Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-04-23
DEVASTATING FLAMES
Eleven Buildings on Riggs
Farm Destroyed.
LOSS NEARLY $4,000
ORIGIN OF FIRE DECLARED TO BE
A MYSTERY.
Blaze Illuminates the Country for
Miles Around-Desolate Scene Pre-
sented This Morning.

OF twelve large buildings located on the
famous Riggs farm, seven miles from this
city in Prince Georges county. Nd, but
one building remains, the others having been
swept away by disastrous fire which Wis
tied the place last night. This morning the
smoking embers of the burned buildings
are all that remains to tell the story of the
ancient structures. The loss is estimated
to be between $50 600 and $1,000.
The Riggs farm. the name by which 1t
has been known for many years, but of
later years called Green Hill" dis
covered to be fire about $50 o'clock last
night. and before assistance arrived one of
the buildings had been burned to the
ground and the others were afire. The
blaze started in what was called the new
barn" 1t soon spread to the three-story
dwelling adjoining. Every effort made
to save this building. because it was ap-
parentIy the only means of checking the
fire.
The building was occupied by Mr. Will
lam B. Williams and his wife and their
son. ElwOod Williams, and his wife. 1t
was a stone structure, three stories in
height 1t proved to be an easy victim for
the flames Nothing was saved: the occu,
pants of the dwelling. who had just retired
for the night. having barely time TO escape
with their lives.
The fire next communicated 10 the main
cow 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
buildings The structures burned We're To-
Gated in a line facing the same direction
with considerable space between each two
buildings.
The bee house. located on one end of the
I. 1sairN r1nc 70
the spring house. were not touched by the
flames and peculiar thing is that no at
tempt was made TO save these. owing to
the fact that every effort was directed to-
ward saving the other property.
The Mansion Saved.
The Riggs Mansion which Is located
but a short distance from the burned build
irss. was not reached by the flames. 1t is
occupied by Richard CrandaH, who looks
after the interest of the Riggs estate.
In the new barn there were about twelve
fine bred horses. but they were all taken
ont in safety and turned loose on the farm.
There were about seventy-ffve chickens in
the chicken house. and nearly all of them
were destroyed by the flames. There were
about thirty horses and twenty cows in
the main barn. and these were rescued. \
milk wagon which was used daily by Mr..
Williams in the delivery of milk in the
city. destroyed. Five other vehicles
Of various descriptions were hauled out of
the burning buildings to a place of safety.
Two of these were slightly blistered from
the heat before they could be conveyed to
a place of afety.
The blacksmith shop and tool house were
destroyed. and nothing of their contents of
any value was saved. reaper which was
stored in one of the buildings was burned
up In addition a machine which is of the
most value at the present time on the farm,
corn planter went up in smoke.
The south wind which was blowing at
the time famed the flames from one build
quick succession, and this made it imposs-
BILE for those who had arrived on the scene
but few seconds after the fire broke out
to be of much assistance. People from
points miles away hurried TO the scene and
at once formed bucket brigade. rendering
all the help possible under the existing con-
ditions- All of the buildings Were built of
stone. with the exception of the new barn,
which was frame structure. 1t was in
this building that the fire started. Up to a
late hour this afternoon the cause of the
fire was unknown.
Can Assign No Cause.
Mr.. William Williams stated to a re-
porter of The Star who visited the farm
this morning that there was no inhammable
material stored in the building and no one
slept there. There was no light in the
stable and Mr.. Williams believes 1t is quite
probable that the cause will ever remain
mystery Mr.. Williams said that he had no
suspicion that the fire was the work of an
lncendlary. The buildings, it is thought
were insured. but for what amount could
not De aScertafned. Mr.. Williams did not
carry any insurance on his property and
his loss Is complete, nothing having been
saved.
The Riggs farm is situated on a high hill
two and half miles from HyattsviIe and
one and half miles from Stott's Station
on the Baltimore and Ohio railroad The
Riggs mansion and the outbuildings on the
farm are owned by the Riggs estate and
are leased by Mr.. William Williams The
majority of the burned buildings were three
stories in height \ few were of but two
stories The stone of which the buildings
Were erected was quarried on a nearby
farm during the war. The main horse barn
originally cost $4,000 and the cow barn
SlS.Wo. These buildings were erected when
material was high, and, of course would
not be rated at those figures at the present
day. The others We're also costly struc-
lures ana were built about the same time.
OhIy last week Mr.. Frank Riggs and his
wife, who reside in Washington. left for
Europe, to be gone several months and the
only other members of the Riggs family
are the three daughters, who are residing
on street near 18th street. The place has
been occupied for the past four years by
Mr.. Williams and his wife Mr.. Williams
son conducts retail milk business in the
city The entire estate comprises 700 acres
and was occupied, previously to Mr.. Will
Jams taking possession, by Mr.. Diggs.
Sustains Severe Injury.
MIR. Elwood Williams, who was one of the
first to reach the scene OF the fire imme-
diately after the outbreak, was severely in
Jured in trying to extinguish the flames in
his home. He fell also from the third
story of the burning building when the fire
was at its height and sprained his left arm
The same member painfully burned
and Mr.. Williams was driven early this
. morning to HyattsviIle to receive medical
attention No other accidents occurred
during the fire.
In addition 10 the loss of the buildings
Mr.. Williams reported this morning that
during the fire some OF those who had come
from the surrounding country to assist in
extinguishing the flames helped themselves
to hve-gallon OF milk which was to
be delivered in retail quantities to custom
he irnt tkc.n nitt