The Washington herald., 1908-08-25

Fire Which started az Ills o'clock last
Hislt RACED fer two hours IN the building
Of the Darby Printing Company. SO and
5aS Fourteenth street northwest
The flames were confined TO the upper
floors
The loss IS estimated by representa-
tive Of the printing company at S5o9a5.
Fire Marshal Nicholson estimated the
loss II ST.0la
one Of The richest blocks in the down
town section was threatened with total
destruction for fifteen minutes. Had the
IRE started in the basement OF the build-
-ng instead Of or the fourth and TOP
hoor, the FIRE chief said nothing could
have saved the entire structure.
Flames Reached High.
The blaze was cna OF the ee--as. s-z
most Spectacular the WASHINGTON ire
men have been called upon % fight in /
years Within two minutes after th- (
hrst spark was seen. the entire ton CT
the big foEr-story building was a mass I
Of FIRE Tongues Of flame leaned fr-o
the air % a height Of ffty feet. s-5 4
could be seen for miles.
Starting. as IL did. in the heart of The
business and hotel section. starting r.
mors were In circulation. one being that
the Willard Hotel was doomed and that
hundreds Of lives were IN peril. Thor-
sands Of persons from all over the rftv
Hooked 20 the scene and the police -s-
serves from five precincts were reres-
sarF % hold the crowds in check. The
WINDOWS OF the Willard Hotel we're Z
nAed with spectators. and hundreds Of
IeIsonS were perched On The steps and
edges Of the new Municipal Building
When the fire was first discovered the
stables OF 3 T McCauIlv. AZ 1sr- 3
street northwest. were threatened bv
sparks and embers. Sta6lemen and vol
irteers led more than forty horses from
ne building and dragged out dozens Of
e-lcleS- A goat. mascot Of the Srahras I
lad 10 be carried out by three hostIe-s.
F-ying sparks fell on the roof OF the
kitchen Of the FIorentine Iuncb-roon,- Al
20 pennsylvania avenue. and set the
lulidlng on IRE Cooks and walters. as
listed by several policemen. manage. IN
'ut out the flames before they assumed
dangerous proportions Other buildings
n the vicinity became ignited from fall S
ng sparks. but with well-directe5
treans the fireuen extingufshed the TINY -
cts before damage was done
The fire was discovered almost sfuul-
aneously by half-dozcn persons. The U
rst warning was a roar as of-the falling P
an immense volume OF water. Then G
he whole TOP OF the building burst into q
ames- The light made the Avenue brieht
s day for blocks.
Seen by Detectives. 7
Detectives Helan and Grant. detailed AZ Z,
he Office Of the district attorney. were s.
assing down E street. near Fourteenth ei
treet. when the flames burst forth. They E
lshed 10 patrol box I3. in the rear Of n
bases Theater. and notified the police Of
le First precinct Almost at the same =
me II F King and Raymond Brennan. -
the Astoria Apartments. who were n
alking in Fourteenth street. near Penn OF
-lvania avenue, noticed the burst Of FIRE b,
hey ran At top speed TO the engine house
d street between Fourteenth and Fiji
euJn streets.
T II Bean. OF 100 For1--a-7-a-rsrr =
rect. fireman on the Baltimore and ono :
abroad. was in Fourteenth street nes-I
e Municipal Building. and saw the
INES He turned in an alarm from the q
X at Fourteenth street and PennsvIvs- d.
a avenue
Deputy Chief Wagner was al. No. a IN ~
ne house, in Eighth street. between d /
ID Z streets. when the first alarm Vas
unded- He drove down D strser 70
avenue. and. getting a sight
the flames leaping high in the air II
owe TO the nearest alarm box. and turn az
IN q tnird alarm. He then drove ~ Ia
. FIRE and took charge ia
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