Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-19

taneous combustion. Mr.. Harry Deckman
the head clerk of the firm, and the colored
porter, were in the basement at about lO:3O
o'clock this morning preparing bill OF
goods for shipment. In the basement IL
stored packing materials of various Kinds,
including empty boxes and excelsior. the
furnace is also located in the cellar. While
the two employ es were engaged in their
occupation, they suddenly noticed blaze
leap out from pile of boxes and light
packing material in the center of the room.
They Immediately sounded the alarm Of fire
and pulled off their coats, endeaVoring to
smother it.
The flames rapidly gained on them and
they sought the outer air. The smoke by
this time was dense in the cellar. The por-
ter gained the store room by the rear en-
trance while Mr.. Deckman, who was on
the other side of the fire, made his way to
the iron trapdoor opening on the pavement.
He was unable to open the doors, however,
and it is likely he would have been suffo-
Gated by the smoke, had not Mr.. f. E.
Hopkins, the manager Of the store come to
his assistance. Mr.. Hopkins opened the
street doors and helped the clerk to the
open air.
Firemen Respond.
In the meantime the fire department had
been notified, and they responded quickly.
1t was difficult to get water at first, be-
cause it had been frozen in the pipes. but
streams were in effective operation after a
short delay.
The basement appeared mass Of fame,
and it was feared that the blaze would
spread to other parts Of the house. A sec
ond alarm was sounded. and more hose
brought into action with telling effect.
After half an hour from the sounding OF
the alarm the fire was under control. and
the work Of clearing the basement OF
\ to1 rrynO
Many of the fire laddies had already done
duty at the blaze at the Moses Bros ware
house, and the water which had drenched
their overcoats there had frozen, giving
them the appearance of snow men. The in
tense cold made the work unusually severe
on the f1remen.
There was an immense crowd Of specta-
tors unheeding the cold, who lined street
compactly between 18th and 18th streets,
and the police had some difficulty In pre-
serving the fire line.
When the firemen broke in the show win
dows in the front of the establishment they
were met with a. large sign on which were
the words Visitors Welcome" This Incl
dent caused considerable amusement to a
part Of the crowd.
Mr.. Deckman, the clerk in the establish
ment was slightly bruised by falling down
stairs while engaged in assisting one of the
employees. an old man, from the third story
during the early part Of the fire. His inju-
ries were not serious, however.
Soon after the blaze started the firm of
c. A. Muddiman & Co. began making hot
coffee, which was supplied to the chilly fire.
men In generous quantities In order to keep
them warm.
Accidents to Hose Carriages.
While No. IL hose carriage, on It's way
to the blaze, was making the turn at 9th
street and New oYrk avenue the rear
wheels slid against the curbstone, breaking
the rear axle. Assistant Foreman Smith
was thrown from the carriage to the
ground and bruised about the back and
hips. He recovered himself, however, and
Joined in the work Of fighting the flames.
Hose carriage No. 15 while answering the
alarm, also broke down on c street near
the Baltimore and Ohio depot. No one was
injured In this accident.
Mr.. Hopkins. the manager Of the store
stated to a reporter for The Star that Mr.
Ridenour, the proprietor of the establish
nent. Is out OF the city on business, and
his exact whereabouts are unknown to his
friends here. He is expected to return to
the city within short time.