Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-16
DOZEN HOMES BURNED
Destructive Blaze in Alexandria
Accompanied by Fatality.
DEATH RESULT OF SHOCK
Mrs. Sarah E. Skillman, an Invalid,
the Victim.
LOSS ESTIMATED TO BE Sill, 900
Fire Started in Frame House on
Alfred Street and Communi-
Gated to Row.
LOSS ESTIMATED TO BE $1,000
Special Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence Of The Star.
ALEXANDRIA, Va, February 16. 1907.
AS result of fire, which started about
$50 O'Clock last night in the two-story
frame house. $40 North Alfred street, oc-
cupied by Mr.. Clarence c. Taylor, the row
of frame houses. twelve in ALL was COM
pletely Quilted, the furniture destroyed and
one occupant Mrs. Sarah E. Skillman, an
invalid, is dead A number of firemen were
also badly used I'D. and number of the
female occupants of the house are this
morning suffering more or less from the
effects of exposure and smoke. The entire
loss will reach $11,000. OF this amount
about $500 is the loss entailed on the
houses and $500 on the furniture. Some
of the houses were partially covered by in
surance. The furniture of the tenants
was not. however, covered by insurance,
and will be a complete loss.
The origin of the fire, though unknown,
is supposed to have been caused by a de-
fective fiue, and from all accounts it started
in the house occupied by Mr.. Taylor. When
seen this morning Mr.. Taylor stated that
he and his wife left the house about s
o'clock last evening and that the only
fire that was burning on the premises at
the time was in the kitchen stove. When
he returned, which was shortly after .
o'clock, the entire row was a seething
mass of flames. Mr.. Taylor stated that as
a result OF the nre MS Vile was exceed.
ingly ill this morning.
Fire Department Responds.
AS soon as an alarm was sounded the
entire department responded, and when the
firemen aScertained what they had to con-
tend with the reserve engine was called out,
making three engines employed on the
fire. Shortly thereafter six big streams
began playing on the fire. and continued
hOf n tic
fore completely subduing the flames. In
the meantime hundreds Of volunteers in
Guiding fremen and others not connected
with the department., lent lelping hands to
assist the occupants in saving their effects.
While considerable furniture was saved
from some of the houses most Of it was
either ruined by water or SO broken in
its removal that 1t will be practically
useless.
The fire was a hard one to cope with,
as 1t was under the roof. where the ma
terial burned like finder. While the fronts
OF the houses practically remain intact
the entire interior is destroyed. AS soon
as 1t was ascertained that the row was
doomed 1t was decided to remove Mrs.
Skillman who resided at the residence Of
her sOn-in-law, Mr.. II. K. Henderson, 513
Alfred street. An ambulance was sum
moned and Mrs. Skilman was conveyed to
the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Della
MILAN, POS North Pitt street. Shortly
after reaching her daughters house Mrs
Skillman expired, the shock and exposure
incident to removal. it is supposed, being
responsible for her death. She was about
sixty years of age, and had been an in
valid.
Those Injured.
Among those hurt in the fire were John
Travers, a fireman, who was injured by a
piece of falling timber: Policeman Steward
Jones' caught under a falling roof; Robert
Smith, volunteer, overcome by smoke.
A number of others were also more or less
injured All of the injured are reported
to be doing we'll this morning
Most OF the effects which were removed
were placed on the commons just north Of
the houses and this morning large throng
gathered about the scene. The former ten
ants presented a sad spectacle They sur
rounded their furniture and made arrange
ments to have it removed to places of shell
ter The majority of the occupants can
ill afford such a severe loss, and in view
of this fact Chief Goods of the police de-
partment is making arrangements to have
the police furnished with subscription
blanks for the purpose of securing funds
for the sufferers.
Two of the houses burned were occupied
as stores and dwellings, In house No. 51S,
occupied by Hezekiah K. Henderson. was a
grocery and provision store, and house No.
531. which was on the corner was a bar
room conducted by Peyton Everett. Both
of these occupants lost most of their stock
and furniture. During the progress of the
fire a Darrell, partially filled with whisky.
exploded and scattered flying fragments in
all directions.
Occupants Of the Houses.
The occupants of the houses were as fol-
lows: Orlando H Daniels, Policeman Chas
H. Bell Hezekiah Henderson, Daniel Jen-
kins. Clarence c. Taylor, Oliver Bogue,
Thomas Henderson, Edgar Padgett, Arthur
Powell. George K. Ballard, A. H. Elliott
and Peyton Everett.
Among the property owners are H. K
Henderson, James B. Hughes, O. H. Dan
iels. Mrs. Henry Green, the estate of Capt
William H. Smith and several parties in
Washington.
Bequest to Gonzaga College.