Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-25
LOSS OF $500 CAUSED By YES
TERDAY's FIRE.
Close Call Of Building Where Army
Officers Store Their Per-
sonal Belongings.

and for this reason all the firemen could
do was to pour water on the burning stock
until the last spark had died away. The
firemen succeeded in preventing the falling
OF any of the walls, and despite the inn
mense volumes of black smoke in which the
men had to work not one of them was over
come. Chief Dutton and his assistants re-
manned on duty several hours, and the
police were also on hand.
Mr.. w. H. H. Cissel was the heaviest
loser SO far as stock was concerned. The
damage to his stock amounted to about
5000. but 800 will cover the damage to the
building. His property was insured. Mr..
Michaels' stock of flour and feed suffered
a loss to the amount of 81 900 and the build
ing 81 500. This building is owned by Mr..
Albert Carry, and he also owns the struc-
ture Occupied by the Green Meadow Dairy.
In which the flames originated. Mr.. j. +.
Barber, owner of the dairy, places the
damage to his stock at $500 and to the
building 81 800 His property was also in
Sured.
Government Building Endangered.
Hundreds OF officers of the United States
army owe their heartfelt thanks to the
District fire department. It was only
through the most heroic work that the
local firemen were able yesterday afternoon
to keep the flames from spreading to the
storehouse of the quartermaster's depart
ment of the army. The storehouse is in
the same row with the burned buildings
lofts by an ordinary brick wall. In this
storage place are the personal effects of
innumerable officers, placed there in
got foothold in this building the flames
would have found much combustible ma
terial to feed upon, and the loss would
have been one of the greatest in the his
tory of the department. The storehouse
q
of three buildings connected with each
other by means of large arches through the
party walls.
Soon after the fire department was sum-
moned to the scene yesterday afternoon
Assistant Chief Belt. who is the head of
the fire fighting force, saw that the flames
were making rapid progress toward the
storehouse by way of the burning roof.
The burning hay and straw made such
dense smoke it was almost impossible to
get near the seat of the fire. Rushing into
the storage house. which is filled almost
to it's capacity with officers goods, the
fremen found it rapidly filing with smoke.
Quick Work Necessary.
Chief Belt saw that quick work was nee
essary to save the property. He sum-
moned a force to the roof and had the
tin and woodwork cut away just where
1t joined the quartermasters building The
smoke poured out from the burning hay
will. Meantime lines of hose had been
brought upon the roof. By playing streams
through the opened portions Of the roof of
the building in which the fire was located,
the hremen managed to fight back the
flames.
An examination Of the interior of the
storage building after the fire proved how
close had been the call. The roof timbers
charred from the heat 1t was to save this
structure that so many engines we're called
to the scene of a fire which ordinarily
could have been handled with less num-
ber Chief Belt congratulated himself on
the narrow escape from more serious
conf1agration, one that would have wrought
damage to so many officers of the army
and their families. Chief Dutton, who was
early on the scene of the fire, was highly
pleased with the work of the firemen, as he
freely expressed himself. Not S. worth of
damage resulted in the storehouse.
The Effects Stored There.
Conspicuous among the effects stored on
the second floor of the army building was
large crate plainly marked with the
name of Major VIM. M. Black Major
Black was formerly Engineer Commissioner
of the District. Being acquainted with the
local fire department and its work. he would
have been keenly appreciative Of Its labors
yesterday afternoon had he been on the
scene.
Hot Coffee and Sandwiches Served.
One of the interesting features of the fire
was the serving of hot coffee and sand
witches to the wet and tired firemen This
was the second time the recently created
firemen's coffee fund, suggested by Com
missioner Macfarland and literally con-
tributed to by the citizens of the District,
had been brought into requisition. Fire
Marshal Sidney Bieber presided at the
''pie counter" as some Of the grateful fire.
men laughingly put it, and he served out
scores of ham and cheese sandwiches and
large mugs of steaming coffee. That the
men thoroughly appreciate and enjoy the
benefits of the fund was amply shown.
They gathered about the improvised re-
freshment stand with broad grins on
their smoke begrimed faces and had
regular picnic. Many of the firemen
had to remain on the scene until late in
the evening, and they more than once sang
the praises of the coffee fund
Number of Companies in Reserve.
After the fifth alarm had been answered
there remained in quarters but three en-
CINE companies, two truck companies, the
four chemical companies and Assistant
Chief Sullivan. Assistant Chief Sullivan
being the senior officer in quarters, trans
ferred on the third alarm engine COM
pany No. 10 to No. engine house, No.
engine company to No. engine house,
pany B to truck company c house. On the
fifth alarm he transferred No. engine
company to No. 1 engine house, No. 8 en-
CINE company to No. 2 engine house. No. IL
engine company to No. engine house,
truck E to truck B house, truck company
F to truck company d house, and chemical
company No. 4 (Brookland) to No. 3 engine
house No. Is engine company. being at No.
engine house when the fifth alarm was
sent in, responded to the fire, so that, after
the fifth alarm had been answered as
stated, there remained in quarters but three
engine companies. 5. and IL; truck COM
panies E and f, the four chemical compa-
MES and a hose carriage team at truck E
house. Shortly after the fifth alarm came
in the fire was under control and Assistant
Chief Belt at once commenced sending the
companies back to their quarters. The last
company to return home from the fire was
engine company No. B. it reaching it's quar-
tiers at SOP pm.
LONG TERM IN JAIL,