The times., 1901-03-21
FIRE CAUSES HEAVY Loss
Clothing Store of VI. Dyrenforth 4
Co. Completely Gutted.

stocks of Mems Goods Almost II Total
wreck-EstabIishme of Droop &
Sons Has Narrow Escape
The Damage Fixed ut $4,000.
Thousands saw a fire last night which
threatened to totally destroy the four
story double brick building. 92$ and 9l5
Pennsylvania Avenue northwest. occupied
10y Mitchell Dyrenforth & Co. clothiers.
and Edward F. Droop & Sons dealers i'm
pianos and musical supplies, and which
resulted in a less estimated At $4,000.
Dyrenforth & Co. are the heaviest losers.
Their loss on a stock of clothing, etc. is
placed at about s6ool0. The building is
owned Icy Mrs e. Hitz. and is dam
aged to the extent Of 10000. Mr. Droop
said last night that his loss. if any. would
be slight
The fire appears 10 have had its origin
in the rear of the cellar OF the building
just how it started is uncertain but it is
thought that electric wires became
crossed in the basement on the Dyren-
forth side of the building, and near the
shaft OF a large freight elevator
1t was shortly before Il o'clock when
smoke was first discovered issuing from
the caves under the roof Policeman War
ren. Of the First precinct, and Special
Officers Young and jana, saw smoke
while near Ninth Street and Pennsylvania
Avenue. and hurried to turn in an alarm
from box 12q, at Ninth and d Streets.
Prior to the arrival Of the first engine
on the scene flames were visible licking
up the side of the building, near the rear.
1t was at once evident that the fire had
draft from some source. as the
flames spread rapidly, supposedly going
uD the elevator shaft from the cellar.
Smoke and flame shot out from windows.
and 10y the time the engines arrived the
fire had gained considerable headway.
on the first alarm Chief Paris respond
ed. and sent in second and third alarms
in quick succession. The theatres were
emptying at the time and thousands
flocked To the scene. Street cars were
blocked west of Eleventh Street and
east Of Seventh Street by long lines Of
hose. Reserves from the FIrst and Sixth
precincts We're early on hand, and fire
lines established, behind which the
crowds We're kept at a safe distance.
Firemen ran up half a dozen ladders
at both front and rear, and entered on
several floors. as the flames were grad
ually subdued Great streams of water
were thrown into the building from roof
and ground. Nine engines and two truck
companies were on the scene after the
third alarm was sent in. During the pro-
gress Of the fire Mr. DrOop arrived and
directed the hremen in the efforts 10 pre-
vent loss TO his stock. Word was sent to
Mr. Dyrenforth shortly after the fire was
discovered and he was soon on the scene
The four floors on the Dyrenforth side
of the building are utilized in the fol
lowing manner: First floor mems cloth
ing and furnishings, second floor, boys
and chiIdrens clothing and merchant
tailoring: third floor. wor5rooms; fourth
floor. stock and store rooms. ON every
floor. it is feared stock is badly dam
aged. although nothing definite was Oh
tainable last night. Smoke nHed the en-
tire building, and much water was thrown
onto the stock.
on the Droop side, though the smoke
was thick, the fire seems to have done
little damage. Little water was thrown
into the music store
To reporter Mr. Mitchell Dyrenforth
said last night that he could not estimate
his loss with any degree OF accuracy. He
stated that he had been taking stock for
several weeks. because OF his spring
opening, which was TO have been held to-
day.
one consignment OF goods worth
about S,oc), including clothing of every
de-.
noon, said Mr.. Dyrenforth and had
been placed in the basement at the rear
of the building preparatory 10 being ar
ranged throughout the store. Other car
loads, and much of our spring stock. has
yet to come, but / fear our loss will be
heavy. Tie value OF our stock within the
building. I think, would reach about $50
ot'- We have no means Of telling the con-
dition of the goods until morning"
Mr. DyTenforth added that the stock
was insured for $500 in various com
panies Among agents representing com
panies which carry lines on the stock are
mentioned Wolf & Cohen. Fred Giese-
king. and William Il. Saunders < co.
Mr., Droo9 stated that he did not think
lie had suffered any loss. He said he had
no time, however. 10 examine his stock
The four floors on his side OF the building
are hiieu win miscellaneous stock. pTln-
cipally pianos, smaller musical instru-
ments, and sheet music Droop & Sons
have occupied the building for "a number
OF years. while Dyrenforth d co. moved
10 their present location about four years
ago from beneath the Metropolitan Hotel.
Mr. Dyrenforth says he shall resume
business as soon as possible probably at
the same building
After the fire about q hundred framor
went +" lunch room on the Avenue.
where al were served with food an the
expense OF Mr. Dyrenforth.