Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-10
A DESTRUCTIVE FIRE
Silas s. Daish's Grain Ele-
vator Burned Today.
ENTAILS HEAVY LOSS
ESTIMATED TO BE BETWEEN $75,-
600 and 100000
Two B. and o. Freight Cars Laden
With Grain Also De-
stroyed.

Three alarms of fire called seven engine
companies. two trucks and the water tower
to the grain elevator Of Silas s. Daish at
the corner of Brentwood road and Florida
avenue. about II O'Clock this morning, and
the ffremen who responded worked harder
than they have been obliged to do in
several months. The character of the
building construction made it extremely diff
fcuit for the men to cope with the flames
the solidity of the walls and the absence
of openings through which to throw any
water being serious handicap, and the
best efforts of Chief Belt We're directed to-
ward saving the lives of those under hir1
and protecting surrounding property, en-
danSered by the high north wind that pre-
vailed. The fire was a spectacular one
and attracted a crowd of proba bly, four or
five thousand persons This necessitated
the presence of the police reserves from
several precincts. and even then the fire.
men were much hampered by the closing
in of the spectators. despite the efforts to
keep them within limits. Mr.. Daish was
not present when the fire started, but stated
that a rough estimate of his loss would
probably foot up to between $4,000 and
$l0o0JO 1t is not believed that Mr. Daish
had placed much insurance on the struc-
ture.
The fire started in the rear of the eleva-
tor over the stable in the hay stored there
n
gain hcadway, and then the strong north
wind performed its share in carrying them
across -tie intervening space to the elevator
Itself once started in that building the
nremen We're poWerleSS to stop them and
within short time the whole structure
was roaring furnace. Tie thick smoke
which was plainly discernible from ali
parts of the city, also made the work of
the hreInen more difficult. The water lower
could not be used on account of the charac-
ter of the walls, as noted but it served the
purpose of attracting many spectator who
followed it all the way from the center of
the CITY. Chlef Belt exercised the utmost
care in directing his men, and ordered that
no one should risk his life in going close
to the burning building. This was on ac-
count of the danger imminent from the fail
ing walls. ~
Two Baltimore and Ohio freight cars.
loaded with grain. which were standing on
the track close to the elevator, were also
burned. together with their contents Ono
OF the curious incidents of the fire was the
attempt made by a huge flock of English
sparrows. who have lived unmolested in tho
toot to t, oi the elevator for years. to get back
10 their homes during the fire-When the
names hrst started in the big building the
sparroWs took refuge in nearby trees b1t
they evidently did not understand the sit
ualoh' ana IN short time made repea ted
eHorts to fly into the burning structura
How many were killed in this manner can
not be estimated but the flock did moi
seem 70 be !cssened in numbers to an an
preciable extent ~ "p
The Walls Fall.
1t was believed the walls of the big struc-
ture would fall any minute People who had
left their work and had but a few minutes
to remain at the fire were heard to exnrass
the wish that the walls would fall early as
they thought the sight would be worth see
Ing. But they were disappointed
1t was about IL o'clock when the fire
started and the first part of the wall to fall
did not come down until about 12:3o O. clock.
Then 1t was the south half of the building,
and the fall made but little noise. Fifteen
minutes later a small part of the east wall
fell. The last of the big structure came
down about o'clock. The heat was so in
tense that the firemen were driven from
points near the building several times he
fore the last of the walls fell
Chief Belt was near the building with his
men all the time the flames were being
fought, and he was highly complimented on
all sides for protecting the firemen from
danger. 1t was realized there could have
been nothing gained by sending them close
to or inside the building. Telegraph and
telephone wires close to the burning ele-
vator were put out of service
Fortunately the fire started at a time
when there were no horses in the stable,
The small building in the rear of the main
elevator was saved although it was badly
damaged. While the exact amount Of dam
age cannot be ascertained the fremen
thought 1t would be more than $75,O0O, but
not more than 100000, as previously stated
Mr.. Daish could not be found by a Star
reporter this afternoon, and the amount of
insurance could not, therefore, be ascer-
tained.
The elevator seemed to be doomed to de-
struction by fire. The blaze today was the
third one that has occurred there in the
past few years. The property is to be
taken by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Com pany, and it is said that $325 600 was
the price asked for it by it's owners The
company offered s117,090 for it.
Cause Of Fire Not Known.
The origin of the fire is not known. At
the time the flames were discovered IN the
small building in the rear of the elevator
the doors were open and the wind caused
them to spread to the main building. Mr..