Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-01-05
EXPLOSION OF PAINT
ALLEGED CAUSE OF FIRE WHICH
DESTROYED BUILDING.
Structure Contained Material for
Agricultural Department Building
Now Under Construction.

A house that was used for the storing Of
material by Ambrose B. Stannard, who Is
constructing the Agricultural Department
building, was destroyed by fire this morn
ing about $50 o'clock. The fire was caused
by the explosion of some waterproof paint
1t Is stated, and Edgar Grant, fifteen years
old. assistant material clerk, narrowly es-
capped being blown through the roof of the
frame structure. He escaped with slight
burns to his face. Two explosions of the
paint alarmed the workmen and clerks in
the structure and attracted a number of
persons from as far away as Pennsylvania
avenue.
Waterman Cook. who was not far from
the building when the explosions occurred,
turned in an alarm from box 40. Six min
utes later second alarm was sounded for
the purpose of calling out additional COM
panles OF the fire department Police re-
serves from several precincts also re-
sponded.
Secretary Wilson was in his office at the
time the fire started but left the building
and went to the department stable where
ne could view the fire. A number OF the de-
partment employees were endeavorine to pre-
vent the Hooding of the stable after they
had taken out the horses and vehicles and
put them at safe distance from the burn
ing building.
Only Person in Building.
The roof Of the structure in which the
blaze started was covered with tar prepa-
ia.ioi', ana all that was necessary to cause
lively blaze was the application of the
torch. Edgar Grant, who was in the b,,tld-
Ing when the first explosion occurred, is a
son Of P. B. Grant of Brightwood His
father is the government inspector on the
new municipal building. The boy was
drawing some Of the paint from a barrel
when the explosion occurred. He started
for the exit, but had hardly crossed the
door Sill before the second explosion startled
him. The blaze shot through the roof. II
was then that Waterman Cook realized
what had occurred and turned in the alarm
When the firemen reached the building they
realized that the ten barrels of paint in the
structure might be the means of communi-
eating the blaze to other buildings, and a
second alarm was sent in.
1t Is stated that benzine and asphalt form
part OF the paint which is spread on the
back OF the marble used in the construc-
ton of the big building. 1t is employed as
a preventative. The oily preparation COW
cred the water that was thrown into the
building and occasionally the blaze would
be carried dangerously near the firemen.
Some OF them were in water knee-deep,
and 1t was with considerable difficulty that
they We're able to move about in the burn
Ing structure and do their work without
endangering their lives.
Cause of Explosion Not Known.
Chief Belt and Fire Marshal Nicholson
were upon the scene soon after the first
alarm was sounded and the latter made an
effort to determine the cause of the ex-
plosion, but without success. Edgar Grant
was the only person In the building at the
time the fire started. He said he was not
smoking, and that there was no fire or light
OF any kind in the building.
Chemists in the Agricultural Department
say they never before heard of the water
proof paint exploding without coming in
contact with a fame. The investigation
made by the fire marshal showed that about
$500 dana ge was caused.
Grant was sent to the Emergency Hos
pital after the fire had been extinguished
and had his burns dressed. Fireman Wal
ter Simpson Of No. Is engine company ran
against the hose carriage while getting the
hose ready for service and cut his fore
head. He remained at the fire, however,
and had his injury dressed after he re-
turned to the quarters of the company.
Secretary Wilson thought the plug near
the main building of his department did not
furnish a prompt supply of water, and in
structed one of the men in his depart
ment to make an inquiry about it.