Evening star., 1901-04-11
A DISASTROUS FIRE
Flames Attack Lawyers Club and
Gunton Office Building.
POLICE ESTIMATE OF THE DAMAGE
Attorneys Lose Valuable Papers
and Office Furniture.
BOWLING ALLEY WRECKED

What promised to be a very serious fire
occurred about 80 O'Clock today in the
building known as the Lawyers Club, 49,
Louisiana avenue northwest. The flames
spread to the Gunton building, adjoining
and did considerable damage there, both to
the building and to the contents Of several
of the lawyers Offices. The loss on both
buildings and contents has been variously
estimated. some placing the amount at
$4,000. Charles Walker, colored, who
employed In the club building, I'm charge OF
the bowling alley, was painfully burned
about the face and hands and had 20 be
sent to the hospital for treatment
The fire started in or near the kitchen OF
the club premises, which are occupied by
Mrs. Isabelle Rudd. who conducts a restau-
rant and bowling alley. In just what man
ner the fire started nobody seems 20 know,
but ii is believed TO have been caused by
an overheated stove
AS soon as the blaze was discovered a
cry Of fire was heard. and Chief Paris,
who was in his office at the time, respond
ed. He brought hand pump with him,
but saw at a glance that ii was Of no use.
and in few seconds the flames had
burned through the roof of the bowling
alley and entered the rooms in the rear
building on the upper floors.
An alarm was turned In from box 141 In
the meantime, and second and third
alarm followed. Nine engine and three
truck companies answered the several
alarms. For a short time the two buildings
seemed to be doomed. Window glass
cracked and melted under the influence of
the intense heat. Many citizens who were
quickly assembled by the first alarm as
sisted in removing furniture and valuables
from the club building to the street, Mr..
Frank p. Hall directing the work. The
goods rampVeI from the house We're taken
to the Gunton building. but when the
flames reached the latter structure transfer
to the sidewalk became necessary.
For short time the occupants OF the
Gunton Law building were busy removing
the contents OF the offices, but the firernen
succeeded in confining the flames to the
west part OF the building.
A Heavy Loser.
Attorney Peyton was the heaviest loser
in the law building. papers which he valued
at 5000 being destroyed. His desk was
burned and he was unable 10 save ITS con-
tents He occupies rooms with Mr.. Milton
Barnard, and files of the two attorneys
worth it is estimated, many thousands OF
dollars were saved. young woman en-
pioycd as clerk in the office saved the files.
On the first floor the Offices Of Hufty *
Hufty were also damaged. Those who suf-
fered loss on the second floor of the Gun
ton building were Z. @. Niles, q. ID. Bar
tt and Blackburn Il Blackburn. Their Of
fees were badly damaged by smoke and
water as well as by fire. Occupants Of this
building place the damage to the structure
at about ssso3, but the exact amount of loss
incurred otherwise is not known.
The bowling alley adjoining the kitchen
of the restaurant where the fire started
WAS completely wrecked. Most OF the roof
to be replaced. Stored In the bowling al
ley was a barrel Of whisky that had been
received only a few minutes before the fire
occurred: A new gas range and a quantity
of hn, hnld .afTa al n f1.lN N1a
The flames did not do much damage in
the kitchen, but the dining room. parlor
and bed rooms on the upper floors suffered
seriously. A mocking bird in the dining
room was suffocated and number of
chickens in the adjoining yard were roast
ed. In the restaurant proper no damage
was done except by smoke, and In the re-
moval of some of the stock.
Several hundred persons were attracted
to the fire by the appearance Of the en-
gines, and several exciting incidents were
noted. 1t was reported that one of the oc-
cupants of the building was In his room
and could not Vet out, but there was no
foundation for the report.
The damage to Mrs. Rudds property is
estimated at about 5000. She had some
insurance on her stock, but not enough TO
cover the damage done.
Prompt Response of Firemen.
The fire demonstrated the remarkable
promptness with which the companies,
a rule, respond to alarms. The fire
seen from the windows of the District
building several moments before an alarm
was sounded, and from the first stroke or
the gong until the nearest company, engine
company No. IA, reached the scene eN-
actly one minute and half elapsed. This
company took position at a plug in front
of the Gunton building, next door to the
one in which the fire started, and II was
just two minutes and twenty seconds from
the first stroke of the gong that the COM
papy had water on the flames. This tim
ing was done in the office of Commissioner
Macfarland, who has immediate charge OF
the fire department, and he was pleased by
the remarkable promptness with which
Foreman Keliher and his men Of No. Ia
responded and got to work. Chemical en-
gine company No. 1 and Third Assistant
Chief Wagner were but a lew SECONDS pe-
hind No. IA, and the other companies re-
spending to the box, as well as those due
on the special alarm sounded, arrived Win
a rapidity which was particularly gratlfy-
ing to Commissioner Macfarland and his
associates Chief Paris had but to step
from his Office in the District building. and
was first on the scene. First Assistant
Chief Belt also responded very promptly
The building IN which the fire originated
is owned by George j. johnson. Ill as oe-
lieved it was fully insured. The adjoining
building belongs to the Gunton estate ana
IS insured. Chief Paris and Assistant Chief
Wagner remained at the building some time
after the flames had been exiting lfshed, and
the last engine company was not dismissed
until all danger OF revival or the flames was
known to be over.
Police Estimate of Loss.
The police report of the fire fixes the
total amount OF damage at $500. OF this
amount the sum of $500 is given as the
damage to the bowling alley and $500 to
the johnson building. The damage to the
Gunton building and contents Is estimated
In the report mentioned at Sl,5oD-s1,ovo to
the building and $500 to the effects of the
occupants.
Congratulating the Attorney General.
Attorney General Knox was not able to
take up much business at the Department
of Justice today. Most of the morning was
spent in receiving friends and officials who
desired to extend congratmlat ions There