Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-03-24
DAN GER FROM FIRES
PROPERTY OWNERS IN TAKOMA
PARK COMPLAIN.
Sparks From Passing Locomotives
Cause of Much Concern-Homes
Threatened With Destruction.

The property owners abutting the Balti-
more and Ohio railroad in the vicinity of
Takoma Park are complaining of the dam
gerous fires which have recently occurred,
caused by the sparks from passing loco
motives on TIE railroad, which set fire to
the surrounding woods and endanger their
homes. The fires occur quite frequently,
and only within the past few days what
threatened to be most disastrous fire was
extinguished only after the diligent eff
forts of neiShbOrS.
The blaze in question started on the va
cant lots adjoining the residence of Mrs.
Ellsworth, on Magnolia avenue, and follow
ed the railroad track, in the rear of the
residences of DIR. H. NJ Bennett, Mr.. ]. S.
Washburn of the Seventh Day Adventists,
and Mr.. Henry A. Cady, respectively, to
the Chestnut avenue crossing, where 1t
was finally eXtinguished.
AS soon as the fire was discovered Mr..
Washburn assisted by the ladies in the
neighborhood. formed bucket brigade.
The ladies carried water until the arrival
of other citizens, who Joined actively in
fighting the flames. A strong wind was
blowing at the time, and 1t was feared
that if it reached the barn of DR.. Bennett
all of the residences on Magnolia, in the
vicinity of Chestnut avenue, would be de-
stroyed. Several young ladies who are to
be bridesmaids for Miss Mary Cady at her
wedding next month were being entertained
at the latter s residence WHeU the lire broke
out. and the fact that it was not more dis
astrous was due greatly to their efforts in
the service of the bucket brigade.
Residence Often Endangered.
Mrs Annie 7. Seaman, residing on Chest
nut avenue has probably had the narrow
est escapes of any residents in the the
vicinity mentioned The grounds surround
ing her home have been set afire on five diff
ferent occasions, each time threatening to
destroy her home, which was only saved by
the fact that there was no wind blowing,
and also for the reason that the blaze was
started in the daytime and not at night.
Her residence is erected on a lot running
back go feet from Chestnut avenue to
point thirty-three feet from the railroad
track, which strip is owned by the railroad.
The flames on one occasion crept to with
in forty feet of her dwelling. She has not
constructed a fence on the rear of her
property, separating it from the railroads
land, she says for the reason that in the
eventS of fire it would only add fuel to
the flames. The house was threatened sew
eral times during its construction and was
saved each time by the carpenters and
builders, who deserted their work and op-
Grated the hose on the burning trees and
grass.
Mrs Seaman in speaking of the situation
to a Star reporter last night stated that
she regularly employs a man to keep her
property free from leaves, paper, dried
grass and other inftammable material in
order to lessen the probabilities of con-
f1agration when the burning sparks drop in
the rear of her home She stated that
boxes, papers and articles of that character
are thrown from passing trains and these
are often set fire by the sparks from the
passing locomotives. The firemen of the
trains, she says, are continually coaling
| their engines while they are hauling heavy
trains up the grade, which extends from
below Lamond's station to North Takoma,
and this Is one cause of the frequency of
the fires
Called to oficials' Attention.
| A communication was recently sent to the
District Commissioners and also to Mr.. J.
r. Legge of the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road. calling attention to the endangered
condition of houses in the vicinity of the
railroad track and requesting that imme-
date action be taken to remedy the exist
ing evils. The letter to the Commissioners
was referred to the railroad company for
report, while her letter to the railroad, ac-
cording to a communication in reply in
formed her that the matter had been re-
ferred to the superintendent of the road for
his attention
About ten days ago the field in the rear
of the residence of Mrs. Herman Shriner,
on Chestnut avenue, caught fire, and in a
short time a pile of brush nearly eight
feet high was feeding the flames which
were only put out after the hardest work
on the part of the women, who formed a
bucket brigade" In most of the cases the
fires, fortunately, have occurred during the
day. instead of the darkness of the night.
in the absence of their husbands. to extiu-
xf~t, ffs. aax,