Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-21
WORK OF THE FIREMEN
LOSS OF LIFE NARROWLY AVERT
ED THIS MORNING.

Mrs. Louisa Chapman, colored, who lives
on the Hamilton road near Allen Chapel,
was rendered homeless by nre this morning
about O'Clock 1t was due solely to the
prompt and effective work OF the firemen
and residents of Garfield that the blaze
was extinguished in time to prevent an
explosion that would probably have re-
suited in the loss of life. The police re-
ported that quantity of gasoline was
stored in room IN the front part or the
house. The fiuld, they state, is the prop
erty of the District, and was kept In the
frame structure for the use of Thaddeus
Acton, who has charge OF the naphtha
lamps in that section OF the county. Mrs.
Chapman, who is a widow, was in the
Kitchen preparing breakfast when she de-
tected smoke, and found that blaze mad
started on the second floor near the CHM
ney.
An alarm of fire was sounded from box
953, calling the police and fire departments
to the scene. Neighbors went to the as
sstance of the elderly woman and sue
ceeded in removing most of her furniture
from the house before the arrival of the
fremen Mrs. Chapman was so excited
that she neglected to tell where she hau
placed SIS in the house, and the money
was destroyed The damage to the mouse
Is estimated at about 500. Mrs. Chapman
did not carry any insurance upon her
property.
An alarm OF fire was sounded from box
IV5 last night about 11:40 o'clock, and the
tiremen were directed TO the fruit store OF
A. Cerriglio & Co.. 913 Louisiana avenue.
At first they feared that another disas-
trous 'confia grafton would play havoc with
the commission houses in that locality. IL
was agreeable surprise, however, when
It was found that the blaze amounted TO
practically nothing and that 1t had been
extinguished before the arrival of the de
partments apparatus. Trouble with an OIL
lamp had been experienced, but no damage
was caused. p. J. Bentzel, employed as
Waterman at the Majestic Theater, discov-
cred the blaze and turned In the alarm.
The explosion of an oil stove caused
blaze in the house Of Matilda Johnson, lZo
r street southwest, yesterday afternoon
shortly after o'clock. Occupants of the
house had an exciting time with the hre,
but none of them approached sufficiently
near the blaze to get burned. The flre de-
partment received call from box 4l9. and
no time was lost in reaching the scene In
few minutes the firemen had eXrln-
guished the blaze and it was estimated
that about S75 damage had been caused.
Several companies OF the fire department
responded to an alarm OF fire turned IN
from box 81 about 1870 O'Clock yesterday
afternoon, and found a small blaze In the
house Of Margaret Peyton, Poona court
The fire started from some unknown cause.
Damage to the amount of $40 resulted
No. IL engine company responded TO a
local alarm yesterday afternoon, and FOUND
a slight blaze on a lot adjoining 1887 lrv-
ing street No damage was caused.
A false alarm" was turned In from box
2S3 last evening about $50 o'clock. The
police are trying to locate the person who
thereby violated the law.
The burning OF grass at Washington
Highlands Anacostia, resulted in calling
out No. 8 chemical company last evening
about s o'clock. The blaze was extin-
guished before any damage had been
caused.
An alarm was sounded from box 1854 yes
terday afternoon because OF the burning OF
dry grass on a lot near 9th and Jefferson
streets. Brightwood Park. The blaze was
promptly extinguished.