Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-19
MAIN DUILDlnG BURNS
Destructive Blaze at the Boys
Reform School.
NO LIVES WE'RE LOST
PLANS ALREADY FORMING FOR
NEW BUILDING.
Congress May Be Asked to Provide
Temporarily for the Home
less oncials.

"A -
ing of the reform school for boys on the
Bladensburg road was destroyed by ire
early this morning. 1t was great spec
taclc und one that fortunately was accom-
panied by no loss of life. though the money
damage was considerable. The old building
in which the fire originated cost about $2o.-
OOo, but has been added to from time 10
time at considerable expense, 80 that the
total loss will be in the neighborhood of
S1o0 eco None of the boys left the geounos
and few of the mshowed any inclination to
do so. But the whole commissary depart
ment of the school was burned. After the
Youngsters had been quartered In neigh
boring buildings and the fire was under
control. 1t was necessary to send to town
for their breakfast, SO that the whole
school had to fast TIL much later than
usual in the morning.
1t was in the darkest hours of the WIN
ter morning that the boys were AWAKENED
by the cries of fire and the smell OF smoke.
Every one of the 80 urchins tumbled OUT
OF bed and tucking the most Of their clothes
under their arms, scuttied down stairs IN
various stages of undress, completing tneaf
toilets on the grass plot in front OF me
burning building. which was. for the mo
ment at least the warmest and highest
spot in the neighbOrheod.
superintendent Porter took charge of the
boys and marshaled them In squads under
the care OF the gardeners and house at
away even were they SO inclined. An en-
gine was teephoned for from the nearest
engine house, but by the time 1t arrived the
fire had gained SO much Roadway that 1t
was Impossible to do more than protect
the other buildings and let the main struc-
ture burn itself out. This it did very eff
fectually. The whole building will have
to be replaced
Board Of Trustees Meets.
An emergency meeting Of the board OF
trustees Of the boys reform school was
held this afternoon in the Board of Trade
rooms in The Star building. Those pres
ent were Mr.. Crosby s. Moves. president;
Mr.. William NJ. shuster. vice president;
Mr.. Samuel W. Curriden, secretary; Mr..
Henry B. r. Mcfarland and Mr.. Henry
F. Biount. The board directed that a let
ter be at once sent to the Attorney General,
acQuainting him officially with the facts
concerning the conhagratfon, and inform
ing him of the arrangements that have been
made for providing for the United States
prisoners in the institution Mr.. Curriden
carried out the instructions of the board
and sent the communication to the Depart
ment of Justice late this afternoon.
The question as to whether the dam
aged building should be repaired or re-
built was discussed by the members of
the board but no conclusion was reached.
Further consideration of this matter was
deferred until the walls of the structure
can be examined.
Commissioner Macfarland at once di-
rected the District inspector of buildings
to have the walls examined and a report
made to him.
Mr. Curriden and Mr.. Shuster. who Wis
tied the scene of the fire this morning.
reported the result of their observations
and investigation to the board. They
have arranged to have telephone con-
nection with the reform school restored
at the earliest practicable moment
These gentlemen stated that they would
go to the school again this evening to di-
rect the emergency, arrangements for the
comfort and safety of the inmates.
The fire department the ninth precinct
police and the officers and inmates OF the
home were praised In the board meeting
for their prompt action and efficient service
in preventing the spread OF the names
and the escape of the inmates.
Quarters Of the Officers.
In the main building were quartered many
officers and employees. Some of these es-
capped only with their night clothes, the re-
nainder of their effects being total loss.
Our first effort" said Superintendent
Porter. was to get the boys out of the
burning building and Immediately there
after 1 summoned the fire department.
I'VE also made use of our own fire appa-
ratus. both the hose and the chemical.
fire department. The police also promptly
responded and aided the fire department
and school authorities.
There were no accidents or casualties
and no escapes. Many OF the boys were
given the desired permission to assist in
lighting the flames, and their behavior was
commendable."
Mr. Curriden's Estimate.
Mr.. Curriden stated that the burned struc-
ture cost originally about 5000. but that
improvements since added would make the
total loss foot up at least 100000.
1.-The building ID wreck" was the tele-
phone message Mr.. Shuster received from
Superintendent Porter soon after the board
meeting had been adjourned.
Late this afternoon Superintendent /. D.
Porter of the reform school came TO the
board of trade rooms and made a personal
report to Vice President shuster and Secre-
tary Curriden. He said the first intimation
he had that the place was on fire was about
1:50 o'clock this morning, when he was
aroused by hearing the shouts of the night
Waterman. Mr.. Porter promptly ran out OF
his house. but at first saw but slight evil
dences of the fire beyond a few curls of
smoke coming from the fourth story. He
quickly sent in fire alarm and notified
the police department, receiving prompt re-
sponses In both instances
Upon Investigation he found that the fire
had broken out in the northwest corner of
the Wig Oh the lOuTL0 IlOOT Ot TIE iudtIl VI
administration building. This building Is
devoted to the smaller boys of both colors,
one large room being used for the white
boys and one for the colored boys. Since
the fire these boys have been located in
other buildings, the white boys in the
white family buildings and the colored
boys In the two other buildings having coll
ored families in them.
Regards Origin as Mysterious.
AS to the cause of the confiagration, SUI
perintendent Porter said 1t was as yet a
mystery. The possibility of incend.arism
is reduced to minimum, because the boys
were all remote from the place where the
outbreak of fire occurred. There were no
live electric wires there. and the SUPPOSE
ton is that some of the woodwork may
have been oyerheated by It's nearness to
the steam pipes.
superintendent Porter has arranged for
the cooking of the meals Of the boys and
for euartering all those who were deprived
OF shelter. and he says the work of the
school will go on as regularly and as sys-
tema tically as possible.
Secretary s. w. Curriden Informed Star
reporter this afternoon that the trustees OF
the school have for many years anticipated
such contingency as this confiagration
and had therefore provided every appliance
for use IN case OF fire that the officials of
fte district fire departmeut have from time