Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-22
DESTRUCTIVE BLAZE
FIRE TODAY At THE RESIDENCE
OF J. sELwIN TAFT.
Sounding Of Second Alarm-Loss Of
Valuable Paintings-other
Work for Department.

Of Mr.. ]. Selwin TAFT, manager Of the local
branch Of the International Banking Cor
poration. 1729 street, this morning about
S:1o o'clock. The fire, It Is thought, was
caused by the furnace becoming overheated,
or by a defective fiue. The conflagration was
similar In some respects to the fatal FIRE
that occurred in the house of Secretary
Tracy. on I street, several years ago. the
only difference being that there was no loss
of human life this morning. Mr.. TAFT esti-
mated his loss at about s. LOO, valuing an
antique oil painting at 5000. a family por-
trait at 500. and the damage to his house.
hold effects was estimated at about s., 600.
He carried no insurance upon his property
The building Is insured for g, 500 which is
about $1,000 more than the damage sus-
tanned. Miss Virginia Miller and Miss Fen
dali own the property
Mr.. and Mrs. TAFT and their child had just
finished breakfast when smoke from the
basement advised them that there was
something wrong in that part of the house.
Then an employee OF the household notified
them that blaze was In progress. Mrs.
TAFT and the domestic went to the door to
summon assistance, and q colored man
named Louis Thomas. who is employed as
mead bellman at the Cairo, responded. He
had seen smoke issuing from a basement
window before he was called, however and
was hurrying toward the fire-alarm box at
18th and streets. Thomas turned in an
II he could be of assistance.
Second Alarm Sounded.
Several companies Of the fire department
responded. The blaze was of such q threat
ening character, however that a second
alarm was sent in. Very soon after the
fire was discovered the flames had made
their way up the stairway to the upper
story and threatened the destruction of the
home of the family as well as of the adj
Joining structures. The firemen worked so
we'll, however, that they succeeded in con-
inning the flames to the one house. but did
not succeed in saving much of the con-
tents. Mr.. TAFT was seen to leave the
house wearing slippers and in his shirt
sleeves. He hurried out with valuable
paintings, but when he was ready to return
he found that the flames had taken posses
sion of his home and he had to seek shelter
and clothing at the house of neighbor.
Mrs. TAFT managed to get together some of
her silverware and jewelry and take the
same to the house of a ne.ghbor.
The sounding of the second alarm sum-
mOned Chief Belt and number of addi-
ing command and directing the work of the
firemen. His men worked hard and faith
fully and they were congratulated for their
successful efforts. Occupants of neighbour
ing houses, fearing the flames would reach
them, assembled their valuab les and We're
prepared to move them at a moments no.
tice, but the flames were checked before
it became necessary to move the effects.
as the water fell. retaIding the
progress of the fremen to some extent.
Hot Coffee and Sandwiches.
Mr.. J. L. Newbold, residing at 1922 P
street, was of great assistance to the fire.
men and policemen, furnishing them hot
coffee and sandwiches, which put them in
His kindness was greatly appreciated by
the police and fire departments. Fire Mar
shall Nicholson was on hand to make an
investigation of the fire and to determine
the amount of damage that was caused.
He saw Mr.. TAFT. and learned from him
clothing and other personal property. the
figures he was given being about as stated.
Capt. Boyle of the third precinct. re-
sponded to the first alarm with the re-
alarm bringing Capt. Doyle of the eighth
precinct with a number Of men. No trou-
BILE was experienced in keeping back TIE
crowd. the weather being so cold as to
make 1t uncomfortable for the spectators.
A cat that belonged to Mr.. Tait's family
was burned to death.
The house occupied by Mr.. TAFT is one of
the row of seven houses built several years
ago by Senator Proctor, the fronts being
constructed of Vermont marble.
Two Other Alarms.
Two other alarms of fire were sounded
this morning. One of them was turned in
from box 10 about o'clock because of
blaze on the roof of vacant house 71S I'd
street The fire started from a cause that
could net be determined, and about SIS
damage resulted.
About 9::sO o'clock an alarm was sounded
from box Ala because persons residing near
Delaware avenue and Sd street southwest
feared a fire on a vacant lot near there
would spread and cause serious damage.
The fremen extinguished the fire, however
before any damage had been caused.