The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-01-24
FIRE WRECKS ACADEMY;
SLEEPERS' NARROW ESCAPE
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f. ". Stiehl. president of the Spen-
eerian Business College, his wife,
Mrs. Lulu V. Stiehl, and Prof
Stiehrs father. They were sleeping
ON, ,mmindful of the sheet OF fame
that was winding itself about the
building in which they slept, and
had il not been for their timely
rescue by the officers a loss of life
would have been added 30 that of
the destruction Of property.
Firemen in Hard Battle.
For half an hour it was a battle in
which the fremen won ground inch by
inch from the flames. At last they be-
gan to recoil under the torrents OF
water.
During the progress of the fire Deputy
Chief Wagner and several firemen made
their way 10 the stage OF the theater.
The smoke was so thick that IL was
impossible TO see. and the FIRE was
getting so hot that il was evident that
they would have 10 get out IN a minute.
From the ny gallery Wagner heard a
suspicious cracking that warned him
OF danger. he instructed the men with
the nozzle TO turn the stream on the
wings, and as they did so the entire
top OF the stage tumbled IN with ter
rife roar. The fiFemen barely had time
10 jump back ana escape being buried
IN the falling debris
The nth alarm was turned in about
$50 and No, 20 engine company. Ten
leyJOWn. which went into commission
yesterday, was directed 10 come TO No.
b's house Tor an emergency call. There
Is down hiH course all the way from
IenleytoWn, and the crisp air made the
spirited animals travel at a breakneck
speed.
Hose Cart in Crash.
AS The hose cart came around the cor
ner al Thirty-hfth and o streets the
animals crashed into a street car with
terrific force. The cart was not over
turned, and Driver Warren escaped in
jury. The motorman jumped from the
platform. and none OF the passengers
were hurt The horses were so badly in
Jured that IL was necessary 10 shoot
Them as soon as q policeman arrived
Both the hose cart and the car were
badly damaged.
The origin OF the IRE is not positively
known. Fire Marshal Nicholson and
Deputy Chief Wagner are OF the opinion
that il was caused BY poor insulation OF
electric wires which had become crossed
ia the ny galleries
Damage May Be $4,000.
A conservative estimate places the
loss at between $4,000 and 10000. al
though IL is possible the damage may
80 as high as $4,000.
After TWO hours work the firemen had
the blaze under control but streams
We're kept on the smouldering mass IN
III nearly noon. The highly infiam-
mable material about the stage and in
the theater fed the hre so rapidly that
the building was turned into a veritable
finder box.
Part OF the fourth floor was occupied
by the Spencerian Business College. On
The second is the Wesleyan PentecOstal
church, and on the hrst Louis Hodges
saloon and the paWnbrOktng Offices OF
George ~. Horning.
The IRE was confined 10 the theater,
although the other part or the building
was drenched with water. causing con-
siderable loss.
The freezing weather made IL doubly
hard for the flremen 10 work. The lad
ders soon became covered with a coat
ing, and the nremen experienced con-
siderable difficulty In keeping their
FOOTING. Several minor accidents OC-
Cured because Of the ice, but no one
was injured.
The fire was raging before the Ninth
street cars started running. and IL was
after 10 o'clock before the line could get
into commission There was so much
hose across the tracks that IL was i'm
possible 10 bridge them. and the tle-up
caused much Inconvenience TO persons
on their way 10 work.
Big Crowd CongTegates.
A large crowd rapidly congregated,
and il was necessary TO call out the
reserves from The First precinct. Cap
tain Williams and Lieutenant Hartley
arrived early and directed the move
ments OF the police. Inspector Cross
was also on hand.
The roof OF the Jheater fell in, but
the brick walls stood. IL was feared at
first that the front wall might tumble.
A. Ii. Woods company opened a
weeks engagement in Secrets OF the
Police al the theater Monday after
noon. The fire was the source Of some
amusement az Police Headquarters this
morning, enc OF the Central Office men
remarking;
When they try TO give away the
secrets Of the police there's trouble
The meiodrama started on the wrong
tack, and you can see what IL led 10.
Don't Try TO disclose the mysteries OF
the third degree or any other OF the
inside workings. II doesn't pay
First Big Fire for Year.
Washington has not had such big
fire since the market house blaze over
a year ago. Al nTst il looked as II the
fire would get the better OF the men.
and much credit is due the department
tor the way il was handled
Mr.. Hodges loss is confined TO the
cellar where he had a quantity OF
liquor stored. which was destroyed BY
the water He says the damage viii
amount 10 between $500 and 81 500
which is covered by 500 insurance.
lu Mr.. Mornings place the water
caused only slight damage. The fur
nishings In the Wesleyan PentacOstal
Church We're ruined.