Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-29
DRUG STORE ABLAZE
FLAMES SPREAD TO PHoToG-
RAPHER's ESTABLISHMENT.
Fire on Corner of 18th Street and
Pennsylvania Avenue-Damage
About 50, 500.

The fire department was called out by an
alarm turned in from The Evening Star
office about $50 o'clock last night for
blaze in the drug store of F. r. Richard
son on the northeast corner OF 11th street
and Pennsylvania avenue northwest. Inc
flames spread rapidly and for a time 1t ap-
peared as IL the entire building was doomed.
Quick and effective work on the part OF
the fire department. however. averted what
might have been great confagration. Inc
flames quickly passed to the upper fooms,
which are occupied by Princes photograph
establishment.
Among the valuable articles discovered
today to have been destroyed in Princes
studio. over the store, was a large oil paint
ing Of President Grover Cleveland and his
first cabinet, which was valued at $1,000.
The canvas was entirely burned from the
large gilt frame which surrounded 1t.
The cause Of the fire, as stated by MT.
Richardson, was that he was preparing
prescription over a small gas stove behind
the prescription counter in the rear OF the
store. Among the ingredients used In the
mixture was almond OIL While this was
in a receptacle over the blaze or the gas
stove Mr. Richardson was called to the
front of the establishment by customer
AS he went away from the prescription
counter the blaze of the gas stove was
communicated to the bubbling almond OIL,
which, it is believed, boiled over. An ex-
plosion followed and the flames commune
Gated with a five-gallon can of alcohol.
The contents of the can exploded throw
ing the blazing fluid in all directions.
Mr. John Baum, pressman employed on
The Star. saw the glare of light in the es-
tablishment across the street and pulled
firebox 179, in rear of the business office
of The Star. In doing SO he inflicted a
number of painful cuts on his hand from
the glass front Of the box, which he had to
break.
M toht
Waterman Young and Cochran were near
by and worked with will to prevent the
spread of the flames.
Spreads to Upper Floors.
The building Is of three stories, the upper
floors being occupied by Prince, the pho
tographer. The flames reached this part of
the structure by means of the rear stair
way, accompanied by dense volumes Of
smoke. Two of the fire engines went into
service, the chemical having first attempted
to extinguish the fire in the drug store. In
short while the firemen had the blaze
under control, and the threatened danger
to adjoining property averted.
1t is feared the loss of valuable pho
Geographic negatives in the establishment
of Mr.. Prince. on the second and third
floors. will prove to be conSidera bic. Mr.
Prince is away from the city, but it is
said he had in his establishment negatives
of civil war celebrities and scenes. and
of noted persons of this and the past CEN
tury, and paintings, which, If destroyed,
cannot be replaced
The appearance of the upper stories to-
day indicates that sad havoc was wrought
there by fire. smoke and water. The fire
marshal, before making a careful eXamina-
ton of the premises, Appropriated the
total loss at $4,000. After he has COM
pleted his investigation. this amount may
be increased. Mr.. F. r. Richardson es
timated his loss at $500. but the figures
may be changed after a full examination
of the stock and premises has been made.
The pharmacy at 18th street and Penn
was considered to be of the hand
soonest In the city. The proprietor was
visibly affected last night when he saw his
establishment in flames.
Princes Studio inspected.
The manager of Mr.. George Princes stu
d1o and gallery made a partial inspection
of the two floors occupied by the establish
ment today. He believes that Mr.. Princes
less will approach $1,000. The oil painting
representing President Cleveland and his
first cabinet, which was destroyed, he says,
was alone worth LOCO. Water and smoke
has also ruined many valuable negatives of
prominent men, and these cannot be re-
placed at any price, as many of the sub
jectS are dead.
Among the pictures destroyed is that of
Gen. L. S. Grant and also of many inaugu-
ration and other historic scenes, and also
several $500 sets of pictures of Presidents
Mckinley and Roosevelt and their cabinets.
Mr.. Prince lost five suits of clothing which
were hanging in a closet on the upper
floor, and the rear of the building was al
most Quilted in places, especially where
the flames assembled the stairway. This
stairway became fiery fiue, and the blaze
reached the roof, pouring out of the sky
light.
The stock and fixtures of Kings paper
establishment on 18th street, adjoining the
drug store We're also damaged, it is said
to the extent of several hundreds of dol
lars. 1t was stated this afternoon that the
total loss may exceed $1,000. The insur-
ance on the building is said to be 5000
Mr.. Richardson says his loss of stock will
be covered by Insurance