Middletown transcript., 1902-05-03
DEVASTATING FIRE
Eleven Buildings on The Riggs
Farm Destroyed.
Los ESTIMATED AT $40, 600.

0ftwelye large building located on th,
famous Riggs farm, seven miles from
Washington in Prince Georges County
Md, but one building remains, the other
having been swept away by disastrous
fire which visited the place Monday night
Tuesday morning the smoking ember.
Of the burned buildings are all that re-
mains to tell the story Of the ancient
structures. The loss is estimated to be
between $50, 900 and SAC, 900.
The Riggs farm. the name by which il
has been known for many years, but Of
later years called Green Hill, y was dis.
covered to be on fire about $50 O'Clock
Monday night, and before assistakce ar
rived one of the buildings had been
burned to the ground and the Others
were afre. The blaze started in what
was called the .'new barn. 1t soon
spread to the three-story dwelling adj.
joining. Every effort was made to save
this building, because it was apparently
the only means OF checking the fire.
The building was occupied by Mr.. Will
liam B. Williams and his wife and their
son, Elwood Williams, and his wife. 1t
was stone structure, three stories in
height. 1t proved to be an easy victim
for the flames Nothing was saved, the
occupants Of the dwelling, who had Just
retired for the night, having barely time
to escape with their3lives.
The fire next communicated to the
main horse barn, and from there took in
thecow barn, chicken house, round house,
blacksmith shop, wash house, hog house,
tool house and silo building in quick sue.
cession. In the rear of the main horse
barn there had recently been erected, at
great expense, nine large box stalls, and
these were destroyed together with the
The structures burned were
located in line facing the same direction
With considerable space between each
two buildings.
The bee house, located on one end of
the line of buildings, and the dairy, close
% the spring house, were not touched by
'he flames, and peculiar thing is that
10 attempt was made to save these, ov-
ng to the fact that every effort was di-
'ected toward saving the other property.
sUsTAlNs SEVERE INJuRY
Mr.. Elwood Williams, who was one of
he first to reach the scene of the fire i'm
nediately after the outbreak, was Sc
'erely injured in trying to extinguish the
lanes in his home. He fell also from
he third story of the burning building
when the fire was at its height and |
prained his left arm. The same member
vas painfully burned, and Mr.. Williams |
vas driven early Tuesday morning to
1yattsyille to receive medical attention.
70 other accidents occurred during the
ire.
In addition to the loss of the buildings,
ir. Williams reported that during the
re some of those who bad come from
be surrounding country to assist in ex-
the flames helped themselves
} fiye-gallon can of milk, which was to
Q delivered in retail quantities to custom
re on the milk route in the city Tuesday
lorning.
Another loss, which will be a severe
low to the owner, was the destruction of
verything belonging to man named
ones, one of the colored hands on the
lace. He lost s25 gold watch and a
It of new clothes which he had but re-
entity purchased. He was sleeping in
le dwelling house when the fire broke
ut, and rendered valuable assistance at
lie fire.
The country formiles around was illu-
mated all of Monday night by the re-
ection of the flames, and it was during
lis time that some of the charred en-
ers were carried into the dense woods
early mile away and set the dry brush
ire.
NO LONGER USED AS A SUMMER HOME.
In years gone by the Riggs mansion s
as occupied during the summer months
Y the Riggs family, but upon the death
Mr.. and Mrs. Riggs the other members
the family discontinued the use of the
mmer home. They always have man c
i the ground to look after the interest of c
e place.
Mr.. Elwood Williams in speaking of
e FIRE said, he had prepared for bed, but
spped out into the hall to shut the
'or, when lie saw bright light. He '
once sounded a warning. A nearby !
ighbor, who had been walking about =
5 place, which adjoins the Riggs farm,
id he had just stepped into the house
d was making preparations to retire. I
E was looking in the direction of the
ggs estate and he saw the flames leap-
2 out of the new barn. He was soon .
the scene and rendered such assistance r
he was able to give, at the same time
lrning other members OF his household.
rhe scene OF the FIRE presented a desc
e appearance Tuesday morning. III
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