Evening star., 1901-03-04
DESTROYED BY FIRE
GEORGE w. KNOX EXPRESS WARE
HOUSE BURNED.
Damage Probably Amounts to $780,
OOO-Insurance Small-ActOr
HanfOrd's Loss.

A few minutes after II o'clock last night
fire started in the warehouse of the George
W. Knox Express Company, on Virginia ave-
nue. southwest between Sd and Az streets.
Despite the efforts of the firemen the build
ing was destroyed and smaller buildings IN
the neighborhood were damaged Untll the
books of the company are examined the
exact amount of loss will not be known.
1t is believed the damage done to the build
Ing and contents will amount 10 cohsioer-
ably more than 100000.
The big building belong to the es-
tate of the late James L. Barbour. The
origin of the fire is not known, but it is
believed that sparks from passing engine
on the Baltimore and Potomac railroad was
the means of starting the contiagration.
Because of the bright light maze by the
blaze several thousand persons from Soutn
Washington and Pennsylvania avenue We're
attracted to the scene. An alarm OF IRE
was turned in from box AL, ana the older
firemen among the first to respond recalled
their experience at the Knox warehouse
fire several years ago. when several OF thelr
number lost their lives. Fearing a repetI-
titon of that disaster the tiremen were eS-
tremely cautious. although they dld not re-
lax their effort to extingulSh the blaZe III
time to save the contents of the building.
During the progress of the fre IL was re-
ported tina: there were fireworks stored in
the building and it was feared that an eX-
plosion would occur. The fireworks, now
ever had been removed earlier in the day
and taken to the White Lot, where they
will be exploded tonight. a blaze on the
roof was the first that was seen OF the flre,
and the department was promptly sum
I moned " hen the additional engines
reached the building il was realized that
there was danger OF the flames communi-
ca ing 10 several adjacent rooms, ana the
combustable nature of the contents was
calculated to cause rapid spread TO other
structures. Several alarms were sounded,
and a number of streams of water were
poured on the burning structure. When
II became apparent that the building anu
contents could not be saved the 1lremen
turned their attention TO neighborlng build
ings, Jonnson's printings office, Siever S
blacksmith shop and MIR. Spalghts resi-
dence were damaged.
Frank Hope, VINO was on duty in the
building as watchman, in an effort to eX-
tinguIsh the flames Was slightly burned.
He might have lost his life had it not been
for the assistance OF James Contee, coiored,
who rescued him.
At one time during the progress of the
flames it was feared that the big brick
structure would collapse. Several sinai!
portions of the walls fell and one of the
bricks struck Fireman Dennis on his head,
infiicting a painful but not dangerous
wound. The property stored in the build
ing included all kinds Cf articles, from a
| chair to a railroad car. Twenty-Five car
| loads of flour, twelve carloads of grain and
| three carloads of paper were destroyed. 1t
was not until after daybreak that the last
| fire company left the scene. There was
| some insurance carried on the property, but
| the loss was far in excess.
Among the losers is Mr.. Charles B. Han
! ford, the actor, who had about 1900 worth
| of scenery and trunks filled with costumes
| stored in the building. His property was
! completely destroyed.
Stage Scenery Destroyed.
! The scenery used by Booth and Barrett in
| the production of Julius Caesar" and that
! of Mclean and Tyler, used in the produc-
tion of Romeo and Juliet" were among the
| scenery destroyed. Scenery that had be-
| longed to Tom Keene and Catherine Glenn
| ons was also destroyed. II is stated that
| Nat Goodwin had been arranging for the
| purchase of the Booth and Barrett scenery.