The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-12-18
A BIG FIRE RECORD
LAST NIGHT AND TODAY
Some of Them Thought the
Work Of Incendiaries.
PAPER lGNITED UNDER BED
Horse Takes Fright at Passing Engine,
Runs Away, and Smashes
the Wagon.
PAPER lGNITED UNDER BED

The police Of the Fourth precinct are
investigating the circumstances sur
rounding the fire last night in the house
OF Virginia Berry. a negress, at 357 G
Street southwest The fire was discov-
cred by the Rev. DR.. Evans, who broke
open the door and found a pile Of paper
blazing under a bed. He extinguished
the flames unaided. None of the family
were at home at the time.
When the Berry woman and her
daughter returned, they said they had
reason to believe the house had been
set afire. The key was missing from
the place on the window sill where they
were in the habit OF secreting IL, and
yet the door was locked. so It was
thought someone who was familiar with
the habits OF the family had entered the
house and set IL on fire. AS a quarrel
exists between the younger Berry wo-
man and a neighbor. and a threatening
letter had been written, Detective Rein
hard made an investigation. but does
not think the facts warrant an arrest.
In the Victoria.
The greatest amount of damage done
by last nights fires was in the Vic
toria apartment house, Fourteenth
III tSN anu W race northwest.
which amounted $40. The fire started
in the apartment occupied by Miss
Adrian White, on the top floor The
cause was the well-<nown affinity OF a
lace curtain for a gas jet. The firemen
were carried up In the elevators. and
soon succeeded in extinguishing the
flames
Policeman Bartemann. Of the Ninth
precinct. while passing the grocery store
OF William Schultze. 1l26 X Street north
east, discovered a blaze in the rear of
the building. He broke open the door
and soon had the fire out The cause
was the explosion of an oil stove which
had been left burning.
Policeman Nebb, Of the Tenth pre-
cinct, also figured as an amateur fire
man. He saw smoke coming from the
laundry of Sam Lee, 1922 Fourteenth
Street northwest He broke in and
found Lee smoking, while the quilt on
which he lay was slowly smoldering.
The damage TO the quilt is estimated at
$50. Lee was very appreciative OF the
saving of his life when he woke up.
Two runs were made last night. one
TO 1924 Eighteenth Street northwest and
one to the Patterson woods, near Ivy
City There was no damage in either
case.
Children Build Bonfire.
Rose and Andrew Wells. two negro
children. concluded to have a bonfire
The children live in Clicks Alley and
thought their own house would make a
capital blaze. They lit a lot OF paper
and threw it under the house Their
mother discovered them and turned in
an alarm. The damage was not more
than s.. but as the house belongs TO a
man named Boyd the children were ar
rested on the charge of suspicion and
sent 70 the House Of Detention until the
affair can be investigated
The accidental igniting of a box of
matches IN the gas fixture house of
Charles A. Muddiman & Co., 1904 G
Street, called out the department, but
no serious damage was done. While the
run was being made to the fire the horse
of one of Tschifiey's wagons. standing
near Ninth and + Streets, became
frightened and ran away, upsetting the
wagon and damaging ii to the extent
OF $40