The Washington times., 1903-12-28
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY
HAS NARROW ESCAPE
Fire Creates Havoc in the
Photographic Room.
DAMAGE PLACED AT $4,000
Quick Discovery of Flames and Prompt
Response by Department Saves
Much Larger Loss.

Fire started in the upper story of
| the United States Geological Survey Of
| fees in the Hooe Building, on f Street.
] between Thirteenth and Fourteenth
| Streets northwest, about 10 o'clock last
night. and within a few moments oc-
casioned a loss of $4,000 worth of unin-
| sured Government records, and g, 900
/ damage to the building The heroic eff
forts of the firemen and their timely
action prevented larger damage
AT the time the blaze was discovered
/ Chief n. w. Carkhuff, of the photo
| graphic division of the survey, was de-
veloping negatives and had just left the
| Photographic room fhen he saw the
flames. A defective electric wire is be-
/ lieved to have been the cause of the
| fire.
Three Alarms Sounded.
Owing to the size of the building
and the fact that Government records,
maps. Illustrations and books were
there. three alarms of fire were inn ne
] diately sounded, and within few mo-
ments several engine and truck com
/ panies were upon the scene. and the
firemen began a fight TO prevent the
/ flames. which had eaten their way
| through the roof of the Photographic
| department, from spreading into the
| other rooms of the building and the adj
joining houses.
The flames were kept confined within
/ the bounds Of the department in which
they started. and all the loss was on
Photographic implements, photographs.
records, and the building.
The valuable maps and photographs
which are now being made at the sur
vey TO be exhibited at the Louisiana
/ Purchase Exposition in st. Louis next
year were within a few yards Of the
flames, and only the hardest kind of
work on the part of the firemen saved
/ them from destruction.
! Mr.. Carkhuff says he and his wife
and brother were on the sixth floor Of
the building and he went from one room
! to another without noticing any smoke
or flames until after ne had been there
4 for some time. He did not have any
matches. and was not smoking, and is
/ at a loss to understand the origin OF
the blaze. When the discovery was
made the three persons dashed down
the stairway. Mr.. Carkhun shouting
! Fire" as loud as he could.
Seen at No. z.
I The flames destroyed the roof within
a few moments, and the reflection Ct
the fire was noticed by the foreman of
/ No. 2 Engine Company, from the com
pany's quarters, on d Street, near Four
teenth Street. and before an alarm was
sounded the company was on its way
to the fire. Night Clerk H. T. DeVei.
OF the Ebbitt House. which adjoins the
Hooc Building, telephoned to fire head
| quarters, and three alarms were i'm
mediately turned in, bringing out a suf-
| ficient number OF fire-hghters to save
the Government thousands OF dollars.
Several engines were Immediately set
TO work. and a ladder was run up to
the sixth floor windows. Owing to the
explosion and burning Of foul-smelling
chemicals, the firemen were hampered
in their work, because OF the sitting
fumes. After an entrance had been CT
fected the firemen worked with more
freedom and quickly subdued the flames
While fire and water were doing their
best to ruin everything in sight, Di-
I rector Walcott. Chief David T Day. Of
the mineral division; MIR. Carkhuff. and
a number Of others were hard at work
rescuing the St Louis exhibit and other
valuable papers and supplies.
Hotel Guests Scared.
The guests on The upper floors Of the
Ebbitt House who had retired early
were much frightened by the fire. and
4 within few moments after It started
! the corridors and lower floors of the
! hostelry were filled with pajama-clad
men and many women in scant at
tire. but with large bundles of clothing
in their arms They were soon assured
} that the fire was not near enough TO
I damage the hotel, but this they did
not believe until the fremen gathered
their paraphernalia and departed.
The stock in Judge KimbalIs shoe
store was slightly dana ged by smoke
and water. but so fan as could be learn
ed no damage was done 70 the stock in
a piano store on the ground floor CT Tie
building. or the tailoring establishment
adjoining the shoe store.
Owned by c. C. Willard.
The Hooe Building is owned by Caleb
J c. Willard. the owner Of about Sc. coo. 600
worth OF other property in the same
/ block. He has no insurance upon any
I Of his property. The United States
( Government has no Insurance on any
4 Of it's buildings or properties.
/ Private John Aldman. of Chemical
! Company No. l. was slightly nurt by
falling glass while fighting the ire. a
! large skyli2ht fell in while he and sew
eral other men were on their way 70
the floor where the flames were i1catoj
The model Of Alaska for the Worlds
Fair was damaged by smoke. 1t is ex-
pectCd repairs will have been com
pleted In ten days.