Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-02-08
WASHINGTON GNESA|D
Engine Companies, Well
Manned, Sent to Baltimore.
CHIEF BELT IN CHARGE
oNE-THIRD OF CAPITAL cITY's
FIRE FORCE.
The "Laddies'' Received With Vocifer-
Gus Cheers by Thousands OF
Grateful Residents.
CHIEF BELT IN CHARGE

Grateful Residents.
Five engine companies from Washington,
Nos 2 3, g. and s, and Chief Engineer
VIM. T. Belt, Fire Marshal B.eber ana
over seventy flremen. from this CITY, are IN
Baltimore, assisting the fire-fghters or that
city and of other cities in their EFFORTS TO
stay the devastating sweep OF the destruc-
tive flames The five engine companies
with their apparatus, represent one-thrd OF
the fire-fghting force of the national CAPT
tai.
A telegram from Fire Chief Horton OF
Baltimore calling for assistance from
Washington was received by Chief Engi.
neer Belt of the local fire department. at
IL 40 O'Clock yesterday morning. Commas
sioner Mcfarland, who was at that time
attending services at the Church of the
Covenant, was communicated with. He
Immediately left the church and telephoned
Chief Belt to do everything possible In the
way of aid to the burning city.
Four engine companies were at once mace
ready and companies 3 and were driven
speedily to the Baltimore and Ohio station.
where the engines and other apparatus
were hastily loaded on to a special traln'
consisting of an engine, box car for the
horses and four fiat cars At l2:OS the
train pulled out on its trip to Baltimore,
carrying besides the fire engines and fire.
fighting apparatus, Chief Belt, Fire Marshal
Bieber Coroner hewitt and twenty firemen.
The train made record-breaking run. and
arrived at Camden station in Baltimore
thirty-one minutes after it left Washington.
Received With Cheers.
Accounts of the arrival of the Washing
ton firemen in Baltimore are to the effect
that they were received with ringing cheers
from the thousands of Baltimore people
gathered about the railroad station. The
Washington forces were directed by Chief
Belt and Marshal Bieber, ard all the men
from the national capital worked like Tro-
jams and were frequently applauded by the
spectators of the awful scene.
Second Appeal for Aid.
A second dispatch from Chief Horton
was received by The fire department here
an hour after the first train left the city.
Chief Horizons second telegram read:
please rush all apparatus quickly as pos
sible. Fire beyond control" The local au-
thorites did rot at once comply with this
request, knowing that Chief Belt must have
reached the scene of the terrible conf agra
ton, and word from the chief was awaited
TWO additional companies, however, were
held in readiness. in case later call was
made upon the local fire department
At 2:56 the following message was re-
ceived through the police:
Mr. Yeakle, superintendent of fire alarm
telegraph, and | have just been over to
fire ground. The two companies from
Washington are here and at work Can't
get hold of Chief Horton
The telegram was signed by j. NJ Krea-
mer. manager of the fire district
News from the fire-stricken city was anx-
1ously awaited by the District authorities
and Commissioner Macfarland sent the fol-
lowing telegram to Mayor McLane of Bal
frnn Mot
thlzes with Baltimore. Was glad to send
nre department assistance. Call upon dis
do"
The Third Call.
At about 10:15 o'clock in the evening
Commissioner mcfarland received a tele-
gram from Mayor McLane, asking for adj
ditional assistance. Engine companies
Nos. : and 8, under Foreman Darlington.
were ordered out, and a second special
train conveyed the fire fighters to BaIti-
more. With the second detachment from
Washington went Chief Machinst T. NJ
Robinson, ten horses, twenty-five men and
about 1900 feet of emergency hose.
Commissioner mcfarland was IN prac-
tically all night, in readiness to comply
as far as possible with the requests for as
sistance from the Baltimore officials.
From o'clock last evening on through
the night rumors were circulated here to
the effect that some of the Washington
firemen had been injured. Mr.. Mcfarland
was very anxious, and sent several tee-
grams to the fire-stricken city in an at
tempt to ascertain whether or not any of
the Washington men had been injured. He
was unable to obtain any answer to his
kilograms until 5 o'clock this morning
when President Gail of the board of fire
commissioners in Baltimore wired the
Commissioner that none of the Washing
ton firemen had been hurt, and that all
were working nobly.
farland received a dispatch from Mr..
Brobst, another fire commissioner of Bal
timore, stating, in effect, that none of the
Washington firemen had sustained any in
juries, and that the work of the local fire
fighters was very effective.
Fifth Company Goes.
In response to a telegram to Commits
sioner mcfarland at O'Clock this morn
ing the fifth engine company, No Z, with
twenty-one men, was loaded on a Baltimore
and Ohio train and sent to the fire.
stricken city. The twenty-one men were
sent to act as extras and relief to the fire.
men who were already in Baltimore.
Mr. Macfarland arose this morning at )
o'clock. after retiring at 3:i5 o'clock and
has made every attempt to keep in touch
with the progress of the fire and with the
needs of the stricken city and of the Wash
ington firemen in Baltimore.
Commissioner West has also been paying
careful attention to the details, and has
proffered to Baltimore any aid he can give
through the local police department, of
which he has charge.
Commissioner mcfarland states that
Washington cannot spare any more men
or engines to Baltimore under the circum-
stances. The two reserve engines have
been made ready for use in case of fire
here.
Philadelphia it is stated, has fifty-fve
engine companies, and has sent to Balti-
more ten companies. In comparison with
the assistance from Philadelphia IL is con-
sidered that Washington has responded to
Baltimore's appeals In a generous manner
Chief Engineer Belt, now in Baltimore
has been given authority to draw on the
coffee fund for food and coffee medicine
etc.. that may be needed in any emergency
for the men who are now fighting the
flames In the neighboring city. The District
authorities are endeavoring to make every
arrangement for the proper care of its fire
fighters while absent from the city
Prefer of Financial Aid.
Commissioner mcfarland consulted by
telephone this morning a number of prom