The Washington times., 1901-11-01
DAMAGES FULLY COVERED
Serious Fire at the Establishment
of Mayer & Petit.
Losses of $4,000 to the Stock and
1000 to the BuiIding-The Flames
Confined to the Top FloOr-Con-
Migration of Unknown Origin.

The large furniture and clothing estab-
nshrnent of Mayer & Petit as and Al
Seventh Street northwest. was visited by
fire yesterday morning. effecting damage
to the stock to the extent of nearly $4,000.
The loss on the building, which belongs to
the Thorne estate, and Of which Charles
G. Thorne is agent, will probably amount
10 s. 900. Both losses are fully covered by
insurance.
The flames were confined TO the top
floor of the annex, III Seventh Street, but
practically everything in that building
was more or less damaged by water or
smoke. The origin of the fire is a mys-
terry, the flames being discovered while
issuing from a pile of couches that had
Just been received, and which were in the
centre of the building.
Before the fire was thoroughly under
control Mr.. Petit was at work preparing
10 continue business in the main building
which was in no way damaged. AS the
last engine was withdrawn the doors were
thrown open to the public and business
was resumed. The most perfect order
prevailed throughout, and everything was
handled in a most orderly and business
like way by members of the firm and their
employees.
The fire was discovered about 1920
o'clock on the top floor of the annex,
which is used as a storage room for dupli-
cate stock. The room was piled to the
ceiling with couches, beds, chairs, and
other furnishings. Ernest Little, the
shipping clerk. vas in the room at the
time, unpacking some of the new stock,
when he saw smoke issuing from the pile
of couches I'm the middle of the room He
ran downstairs to tho office and notified
the proprietors. who Immediately had the
books and other records placed IN the
safe and the safe closed a telephone
message Was sent TO fire alarm head
quarters, but through the delay in secur-
ing ths connection at the central tele-
phone Office IN alarm had already been
received from box ~. Seventh Street and
Louisiana Avenue, when the telephone
connection was made. Some one had also
sounded an alarm from the box at Sew
cIith and J. Streets northwest but only
the one box was sounded on the city bells
In the meantime the employees Of the
house had ascended 10 the second and
third floors OF the building, and removed
q quantity OF the most valuable furniture
from those foors to the adjoining build
ing. Their work was only stopped when
the smoke drove them back. and It be-
came necessary 10 close the fire doors
which connect the two buildings on sew
eral floors. an effort was made to fight
the FIRE or the fourth floor Of the annex,
but IL was beyond their control
When Assistant Chief Belt arrived the
smoke was pouring from the top of the
building. No. II engine company was
Just laying out their line of hose. Before
the water was turned on a lire of hose
from the chemical engine was run up. I'm
hopes Of conquering the blaze without
deuging the building with water The
ineffeciiYeness OF this stream was appar-
ent in 4 moment, and as the engine COM
panles arrived they were directed to lay
out their hose.
The big extension ladder Of Truck c was
placed against the front wall. and by this
means a line of hose was carried direct
10 the seat of me fire. Another ladder
was placed in the alley in the rear. and
ends 10 the centre OF the building, the
sea tof the fire.
The top floor was completely wrecked
and but little value remains to The
articles that were stored there On
the two floors beneath the stock was bad
~ damaged by water and smoke. but the
fire was kept from reaching 1t. The