Evening star., 1901-11-19
Wholesale Grain, Flour and Feed Es-
tablishment Burned.
Loss ESTIMATED At ABOUT $4,000
Hard Work of Fremen to Protect
Other Property.
THE CAUSE KNOW n

and SIS 900 occurred this afternoon on Del
aware avenue northeast between G and II
streets. The fire started in the wholesale
flour, feed and grain establishment OF w.
H. Michael which was practically destroy
ed, and the building of the National Dairy
Company, as well several small houses,
suffered loss.
The cause of the fire is unknown. Steam
cars on both branches of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad and electric cars on the Co
lunbia line were delayed for some little
time by the crowd which gathered at the
scene, and several hundred people on their
way to the race track found themselves
materially delayed.
Five alarms of fire were sent in and prac-
tically the entire department, including the
water tower, responded.
Chief Dutton and his several assistants
were the ground soon after the alarm
was made and directed the efforts of the
firemen. 1t seemed to be the unanimous
opinion of the several thousand persons
who gathered about the fire that the work
of the department was admirably done.
For awhile there was strong, wind
blowing, and 1t was by the hard and we'll
executed work of the firemen that many
Of the small houses in the neighborhood
were saved from destruction. Several of
them were scorched Their occupants lost
no time in removing articles Of furniture
and other household effects, and in this
work many people In the crowd rendered
valuable assistance. Bucket brigades were
formed, and in this way citizens protected
the rear. of the houses on H street until
the arrival of the firemen.
AS soon as possible the railroad COM
panies bridged the tracks and lifted the
hose in order to allow the cars to pass
and get the crowd to the race track.
Where Fire Originated.
The fire started in the rear part of the
building of Mr.. Michael during the lunch
hour. 1t was 1926 o'clock when the first
alarm was sounded. Mr.. ]. D. Dement,,
manager for Mr.. Michael, was in the of
flee when a colored man named Scott
Bowles came from the rear of the build
ing shouting Fire. .-.-
Without going to investigate Mr.. Dement,
reached for the telephone to send in an
alarm, and before he had succeeded the
smoke filled the Office and nearly suffocated
him. He then realized his danger and found
it necessary to climb out of the window to
save himself from suffOcation. Scott
Bowles, who was employed In the place,
returned toward the rear, where the fire
was raging, and for time it was feared
he had perished in the flames. = He was
found a little later on, and it developed
that he had saved horse from being
burned to death. Two Baltimore and Ohio
freight cars in the big building were de-
stroyed. An effort was made to save them,
but without success.
Found Buildings in Flames.
When the first company of the fire de-
partment arrived at the scene of the fire
the flames had already gained considerable
headway and the building was doomed.
1t looked also as If many other structures
would be destroyed. 1t appeared as If the
oleomargarine factory was sure to be burn
ed, and at several times during the progress
of the fire it was feared the tall brick
walls of the feed and grain establishment
would fall On one side 1t meant the col
lapse of the plant of the National Dairy
Company, including expensive machinery.
and a quantity of stock, while on the other
side it meant the destruction of several
small dwellings.
Water Tower in Use.
When the water tower arrived it was
placed at the south end of the burning
building and the stream from it was di-
rected where it was thought it would save
the south wall and protect the oleomarga-
rine plant Chief Dutton took his position
near this apparatus, which was used for
the first time, and he afterward expressed
himself as satisfied that it was of great
assistance in keeping down the fire, which
proved so troublesome on account of the
nature of the stock in the building.
Firemen of the several companies took
positions on the long ladders and on house
tops and used all the water they could get
to subdue the flames One fireman had
slight fall but was not injured. Several
times during the progress of the fire the
streams of water managed to make their
way to the big crowd and number of peo-
pie were drenched Police reserves from
the several police precincts responded to
the alarms and handled the crowd well.
The Insurance.
Mr.. Michael carried $4,000 on his stock,
which was valued at 5000. The building,
which formerly occupied by w. +.
Hewitt as a feed establishment, is owned
by the Jacob Tome estate. 1t is partly in
sured. The plant of the National Dairy
Company, of which Mr.. A. H. Kuhmann
is president, is also insured. This property
was not seriously damaged, the flames
burning away only a portion of the roof.
Some little damage was done by water and
the stock probably suffered some damage
from this cause.