Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-07
DAMAGE PLACED At $4,000
FIRE IN GASLIGHT CoMPANY'S
STABLE.
Prompt Work Confines Blaze to One
Building-Alarms From
Other Sections

about 10 o'clock, because of a blaze in the
stable and warehouse of the Washington
Gaslight Company three-story brick
structure in rear of the main otficeeof the
company on 10th street. was quickly fol-
lowed by second and third alarms and
when the many companies of the fire de-
partment reached the scene the blaze had
spread to an alarming extent 1t was feared
the big brick structure and other business
places in the alley We're doomed. but the
firemcn worked hard and succeeded in keep
ing the flames within the walls of the
building In which they originated. They
were not extinguished, however, until after
considerable damage mad been caused. The
loss on the building anG contents Is esti-
mated at about $4,000.
Twenty minutes before the fire was dis
covered the night Waterman was on the
lower floor of the building to turn in. 1t
being his duty to visit that point every
thirty minutes. At that time there was no
sign of blaze about the building, nor did
the Waterman detect the odOr of smoke.
A Colored man employed in one of the other
stables in the alley saw q light on the sec
ond floor. however. ahou- 10 o'clock and
he promptly gave the alarm. Special Police
man William Young happened to be not
far away at the time and he notified the
fire department A crowd of speCta torS
quickly gathered and the police had trouble
in dispensing them.
Rescue of the Horses.
Lucien Harvey, colored, who was former
ly employed in Schlegers stable in the al
ley, was one of the first persons to reach
the stable after the first started. Thomas
Whitow, also colored was next, and they
broke open the door and entered upon the
work of saving the horses. William ]. Mad
igan, the fireman representative of the gas
company, reached the stable shortly after
ward and rendered assistance. The thir
teen horses were taken safely from the
burning building and the fremen We're able
to perform their duties without being ham
pered by the presence of the animals. Near
ly fifty horses We're taken from other sta
bles in the alley in the belief that the fire
would spread to the other stables, but the
good work of the firemen kept the blaze
confined to the one structure, as stated.
The officials of the gas company were warm
in their praise of the firemen for their eff
fective work.
1t is thought the fire started in the lock-
ers of the drivers the second floor of
the building, where there were five wagons
and buggy. The flames spread both ways
from the lockers and soon reached the ele-
vator shaft, going to the upper floor. where
hundreds of gas meters were stored. On
both upper floors the flames attacked the
rafters and other woodwork, and 1t was
necessary to flood the building. The five
wagons and one buggy on the second floor
were practically destroyed and two buggies
on the third floor were also rendered use
less.
Firemen Served With Food.
Mr.. William F. Hart, general manager of
the gas company, who reached the scene |
while the fire was still in progress, Or
dered, from a neighboring restaurant, a |
spread for the firemen and policemen, and it |
was therefore not necessary to draw upon the |
coffee fund. This morning Mr.. Hart said to a |
Star reporter that the firemen did great |
piece of work. and he thought they should |
be commended for it. When he arrived al !
the stable, he said, he could not believe the |
nremen would be able to keep the blaze
within the four walls of the building in |
which 1t had started.
A number of amusing incidents occurred |
during the progress of the fire. The alley |
leading from D street to the alley upon
which the structure stands is a narrow
and the spectators crowded
1t. While the place was packed with
curious humanity there occurred break |
in the hose, and number of spectators |
were drenched. Several times the specta- |
tors amused themselves by pursuing rats |
and killing them. as they were driven from |
their homes by the excessive heat.
Blaze in Some Sheds.
Several companies of the fire department |
to a call this morning about 2:3O |
D clock from the vicinity of New Jersey ave- |
nue. and E street southeast where several |
sheds We're burning. The blaze started in
the shed in rear of 449 New Jersey avenue.
the property of William ]. Carroll and had |
spread TO three others. Some excitement !
was occasoned by report that man had |
made his home irS one of the structures, and |
that he could not be found. Acting Chief !
Proctor had the fremen make careful |
search for his body, but no trace of it was |
found. Shortly after the search had been !
concluded the missing man appeared.
There was nothing to indicate the origin |
of the blaze. Fire Marshal Nicholson made |
an investigation and fixed the damage at |
$3.50
The fire department received a call from |
box 424 about o'clock last night from |
the plant of the National Mortar Company, |
South Capitol and X streets. A blaze oc- |
CURED in the storeroom, where empty sacks |
were stored, and about so damage resulted. |