Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-19
FIRE FIGHTERS BUSY
DEPARTMENT CALLED OUT Sew
ERAL TIMES LAST NIGHT
The Y. N. c. A. Building Damaged to
Amount of 81 ,oOo-But Little
Loss in Other Cases.

The fire department experienced great
difficulty late yesterday afternoon and last
night responding to calls. Between 4
O'Clock ard midnight five calls were made
for their services. Fortunately none of the
fires required much work out of doors. and
the hardships were therefore not SO severe
as they would have been under other con-
ditions. The most serious conflagratiOn was
In the home of the Y. M. c. A. on u
street. This fire started about II 80 O'Clock
and kept the iremen about the building
nearly an hour. 1t was due to the prompt
work of the flremen that the structure was
not totally destroyed. AS it was, the dam
age amounted to about 81 COO While the
building presents a scene Of confusion to-
day the work of the association VIII go On
as usual IL the boiler can be promptly re-
paired.
The fire originated in the engine room.
and is thought to have been caused by an
overheated due. 1t required but snort
time for the flames to reach the pile OF
kindlings and then attack the lockers.
which were constructed OF wood. The
smoke found its way from the basement to
the upper floors and attracted the attention
of the Waterman. He started on a tour OF
fnyestigs ton and upon finding the build
and sent in a call for the firemen. In a
short time several companies of the de-
partment were on hand. 1t was at first
feared by the firemen that additional COM
psnies would have to be summoned. As
sistant Chief Sullivan entered the building.
however. as soon as he arrived, and con-
cluded the companies that had responded
to the first alarm would be able to cope
with the flames.
Conditions Favorable.
1t was a fortunate thing for the firemen
that they were able to enter the building
to fight the flames instead of remaining
outside. with the thermometer at about
zero. 1t was fortunate for the association
that the water service was In good condi-
ton and had not been put out of service by
the cold weather. The flames made their
way through the floor and the firemen had
to cut the timbers in several places. The
flames were under control in a short time.
and the members of the association who
were upon the scene last night congratu-
lated the fremen upon their good work.
While the damage to the building amounts
to only about $1,000, the smoke filed the
entire structure and caused some little adj
ditional injury.
Assistant Secretary Wilson left the build
Ing only a short time before the fire started
He remained at his desk later than usual.
The fire was probably burning at that time
but the smoke had not reached the upper
floors to warn him of the danger Secretary
Pierce was on his way home from the
Fred. B. Smith meeting at the Hamline
Church when he was advised of the fire.
and he hurried to the building. 1t was i'm
possible TO estimate the damage to the
building until the firemen had finished their
work. Then an examination was made by
the police and firemen, and they concluded
that about s1.0G0 damage had been done to
the building.
Had it not been for the efficiency of the
fire department the Y NJ. c. A. would have
been without a home today This morning
Secretary Pierce and other officers of the
association were on hand to see what could
be done toward getting the building i'm
shape with as little delay possible.
Secretary Pierce's Comment.
This fire proves the necessity of fire.
proof building for Y. NJ c. A. work at the
nearest possible date said Secretary
Fierce today. THE work of the Y NJ c. A.
is so varied and requires so much lighting
heat, telephone service and varied equip
ment that the association building is more
IN danger of fire than almost any other In
sutution in the city. A building that Is
not fireproof is absolutely unsafe and unfit
for Y. NJ. c. A. purposes. This is proved
by scores of fires which have destroyed Y
M. C. A. buildings during the past four or
five years. The old buildings have been
burning up and fireproof buildings are be-
ing everywhere substituted. 1t is difficult
to see how we can get along without the
completion of our new building within "a
few months. Our work will be crippled and
absolutely handicapped until the new build
ing is erected Nevertheless we shall man
age to get along. although it will take a
month to get ourselves adjusted again to
the former conditions The classes In the
gymnasium and the religious work will con-
tlnue as scheduled
Had the Waterman discovered this fire
only ten minutes later the building would
have been done for. We are most fortu-
nate in saving it with only a few thousa nd
dollars loss. L am sure the people of
Washington and the friends of the cause
throughout the country will come forward
more promptly than ever to raise the rest
OF our s3OOoOO building fund. We are only
S3o.O00 short of the $500 900 If we could
complete this balance in the next ten DAYS.
We could begin the new building February
j. Every nerve will be strained to accom-
plish this purpose. But we need the moral
ana material cooperation of the citizens to
accomplish this. The first step in this line
came early this morning when a friend of
The Y M. c. A on his way down town TO
his Office dropped in and left $50
Other Fires.
The fire department was called ont ves
terday afternoon at $50 O'Clock by the
turning in of an alarm from box 642 To-
Gated at Florida avenue and Eth street
northeast. There was a slight fire in the
cellar at the house of Frederick Contee,
IFS 18th street. Hot ashes thrown In the
cellar caused the fire, which resulted in
about $40 damage
Forty minutes later a call for firemen
came from box %. which was pulled be-
cause of blaze in the house of Mrs Emma
Briscoe. 1928 18th street northwest Sparks
from stove set fire to the cushion Of a
cha1r and alarmed the occupants of the
mousse BY the time the firemen reached
the house the blaze had been extinguished.
The damage caused was quite small
Five minutes before the department was
called to the 18th street fire an alarm was