash
.ngton. was started to the scene of the fire.
1t returned when the location of the blaze
was determined.
1t was about 10 o'clock when the fire,
the origin Of which is unknown. was dis
covered. Persons in the vicinity of the
brick yards gave the alarm. but no organ
lied effort to stem the progress Of the
flames could be made for some time. The
buildings used by the brick company.
frame structures. burned with great
rapidity, the stable a substantial building
built Of brick. alone escaping destruction.
From the building where the fire origi
mated. near the centre Of the burned area.
the flames spread to other buildings. and
within short time almost the entire
plant Of the brick company was ablaze.
A large crowd. including residents Of the
city. attracted by the glare Of the confla-
grafton, and those residing in the vicinity
Of the yard. had gathered. Efforts were
made to check the progress of the :iames.
but it was soon found that the lack OF
proper water facilities and the absence of
engines gave the fire every advantage. All
that could be done was to save what prop
erty was not in the direct path Of the
flames. and to this end many willing hands
were directed. quantity Of straw, used
for the purpose of making bricks. added
fuel to the flames. which burned for more
than two hours without interruption.
Many horses and mules, the property of
the brick company. were early removed
from the stables.
When the confagation was at its
height the flames communicated with a
dozen freight cars of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company standing on siding
near the centre of the yards The dry tim
ber of the cars burned quickly and they
are nearly totally wrecked. An effort to
save them was made by employees of the
railroad and an engine was hastily backed
into the yard. but owing to the intense
heat and dense smoke. the project had to
be abandoned, and the cars were left to
the flames.
The burned area extended over nearly
three acres. The many long. low sheds
were licked up one by one. and only after
all available fuel had been consumed did
the flames die down. In a number of the
| sheds there was a stock of bricks. and this
stock. to a certain extent, was damaged.
A watchman is employed about the brick
yards at night. and he first discovered the
flames. He notified the railroad company
by telegraph shortly after the fire broke
out. but before assistance arrived the
flames had gained great headway.
No accurate estimate of the losses to
either railroad company or to the brick
company was obtainable last night al
though it was placed by some ut between
$4,000 and $4,000. officials of the brick
| company stated that they should have to
make an examination before an accurate
estimate of the damage could be made.
There is no explanation as to how the de-
structive blaze originated.