Evening star., 1903-09-05
REGENT HOTEL ABLAzE
Damages Amount to About
$500.
THREE ALARMS SENT IN
CHASE'S THEATER AND ADJoIN-
ING PROPERTY THREATENED.
Prompt Work of the Fire Department
Prevents Spread of the
Flames.
THREE ALARMS SENT IN

The Hotel Regent and adjacent build
ings narrowly escaped total destruction by
fire this morning, the saving of the prop
erty under the circumstances causing sur
prise to numerous spectators. 1t was few
minutes after 10 o'clock when the smoke
coming from the top of the building on the
18th street side warned pedestrians that
the fire causing the smoke Was not in the
furnace. Private Moran of truck c turned
in an alarm and almost before the last
sound of the regular alarm had died away
the first stroke of the third alarm was
heard. At that time there was every indi-
cation that the hotel building would be
destroyed, and that it was saved is due
only to the good work the part of the
fire department. Chief Belt and two as
sistants were on hand to direct the move
ments of the men. The flooding OF the
building was avoided. While it seemed
certain at the outbreak that there was
nothing that could save the building and
contents, fireman was able to make the
remark later on, No interruption to busi-
ness. no fire sale.
by the fire chief to be 5000. while Mr..
Robert Fatt, manager of the hotel. said
$500 would probably replace the burned
furniture. Both are fully insured.
Third Alarm Sounded.
There was no time lost by the members
of the fire department in reaching the build
ing, and the police were also promptly on
hand prepared to handle the big crowd Of
spectators. Detectives were sent to the
hotel to watch the property and see that
thieves were given no opportunity to plum
der the rooms. When the fremen reached
the building in response to the first alarm
md ba -aNyitv nf al
vealed a third alarm was sent In. In
few minutes eleven companies Of the de-
partment were stationed about the plugs
and other points from where the members
could reach the burning building in the
performance of their duty. The guests OF
the hotel did not become excited nor was
anybody injured. Manager Fatt. who was
assisted by several friends, looked out for
the property in the rooms and aided the
detectives. When the manager was as
sured that the flames would not gain much
headway he set about to prevent the In
discriminate throwing of furniture and
trunks from the rooms
There were six steam engines, one chemi-
cal, three trucks and the water tower
gathered about the hotel property ready for
service, but Chief Belt had only a small
part of the force take part in the work.
His first move to prevent the general
flooding of the building, he having become
certain that the fire was under control,
A number of hand pumps were used and
surprisingly large amount of good work
was accomplished in short time. There
was small amount Of flooding done. but
the water was mostly caught In buckets
and much damage was thereby prevented.
Where the fire started on the fourth floor
several rooms were rendered unfit for oc-
cupancy. The blaze also caused some lit
tie damage to the roof and walls. The
blaze originated in the room of Mrs Lizzie
Nugent, a chambermaid. The cause is not
known. Mrs. Nugent had been away from
her room fully three hours when the fire
was discovered Her effects including a
small amount of money. were destroyed.
Effort to Ascertain Cause.
Some time during the night Mrs. Nugent
detected the odor of smoke, and she came
to the conclusion that paper was being
burned in the neighborhood. She looked
about to make certain the fire was not in
the hotel, and became satisfied there was
no danger. So far she concerned,
she said. she had always been extremely
careful with matches and everything else
that was likely to cause FIRE. During the
eighteen months she had been employed in
the hotel she had been frequently caut .oned
about the use of matches. and had warned
others to be careful. In the room she occu-
pied there big hole made by rats
and this opening was considered in the
efforts of the firemen to determine the
cause of the blaze. Speaking of the ma alter
a member of the fire department said he
had known of cases in which paper and
combustible material had been carried into
such places by rats and caused such trouble
as that experienced today. 1t was also
suggested that the odor OF smoke detected
last night by Mrs Nugent may have been
connected with todays blaze.
In sections of the city remote from the
scene of the fire there were many wild
rumors afoat. These rumors resulted in
attracting people from all sections, and
among them were a number of insurance
men. Had the flames gained headway
Cha se's Theater would have been in great
danger. AS it turned out the firemen and
hotel people were the recipients of hearty
congratulations The water tower was
given good position, and the apparatus
would have had an excellent opportunity
to acquit itself in creditable manner had
the occasion arisen. Mr. Robert p. Muir
ply, who conducts the hotel business. is at
Albany, N. Y, where he conducts the New
Kenmore Hotel He was notified of the
fire after the flames had been extinguished
Owned by Mr.. Staples.
The building is owned by Mr.. o. G. Sta
pies. who owns other hotel property in this
city The crowd attracted to the fire lin
gered about the vicinity of the hotel until
there was nothing more to be seen, and
then the police removed the ropes and re-
turned to their respective precincts. Hap
pening as 1t did a time when the street
car traffic was heavy, 1t was believed that
there would be a lengthy delay in the
movement of cars and considerable incon-
venience to thousands of passengers but
such was not the The delay amount
ed to but little and in few minutes the
cars were running on schedule time.
1t is stated that Miss Grace Thomas who
has an Office in the Corcoran building on
from the hotel. was the first to discover