Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-20
EARLY Fl R { N { n
How Things Were Managed
Back in the Thirties.
AN INTERESTING PAPER
DESTRUCTIVE BLAZE ON 9TH
STREET LONG AGO.
The First Parade and How It Marched
Forming Insurance
Company.
AN INTERESTING PAPER

At the last regul-r monthly meeting OF
the Veteran Volunteer Firemens Assocla-
ton. held at the Union engine house. Presl-
dent James H. Richards was In the chair
and Mr.. J. ]. Peabody served as secretary
The death of Mr.. H. H. Hempier was re-
ported by the president, who stated that
the association was represented by dele
CATION at the funeral A letter was read
from Mrs. Hempler expressing the apprecia-
ton of the family for the respect shown.
A like letter was received from Mrs Cts
sell, the widow of Thomas Cissell
The report of the committee on the books
was made showing a healthy balance in
the treasury. Mr.. Peabody reported that.
with Messrs. Shaw and Genau he received
the Wecacoe Fire Company of Wilmington,
Del, September %, and escorted the mem
bers to the Howard House.
"A letter was received from Mr. and Mrs
John Z. Suter returning thanks for the
testimonial sent them on the fiftieth ami
versary of their marriage.
Some interesting "reminiscences were called
forth by announcement of the recent deaths
of AL. johnson and Thos +. Young
Mr.. Peabody contributed the chapter or
his sketch of od-time fire matters for the
year 1897. This opened with the minutes
of the meeting of the Union FIRE Com
pany held January ., at which committee
was appointed to draft a constitution, and
the chairman, Rev. French S. Evans, was
requested to correspond with the fire COM
panies of Washington and Georgetown ana
request their cooperation in securing a
charter for a Firemen's Insurance Com
pany. January the Union company elect
ed Mr.. Evans president, Edmund Handley
vice president, DR.. +. Howard secretary
and Samuel StOtt treasurer. a committee
was appointed to attend a convention to
consider the subject of memorializing Con-
gress for charter for an insurance COM
pany and to recommend such other meas
ures as it should deem necessary to rem
der the fire companies more efficient. The
president, Thos. Smith, and Mr.. Handley
were appointed the committee.
Mr.. PeabOdys paper gave in detail all the
fire events for the year, among which were
the following:
An Early Fire.
The Inteligencer of Monday, May %. I'M
der the head Of OBSTRUCTIVE Fire" has the
following:
ION Saturday about o clock In as Mr..
John Walker. the butcher was going from
his house to the Center market he discov
cred fire to be issuing from the back part
of the dry goods store of Messrs. c. z
Washington & Co., at the corner of 9th
street and Pennsylvania avenue third
ward). The alarm bells were soon after
rung and in a very short time after the
engines of the several fire companies. we'll
manned, arrived at the spot. The flames.
however owing perhaps to the combustible
nature of the goods, soon attained the
ascendant, and In the course of two hours
the entire building gave way with ire
mendous dash the outer wall facing 9th
street falling across that street, covering 1t
with bricks. Fortunately no person was
killed. there being very few persons in the
street, owing probably to the intolerable
heat. A colored woman who was carrying
a sofa at the time across the street was
knocked down with the bricks, but we are
glad to learn that she was not seriously
injured. The loss Of Messrs. c. E. Wash
ington & Co. will doubtless prove very Sc
we're, as the stock of goods In the store and
in the ware rooms above is estimated at
$40 600, and a very small portion of 1t was
rescued from the flames. We have ascer
tanned, however, that $4,000 upon it was
insured, one-half in the Franklin and the
other in the Potomac insurance offices 1t
is gratifying to learn that through the ac-
trying to effect this Mr.. Bender and the
other gentlemen the iron chest of the
Messrs. Washington, containing their books,
etc, was got out of the store. although in
trying to affect this Mr.. Bender and thes
others were almost suffocated with smoke.
We regret to add that Mrs. Gassaway,
whose dwelling and boarding house was
above Messrs. Washington's store. is the
next principal sufferer. She has lost nearly
all-perhapS we might say all-her household
furniture. beds bedding. etc, and some of
the inmates of her dwelling narrowly eS
capped with their lives.
MIR. SHADES hardware store. adjoining
Messrs. Washingtons S, was also much injured.
The building. which belonged to T. w. Pairo,
is insured. The loss upon 1t Is estimated at
$500. The damage done to Mr.. SHADES mer-
chandise will not fall upon him, as IL is in
sured to the amount of $1,000. The entire
building occupied by the Messrs. Washing
ton & Co. and Mrs Gassaway belonged to
DR.. Jewett Of Boston and others. We I'M
derstand that the store and goods occupied
by Mr.. Rawlings, merchant tailor; Mr.. Will
son. halter. and Mr.. Richie, tin plate work
er, next in the row, are considerably injured.
though to what extent 1T is impossible to as
certain at present. While much praise is due
to the several fire companies and their Off
GERS for the activity with which they turned
out and their incessant exertions to stop
the progress of the fire. it Is much to be la
mented that great number of persons
stood upon the ground idle spectators of the
scene, Notwithstanding the entreaties Of the
president of the fire company, one of the
city magistrates and the mayor himself for
assistance to supply one of the engines with
water, which was without it's hydraulion
We hope not to witness such Culpable indif-
ference again. We have been unable to
satisfy ourselves whether this destructive
fire was caused by accident or design. The
general opinion seems to incline to the lat
ter. and we hope it will prove incorrect on
further Investigation
E1TSt F1re rugs.
The Intelligencer Of August notices the
Introduction of fire plugs as follows:
''The citizens of Washington have been
much eratified by witnessing the opera
tions which have been lately carried on
and which are yet in progress for laying
iron pipes along Pennsylvania avenue to
convey water from the Capitol to the new
treasury building. The construction of fire
plugs at proper and convenient distances
along the avenue will no doubt prove ex-
tremely serviceable in case of fire breaking
out in any part of the city which is con-
venient to these fire plugs. We had the
pleasure of witnessing on Friday last the
first experiment that was made to test the
practica! value of the fire plugs on Penn
sylvania avenue. The Perseverance Fire
Company, under the direction of Capt,
buckingham. turned out with it's engine
and hydraulion. and the hose being affixed
to the plug near Elliot's buildings. the
water flowed very copiously and was
thrown with great skill and effect over the
highest houses in Az street. The expert
ment was made in the presence of Major
holland. commissioner of public buildings
and several other gentlemen and annaarad