The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-03-16
TIRE CAUSES EXCITEMENT
A Blaze at a Reviewing stand At
tracts Large Crowd.
The Presence of Flames Ncnr the
white House Responsible for Re
pert That the Executive Mansion
Sns Rurning-Thc Damage slight.

As though administering a rebukc for
| delay in removing the reviewing stands
erected for the Inauguration, fire yestrr-
! day caused loss and much excitement in
| the neighborhoOd of the White House
| Flames suddenly broke out in the stand
adjoining the one used by the President
and his party. and a negro watchTnan
within the building narrowly escaped
having his clothes set on fire. The loss
| is placed at Slo0
1t was late in the afternoon when coal
oil lamp was overturned in the rear of
the stand. causing fire in the frame
work of the structure. The negro watch
man. employed by James Parsons, the
contractor in charge of the stands along
Executive Avenue, had been engaged in
filling a number of lamps. and in some
manner unknown one was upset Oil was
spilled over the flooring and planks of
the stand, and il was instantly licked up
by flames from the burning wick. The
fire began to smoke. then crac<le. and
the negro watchman made a hasty exit
behind the stand into the White House
grounds. His clothing was singed by the
fire, but he escaped injury.
Meanwhile a passing citizen saw the
fire and ran 10 the State. War. and Navy
flames spread rapidly up and through the
plank sides of the stand. and dense vol
umes of smoke curled upward through
the roof, giving the idea that serious
confiagration was in progress While half
a dozen engines and two truck companies
were coming, people began to gather from
every section. Downtown the rumor
gained credence that the White House
was burning, and reports of loss of life
were disseminated until the truth was
learned. Five thousand people soon gath
cred along Executive Avenue, and jam
med together near the burning stand. un-
Ill the police finally established fire lines
and drove them back.
When the first engines arrived several
INES OF hose were put in action. and
little difficulty was experienced in get
ting the flames under control. For sew
eral minutes engines arrived in quick sue
cession. and all was excitement. While
the lire was at its height the glare was
plainly visible for more than a mile and
lighted up the east front of the big State
war, and Navy building in the most lurid
fashion. 1t was first feared that the
flames would spread to adjoining stands
particularly the Presidential reviewing
stand. on the east, but prompt work by
hremen prevented extensive damage
Chief Paris directed the work Of the
hremen, while Lieutenant BOYLE and Ser
geant LYDIA. of the Third precinct. were
present to take charge of the police re-
serves.
During ten days past the work Of dis
mantling the various stands along the
Avenue has progressed at tolerable speed
and much lumber and other material
used i'll their construction has ALREADY
been removed from the streets. A large
portion of this material. including the big
columns nlaced in the Court of Honor
has been bought by private parties re-
siding near Anacostia. and will be used
it is said, to beautify the grounds of the
purchasers. week will probably elapse
before all the stands will be taken away