Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-18
FIRE AT PORT MYER'
JUNIOR OFFICERS QUARTERS AND
MESS TOTALLY DESTROYED.
Surrounding Buildings Saved by Effec-
tive Work of Soldiers-Blaze Origi-
mated in Furnace Room.

was located the bachelor officers quarters,
the officers club and officers mess was to-
tally destroyed by fire at an early hour
yesterday morning. The property of the
nine junior officers living in the structure
was practically all saved, but the flames,
which originated in the furnace room,
spread to every section of the old structure
with such rapidity that but little else es-
capped. The loss to the government has
not yet been estimated. The original cost
Of the building, together with the improve
ments since placed upon it, made its value
about $4,000
It was only by the hardest kind of work
that the efficient fire-fighting corps of the
post. under the command of Maj. Eli d.
Hoyle, Artillery Corps, fire marshal, man
aged to save the buildings in the vicinity
of the burned structure. 1t is regarded as
fortunate that the building was isolated
to certain extent. there being the width
OF the post roads between 1t and the near
est houses. The Inconvenience to the off,
GERS who had quarters in the building will
only. be temporary. as they HAYES been as
at the post, and within short time will
move into the handsome new building that
Is in the course of erection as bachelor off.
GERS quarters and mess.
Fire Started in Cellar
The fire is believed to have originated in
the furnace room, under the central por-
ton Of the building. OF the nine officers
who live there eight were in their rooms
and in bed at the time. Smoke issuing from
the cellar windows attracted the attention
of DR.. Robert Smart, assistant surgeon,
who was walking past the building on his
way to his quarters. A sentinel was sum-
moned, and on breaking into the cellar
saw that the furnace room was ablaze. By
discharging his carbine, the usual fire sig
val t1rC .
was sounded. The enlisted men quickly
manned the fire-fighting apparatus at the
post and under the direction of the post
fire marshal, Maj. Hoy1e, proceeded to do
the best they could to extinguish the flames.
The fire had secured good Roadway, how
ever. and the dry old timbers in the build
ing, almost rotten with age, II Is declared,
furnished easy prey. Sparks blown across
the roadway ignited the wooden framework
of the windows and the porches OF the
quarters of DR.. Charles C. Billingslea, as
sistant surgeon, almost opposite the burn
ing structure. The attention of the post
fire department was then turned to this
building and to the other houses in the
same row which seemed endangered, all
hope of saving the building where the fire
started having been abandoned.
The officers living in the Building and the
enlisted men worked quickly and effective
~ In saving the property in the various
apartments. Very little of the effects of
the occupants of the structure remained In
/ 1t when the flames became too hot to save
any more, the open construction and many
stairways to the upper floors aiding the SAL
wage corps greatly. Despite the danger and
excitement there were many inc dents con-
nected with the hurried rescue of the Off
GERS clothing and effects that furnished
amusement for those who watched the
progress of the flames. The younger Off
GERS who were quartered in the structure
had about everything they possessed in
their rooms and the work of getting this
out was a very serious matter to them.
nyNn off1 h4fr<
deep sleep by smoke and hearing the crack
ling of the flames, leaped from his window.
He fell In snow bank and was unhurt.
Another officer. with his arms full OF,
clothing fell down a long flight of steps
and rolled out on the porch at the feet
Of the soldier ffremen- He was picked up
by willing hands and moved out of the
way The heaviest personal loss, it is said,
will fall on the caterer of the officers mess
Mrs. Frederick Boss. stewardess of the
mess, occupied one of the rooms on the
first floor of the building. She was badly
frightened, but managed to effect the
rescue OF her three children with the helm
OF the soldiers.
Built Twenty Years Ago.
The building that was burned was one of
the oldest structures at Fort Myer and was
soon to be demolished It was constructed
entirely of wood and when first built, more
than twenty years ago. was used as quar-
tiers for the enlisted men, 1t was fype
of the hurriediy constructed, cheap build
ings that were erected at army posts I'm to
decade ago. 1t had been patched and re-
paired so many times and had such a
fiimsy wooden framework that ii furnished
easy prey to the flames. Except when 1t
was first constructed. 1t had never been
comfortable as a habitation. beng cold In
winter and hot In summer Mai: Ell d.
Hoyle, Artillery Corps; Capt. Thomas M
Corcoran. 18th Cavalry, and Lieut. Harry
8. Berry, 18th Cavalry, have been dessg-
mated as board OF survey to inquire into
the origin of the fire and estimbate the |
losses. This board met yesterday ana again |
today and will report to Col Charles p.
Hatfield, post commander who will for |
ward the report, with proper recommends
TONS to the War Department, through the
Department OF the East and the Atlantic 4
division OF the army.
Persons living In the vicinity Of the post |
on Fort Myer Heights hurried to the scene /
to render what aid they could but the IRE |
department of the post needed no assist |
anc6. It demonstrated It's ability to cope |
with any emergency and the civilians who |
came to help remained to watch and admire
the soldiers work AT the regular Are drill /
on Saturday afternoon. by q curious coin /
cidence, the post COMMANDER directed the
men to devote their nttentirsn 70 the huiid- /
Ing which was burned i
The vhosesale erocery al c. N. Adams /
- Mon0 G0unNnlV. TSo11fnVf17ft Kv s. xrsu IA. 4