Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-06-04
RESULT OF FIRE,
Local Hutterfne Factory DAMAGED.
Two Fircmen Injured.

Robert G. Dotson's butterine factory at
No. SOP North Capitol street, was badly
damaged by fire about o'clock last night
and two flremen, Simon Hughes of No 10
engine company and John {. Lusby of No.
company, We're slightly injured. The
men were given treatment at the Casualty
Hospital and were afterward able to go
to their homes. Several pedestrians, among
them Mr.. Benjamin Perry, who is employed
at the feed and flour establishment of w
II. II. Cissell. adjoining the butterine fac
tory, first discovered the blaze. second
alarm was quickly followed by a third and
every ire plug within reach of the build
ing was soon in use. The water tower was
on hand but the building was small
one and no trouble experienced in
reaching all portions of it, the new device
was not used.
When the fire was discovered the flames
had apparently spread from one end of the
building to the other. Because of the
grease-soaked timber inside the structure,
the fire was a stubborn one. and the smoke
was so dense that the firemen were able
to do but little except from the outside.
The dense volumes of smoke were seen
many squares from the scene of the fire.
and an immense crowd Of spectators gath
cred on North Capitol street to watch the
work of the firemen.
Commissioner Macfarland and Chief Dut-
ton were among the officials who responded
to the third alarm, and they had the in
tured firemen given the necessary treat
/ ment. Later the officials visited them at
their homes to make certain that nothing
should be left undone in the matter of
sisting In their recovery. Both men
ported for duty this morning.
The efforts Of the firemen to save prop
erty adjoining that in which the fire origi-
mated were successful For time Is was
feared the -four and feed establishment
owned by Mr.. Cissell would be consumed.
but one company Of firemen looked after
the wall between the buildings and pre-
vented the spreading Of the flames.
What caused the fire Is mystery. There
was no fire In the building. nor was there
an electric light wire there to start the
blaze. Mr.. Dotson estimates the damage to
his machinery and stock at $4,000, while
the damage to the building amounted to
only about 1,5OO. The owner of the fac
tory has an insurance Of 81 900 on his ma
chinery and stock, while the building which
Is owned by the Mccullough estate, was
fully insured.
Mr. Dotson called on Lieut. Moore Of the
sixth precinct this morning and requested
that an investigation be made Of the fire.
He was unable to account for the fire, UNI
less it was the work Of an incendiary, or
was due to carelessness on the part OF an
employe. 1t has always been against the
rules of the factory, he said, for en-
ployes to smoke on the premises, but the
rule has been violated. and Mr.. Dotson
thinks one of the men may possibly have
dropped a lighted cigar in the big refrie-
orator. where there was some infammable
material He also stated that two sus-
picious men were seen on the street oppo
site the factory a short time before the fire
occurred. Sergt-l Murphy and Precinct De-
tective Williams were detailed to make the
investigation.