The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-07-01
FIRE AT a HOUSE OF REFUGE,
The Juvenile Department Building
at baltimore Partly Destroyed

ut Baltimore Partly Destroyed
BALTIMORE, July THE second and
third stories OF the old UNCOVERED stone
structure. used as the Juvenile depart
Inent of the House of Refuge. on the
Frederick Road. near GwyRn's Falls, were
Quilted by fire last night. The damage,
which will probably amount TO between
S, 900 and g, 900, is fully covered by insur-
ance. Prof. William A Knapp, one Of the
directors Of the Refuge, said all of the
buildings are insured for 900, divided
among twelve companies. The spectacle
Of the fire from the city was beautiful
The hiH upon which the building rests is
the highest in the vicinity and the blaze
stood cut in bod relief against the sky
When the blaze vas first noticed. about
$50 O'Clock, most Of tbs boys were ling
marched ~. The. main staircase from the
Fairgrounds one OF them as he ran for
the hall door on the third floor seized a
hand grenade and threw it into the fire.
Benjamin Bangs, one of the projects, was
in charge in the absence of William Con-
standt, head OF the juvenile department,
who had gone after some escaped boys
With military proFn2tness Mr.. Bangs or
dered the boys face about and marched
them out of the burning building as the
flames cracked above their heads Reach
ing the open yard he stood the boys with
their backs TO the wall and placed a guard
over them.
An alarm was sent in from No. Chem
icai Engine Compare, brunswick Street
near the Frederick Road 1t was half an
hour before engines 8. 10. and il. and No.
/ chemical were ali on the ground In the
meantime the fire apPa -atus of the main
building was gotten out, but proved use
less, owing 20 lack or pressure The fire
hFv-r
floor, where it started, and the second
floor. where il gradually extended. before
the GreInen could get it under control.
The InaIrOu Miss Clara PauCoast. Miss
Florence Hamstead. 4 teacher. William
Constandt. and Benjamin Bangs. projects.
occupy apartments in the building Miss
PaHCOast was. about to retire, when the
alarm was given, and she escaped
The cause of the fire. the superintendent
said. was not clear to him. He thought il
might have resulted from leak in the
gas pipes When asked if he had any
suspicious, he said he had, but upon whom
his suspicion rested ne would not say.
One boy who was interviewed did not
hesitate 10 say that another boy had ap-
piled the match that started the fire 1t
was generally understood that Mr. Hen
dirk had two boys under arrest
a rumor was also aioat that one or two
of the boys set IRE to some coal oil which
had been placed il closet for the purpose
OF killing mosquitoes. 1t Was clearly un-
derstood that the fire broke out in Il
clothes clos. the tIliIu ilOOE, OF uDt MI
tory section f the building. The boys
slept i'm the main building last right
Charles E Barry. one of the directors
Of the House of Refuge, was early on the
scene and did what be could to help the
mana cement Mr.. Barry was quite indig-
nant about the inadequate facilities for
fighting a fire at the refuge
The fire attracted large numbers from
the western and southern sections Of the
city. and It was estimated that fully g.
900 people visited the scene during the
evening
The juveLtIe department is stone
building three stories high 1t was the
original Female House of Refuge for
Baltimore city. After being used for a
/ few years the Tea was abolished of hav-
ing girls and boys III close proximity II
! each other II reverted to the boys and
( has since served as a protectory for the
/ smaller BOYS 1t is not like the main
/ buildings enclosed by pTisou-like walls
| but is surrounded by low fence. The
/ third floor is used exclusively as a dor
! mitory. the second contains school. din
/ ing. and reading rooms, while the ground
floor has play room, toilet, and dressing
] rooms and a boiler room