Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-02-28
FOORALARMS SOUNDED
MIDNIGHT FIRE AT L STREET
CARRIAGE REPOSITORY.
Establishment of William Sauter Gut
ted-Extremely Stubborn Blaze
Adjoining Property in Danger.

Fire Quilted the carriage repair works and
repository of William Sauter4625 and 1927
L street. shortly before II o'clock last night,
causing damage to the amount Of about $15-
GOO. The building, which extended from L
street back about 300 feet to an alley and
which was three stories high, was owned by
Nora Rundlett of 1916 Oregon avenue. The
loss to the building Is estimated at nearly
10000. Mr. Sauter after viewing the ruins
this morning said that his loss would
amount to between 5000 and $4,000
Employees Of the stables Of William F.
DoWney, which are across the street from
the scene of the fire, were the first to dis
vover that the Sauter shop was ablaze Spe-
cial Watchman Dyer observed smoke pro-
ceeding from windows of the second story
and he ran to the fire house of No / engine
company on X street, just back of the sta
bles. The members of that company re-
sponded quickly and they soon had a line
OF hose to the front windows Of the reposi-
threw into the building seemed to have no
effect.
Policeman Makes Discovery.
Policeman T. D. Walsh Of the third pre-
cinct reached the scene soon after the fire
men. He walked around to the rear of the
shop to see IL entrance could be gained
from the alley. He was startled to find that
the rear part of the building was ablaze
Immediately he FASTENED to the fremen in
front and notified them OF his discovery An
alarm of fire was thereupon turned in from
box 149.
BY that time the flames had made much
Roadway and were leaping from the roof
and lighting up the sky in the vicinity
1t was then realized that the center of tho
fire was toward the rear of the building
and the companies which reached the scene
IN response to second alarm laid their
nose through the alley. They were able to
throw streams of water through a large
rear door and through windows on the sides
OF the long extension of the store back of
the rear walls Of the adjoining houses. A
,ine OF hose was also laid through the Ium-
Der esta blishment of Kemp & Kennedy. 1909
L street and the stream from that reached
the very heart Of the flames
Extremely Stubborn Blaze.
The fire was an extremely stubborn one.
due largely to the fact that there was a
large quantity of o1rriage paints and var
nishes on the second floor Of the repair
shop. The interior of the structure ex-
cept at the two ends, was veritable fur
mace, and when the water was PLAYING onto
that part huge rolls of heavy smoke moved
skywaid.
Because of the stubbornness of the fire
four alarms in all We're sounded. They re-
suited in nine engine companies several
trucks ana the water tower reaching the
scene Every hydrant for several blocks on
each side of the fire was utilized The
water tower was placed in position on the
street directly in front Of the burning
building, and was put in service to throw
Dig stream Of water through the high
front windows.
The four alarms called forth the reserves
from all the police precincts of the city.
Lieut.. keefe of the third precinct responded
with his reserves to the first alarm, and
Capt Boyle, in charge of the third pre-
einct. left his home to assist. in running the
nre lnes ana instructing the police to keep
the crowd back. Although the hour was
late, large crowd gathered on all sides
or the burning structure. AS II could he
seen from the downtown streets, many
the conhagration.
Other Property in Danger.
The second building to the west of the
burning structure Is the stable used by
Senator Wetmore of Rhode Island. The
stables were filled with smoke, so those in
charge determined to remove the eight
horses and the several carriages After
the removal of the carriages and automo.
biles the firemen had the fire practically
under control, and the horses were not
led out The senator who had learned of
the nearness of the flames to his stable,
went to the scene about midnight and OBJ.
served the ffrefighting
As to the cause of the fire, there is much
doubt. The shop was closed about s clock
yesterday afternoon, the workmen depart
ing about half an hour earlier 1t is believed
that the flames started in the paint and
varnish room, in the center of the second
story of the structure. A small fire was
left in stove used for heating that part
OF the building, and 1t is thought that it
might have started from that cause Those
who saw the stove last however, say that
the fire In 1t was very low, and they can
not understand how the blaze could have
started from that stove. 1t gained much
Roadway before 1t was discovered.
While the firemen and police were work
Ing to save the adjoining buildings, as well
as to prevent greater loss In the structure
that was on fire. James Bender Of 1921 L
street made hot coffee for the workers. The
latter expressed appreciation for the re-
freshments.
Automobile Causes Excitement.
During the progress of the fire. Capt.
Doyle and several policemen Of the eighth