Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-27
Fire Visits Establishment of
E. F. Droop & Sons Co.
ORIGIN OF BLAZE UNKNOWN
Special Policeman Discovers Flames
in Early Morning.
PRoPRIEToRs ON THE SCENE
Three Fire Department Members, Cut
Off by Smoke, Escape by Slid
ing Down Rope.

a fire which blazed fiercely for more
than an hour early this morning destroyed
the entire top floor of the establishment
of E. F. Droop & Sons Company. 92o
Pennsylvania avenue. A large stock of
talking machines. pianos and cabinets was
entirely destroyed. the firm estimating the
loss al 10000, which is covered by insur-
ance.
The fire was discovered by Special Po-
liceman Young, while at 9th and D streets.
from the roof of the Droop building and
an instant later a tongue of flame shot
upward Young rushed to box 129 and
sounded an alarm, recorded at headquar-
ters at 5:46 O'Clock am. Sergt. Boyce at
the other end of the block noticed the
flames a few moments later and. turned
in second alarm. Engine companies II.
Ii. and s, and trucks and 1. with
Deputy Chief Wagner and Battalion Chief
Henry, responded to the first alarm. En-
gine companies 4. 3 and 13 answered the
second. The water tower was present,
but did not go into action.
Filled With Smoke.
BY the time the first of the firemen
reached the building the upper floors
were filled with smoke. Entrance was
effected through the front door. and win
!
rived early, took command and sent three
men to the roof to open the skylights.
This cleared the floor where the fire was
raging of a black pail of smoke which
had prevented the men getting anywhere
near the flames Meantime, on the third
floor, three men from No Is company
Lieut.. B. w. Weaver, o. E. Turner and
Grover Bishop. were penned in. cut off by
smoke Not being able to find the stair
way by which they had ascended. it was
fS 10 RI rnrn f4~ fLA -
dows. crawling close to the floor in order
to breathe. They escaped by making a
life line of the rop> used to pull up the
hose. and sliding to a lower story
After once Kidding the building of most
of the smoke. Chief Belt directed his en-
tire attention to the flames. which had
gained considerable headway and were
feeding rapidly on the dry beams of the
building. the under side of the roof and
the pianos and talking machines. The
roof was burned through in several places,
and the falling beams made it a danger
Gus spot for the firemen. Although the
fire was under control in less than three
quarters Of an hour it burned the entire
floor and roof. with the exception Of q
small repair shop in the rear.
Unable to Determine Cause.
AS soon as the firemen left the building
Mr.. E. H. Droop and Fire Marshal Nichol-
son. assisted by three expert electricians
made a thorough examination with a
view of ascertaining. If possible. the
causes of the baze. The electricians
state positively that electric wiring was
not responsible The fire marshal said
he was at a loss as to the cause, as the
fire apparently started at the base of a
pile of large cases containing talking ma
chimes, solidly packed. Mr.. e. H Droop
states that no one is left in the building
at night. that precautions are taken
against fires and that large fire doors
are closed every evening by the last man
to leave.
The flames destroyed several hundred
hand painted talking machine horns. near
ly a dozen talking machines of the larg-
est kind. made of mahogany and gold.
and valued at $3.50 apiece, and what
were large and elaborate pianos are now
only ashes. An antique spinnet. which
was the property Of Mr.. Carl Droop and
said to have been priceless on account of
its inlaid woodwork. was burned beyond
recognition. The west wall was lined
with talking machines, several thousands