Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-07-11


ing up and beyond the building. suggesting
a volcano. When l reached the scene there
was more excitement over the report that
the building had been set on fire, and the
incendiary had run down 18th street, than
over the fire itself. AT once a crowd start
ed on a wild goose chase after man, but
in vain. rs 1t afterward appeared there was
no truth in the rumor.
1.-The old Washington engine had been
brought out of its house adjoining the
building 7th street, and was at work,
and l believe that there was another, per-
haps more, working on Sth street. The fire
was so hot that it was impossible to re-
main long on the E street 'front.' much less
work. intense being the heat that nearly
all the glass ir the houses opposite was
cracked. /, with many others, helped to
pass the water in the o1d-time buckets from
a pump the east side of 7th street, about
in front of Hechts store, to the engine, and
as 1 recall. In little time this water was
directed to the houses in the square SOUTH
the roofs of which were endangered by the
falling burning papers.
THE building, as / remember it," contin-
ued Mr.. Petut, was quite an imposing
brick structure. two-thirds of the three
stories occupied by the Post Office Depart
ment. then presided over by Amos Kendall.
The city post office YVES at the eastern end,
occupying the main floor, and 1t was the
custom of the clerks after completing the
work of making up the mails to sleep there
Old Or. Jones was the postmaster.
The patent office occupied the rooms
third floors. and the commissioner was
Henry L. Ellsworth of New York.
Model Of Fulton's Steamboat Burned.
The destruction of the latter seemed to
be regretted more than all else containing
as 1t did the most valuable collection of
models extant. Not a vestige of them re-
manned. They included those of Fulton's
steamboat as also drawings and paintings
by him in which the boat was represented
on an early voyage up the Hudson. North
of the building on '1th street was the little
engine house. in which the post Office engine
was kept, and in the hall a bove the engine
room the old Washington Guards Col Sea-
toms company. had it's armory. The fire
company called the Washington in which
were many of the employees of the depart
ment, as well as neighbors, was allowed
the use of the apparatus. The fire burned
this. too, but what little wind there was
being southwark what was known as Nc
Leans row; midway between and
streets on 7th. was saved
Col. William Benning lived for long
time IN one of the three houses; Mrs. Iron
sides and think Mr.. Smoot in the others
The buildings were greatly endangered and
much Of the furniture was removed.
ION the F street front lived Mr.. Birch
and VIM Leland, who subsequently went
west. On the corner Of Sth street Mr.. Jas
Caden shortly after built school house.
having before been on the patent office
square. part of which an old lady farme1
or trucked. Besides Mr.. Seaton on the
south side Of E street was Richard Hsnt-
leys tavern, at the corner of eth street. and
west of Mr.. Seatons Mr.. E. c. Dyers resi-
dence.
Il believe that, as the Intelligencer stat
ed, Mr.. Sam Crown was the first of those
inside to discover the fire. but it was AL
ways understood that a butcher, one of the
Hoovers, was the one outside to discover IT:
He was on his way with his wagon to what
is now the Center market. Seeing the
place was on fire he left his wagon and
business to his colored man, and turned in
to aid saving much of the property of the
general post office. believe he was re-
warded therefor by Mr. Kendall who gave
him place in the Office.
Though the fire was first thought to have
been the work of an incendiary 4 congress
sional inquiry laid 1t to hot ashes placed in
a pine box in the cellar.
Postmaster Generals Report
POSTMASTER General Kendall at once
made a verbal report of the fire to the
President and received instructions to in
quire into the cause and extent of the d.s-
aster. December 20 he noted that an inves-
tigation by the House committee on post
Offices and post roads rendered the inves-
tigaton ordered by the President unneces-
sary. He also informed the President that
the corporation of Washington had offered
the department the use of the west wing Of
the city hall. then occupied by the mayor
and councils and the officers of the Chesa-
peake and Ohio Canal Company. The pro-
prietors of the Medical College also ten
dered the use of their building e street,
and offers were made of several other
buildings. Mr.. Kendall said none was found
to afford sufficient room for the force of the
department equal to Fulton's hotel in the
commodiousness of that interior structure
and attendant rooms. The hotel was OPP
posite the buildings occupied by the Treas
ury Department on Pennsylvania avenue.
That building" he said. had been OBJ
tanned :" The business Of the depart
ment was Immediately resumed In that
building"
THE general post Office was temporarily
re-established at F'uiton's Hotel, the patent
office in the City Hall and the city post Of
fee on 7th street above the site of Lans- |
burghs. 1t was afterwards removed to |
18th street and Pennsylvania avenue, the |
present site Of the Raleigh, and then to |
Carusis saloon"
Mr.. Peabody notices calls for meetings Of |
the Columbia fire company january and /
s. February Is and the franklin February |
8, March and May 8. But one report OF /
an annual meeting he had found that OF |
the Franklin, on February 8. when the old /
odacers were re-easctsd, c. I. Coltown. pres