Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-05-12
PHOTO GALLERY BURNS
Flames at ]. orviile Johnson's Studio
Cause Damage to Extent
sx 900.

Fire destroyed the photograph gallery OF
j. Orvflle johnson, e465 and 467 Pennsyl-
vania avenue. this morning about o'clock
and loss of life was narrowly averted. Mi.
johnson was rescued from the balcony at
the second-story window, and Mrs. Mar
garet Tully, sixty years old, and Mrs. Vir-
ginia Emerson, seventy-f1ve years of age,
were taken from the third-story windows
by the hremen. Mr.. Ernst, a travelling
salesman from Grand Rapids, Mich; Mr..
A. Roys, an operator in the gallery, and an
enploye in the government printing office
named Evans were in the building at the
time, but managed to reach the sidewalk
without the assistance of the flremen. Mr..
Roys did not have time to put on all his
clothes, but he returned after the flames
nad been extinguished and completed his
toilet.
The fire started from some unknown
cause IN small room between the gallery
ana the living rooms Of the members of the
Johnson FAMILY. Because of the amount
OF ,nnammable material in the building it
LOOK put a short time for the flames to
spread to the main structure. in which the
several persons were sleeping The occu-
pants OF the rooms were awakened by
smoke and calls from the street. On ac-
s soulc OF the great amount of smoke In the
DDuloing II was impossible for Mr.. Johnson
MRS. Emerson and Mrs. TuIly to reach the
STAIRS ana get out of the building The
uames mad also cut Off communication with
the lower floor. With the women 1t looked
70 De case of jumping from the third floor
or be suffoeated The few minutes thev
were at the window they said seemed like
hours 70 them, and they made several
t I as II they intended jumping. Not
a a1 p :. them was the blaze and smoke.
auu II was as much as the firemen and
spectators could do to prevent them frono
eahing the leap which would probably have
caused the death of one or both.
.,a Lon Jump! shouted the people on the
minute" Will pe mere IN q
MIS- emerson and Mrs Tully said thew
lshi the minutes were being drwn into
hours out they managed to stand the vol
anle OF smoke until the arrival of Truck G
anu anu the engine companies Orders were
issued for the raising of the ladders onS
no ume was lost in getting them to the
upper windows of the structure. Privates
"a. A. F'rawley of Truck C company and
f. r. =. 5adgett OF No. 1 chemical assembled
time they had the two women on the side
walk. Both were suffering from the effects
OF the smoke. but not seriously All this
ume Mr.. johnson was at the second story
WINDOW trying to jump to the sidewalk He
was prevented from jumping by one of the
young men in the building, and during the
excitement the young man choked him.
Frlvate Padgett' Of the chemical company
rescued him. and he said he thought he
had been held and choked for nearly twenty
minutes
While these fremen were engaged in res
cue work other members of the department
were working tosexfinguish the flames. The
nremen knew there was some oil in the
rooms of the photographer and realized
that only quick work could save the neigh
boring property. Streams of water were
pouring In upon the flames without delay
and the fire was sosn under control. Some
of Mr.. Johnson'ssneighbors became fright
ened and got ready to leave their homes
but they soon found that moving out would
not be necessary.
flames some of those who had left the
building in q hurry were permitted to re-
turn and get what clothes they needed
The damage to the building and contents is
estimated at about s, COO The property is
owned by the Kirby estate.