Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-29
ELSMERE HOTEL ATTIRE
DAMAGE ESTIMATED TO BE Be
TWEEN SO, 900 AND $4,000.
Blaze Starts Near Top Of Elevator
shaft-Nine Companies Respond
to the Alarms.

Fire in the Elsmere Hotel. 14O6 and 1408
II street northwest yesterday afternoon
shortly after o'clock did considerable
aamage TO the building and contents and
interrupted traffic on the street car lines.
The street car companies were able to use
their switches so that traffic was inter-
rupted for only short time.
At just fifteen minutes past o'clock the
fire department was notified Of the fire by
the sounding OF an alarm turned in, and
three minutes afterward Assistant Chief
Darlington sent in a second alarm. Six
companies responded to the first and three
additional companies were summoned by
the assistant chief. The water tower was
among the companies to answer the call. uut
did not go into service, as the flames did
not gain Roadway sufficient to justify the
nremen In flooding the building. Consid-
erapie water found its way from the roof
TO the cellar, however, and damaged the
puilolng ana furniture to some extent.
Where the Blaze Started.
The fire started near the top of the eleva-
tor shaft and had Distributed itself over the
rear western part Of the roof and top floor
by the time the firemen reached the scene
There was every indication that the build
ing would be destroyed, and it was for the
purpose OF guarding against this that As
help. Chief Belt and Acting Assistant Chief
Beers responded to the second alarm, and
MAJ. Sylvester was also on hand. The
latter directed the movements of the police
reserves; There was no disorder In the big
crowd of spectators.
There was no delay on the part of the
hremen in getting to work, and it was due
entirely to their efficiency that the fire did
not DO great amount of damage. It was
impossible to pre- emit the destruction Of
part OF the roof and considerable woodwork
on the top floor.
The Guests Escape.
Many guests of the hotel were in the
building when the fire started and they
quickly gathered their valuables and es-
capped to the street. The water damaged
rugs, carpets and pictures on the lower
floors and PIT the greater part of the
BUILDING out of use. There was nothing to
indicate to the firemen how the fire orig
mated. Manager EckhOlm was about the
building during the time the fire was in
progress, and after the firemen had finished
their work he said he would take steps to
repair the damage Immediately.
Chief Belt said this morning that the
damage to the building and contents will
not exceed 5000, while the police place the
loss at $4,000. The damage is covered by
insurance.
Other Fires
Fire in the house of Miss Emily T. Miller,
1924 street, Saturday night, caused about
$3.50 damage. The blaze started in closet
On the third floor from some unknown
cause. and was extingushed by members of
the fire department, who went to the house
in response to an alarm The property is
owned by Lester A. Barr.
No 1 engine company was called to the
house of O. E. Cromwell, 1882 K street
northwest, yesterday morning about s
o'clock. There was a blaze caused by lace
curtain coming in contact with lighted
gas jet and about $25 damage was caused
before 1t could be extinguished. Major
Hoxe owns the property.
The fire department responded to an
alarm of fire turned in from box Alt about
o'clock last night, and found that electric
wires had caused a slight blaze in street
car at 14th and D streets northwest. The
was only slightly damaged.
An alarm of fire was turned in from box
S25 about $50 OF clock last might because of
slight blaze in tie Temporary Home for
Colored Children, COZ Howard avenue north
west. The fire was caused by matches ignit-
ing in the storeroom, and was extinguished
before more than So damage had been done.