Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-23
DISASTROUS BLAZE.
Fire Causes Heavy Loss in Gathers
burg.
Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star

Special Correspondence Of The Evening Star.
GAITHERSBURG, Md, May 81, 1903.
Within an hour and half this afternoon
the Touring mills and adjoining ware
houses Of the Gaithersburg Milling and
Manufacturing Company, and the homes
of Mr.. Charles w. Smith and Mr.. Charles
F. Hogan, adjacent on Diamond avenue in
the heart of the business center, were de-
stroyed by fire. About 2:30 o'clock the fire
was discovered in the elevator shaft on the
upper floors Of the mill, and its origin is
supposed to be due to spontaneous COM
bustion. The mill was working to full ca
pacity, and some 1900 bushels of wheat
just received were being elevated and sep
arated. This wheat, with about 5000
bushels more in bins and 400 barrels of
flour, occasioned the speedy collapse of the
mill, giving but few minutes for the Of
ficials to escape from the office with the
books and business papers of the company.
No attempt was made to save the mill,
but in response to the fire call from the
engine at the mill several hundred people
of the town and many from points miles
away responded and organized themselves
into a fire brigade. A vigorous night was
made to prevent the destruction OF the
business row from the Baltimore and ONO
station to the Western Union Telegraph
Office The immense warehouse, in which
were stored about $4,000 worth of agr1cul-
tural implements, builders hardware and
mill work, was swept away in few min
utes but q great deal of the contents were
removed to the streets.
After steady fight for nearly two hours
the fire was brought under control at the
residences of Mr.. William H. Coomes and
the furniture and grocery stores Of Mr.
Nathan H. Darby. The furniture of both
residences destroyed was removed, but in
the excitement was considerably damaged
Mr.. Hogan's loss, Notwithstanding he car
ried insurance of 500. was heavy. In the
Hogan residence was located the central
exchange of the Montgomery County Tele-
phone Company. which also suffers small
loss by the fire.
While the fire brigade was preventing the
spread of the flames on the west side OF
the avenue the fire was doing its disas-
trous work on the east, leaping to the
stable Of the milling company and destroy
ing 1t, and thence to the fertilizer factory,
on the railroad front. This building was
full OF bone, cotton seed meal and
other combustibles, estimated at from $50
to 800 tons, and 1t was only possible to get
out of this building some scales, trucks ana
such property before 1t, too, was mass OF
flames.
The store of Mr.. W. c. Byrne, another
one of the milling company's row. adjacent
to tho fertilizer factory, was saved. though
several times taking fire. Mr.. Byrne's loss
on stock which was damaged from being
thrown into the streets. will be $1OO.
Messrs. Diamond and Fulks the manag-
ing officials Of the milling company. stated
that their probable loss would foot up $50
600 to $50, 900. They carried an insurance
Appropriated at $4,000, the larger portion
of which is on the mill and warehouses de-
stroyed today.
The milling company will resume bust
the officials intend to reconstruct the burn
ed property as soon as possible. General
regret Is expressed that the force Of mill
ers will be out of employment for time.