Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-10
SAVED BY PROMPT ACTION
FIREMEN RESPOND TO STILL
ALARM AND CHECK FLAMES.
Blaze in Kann's-Careful Use of
Water by Firemen Prevented
Flooding Store.

Flames broke out from the roof of the
large establishment of S. kann, Sons &
Co. on Market space today while the in
terror of the building was crowded with
customers.
There was no panic among the employees
or buyers, and many persons on the lower
floors did not know Of the fire above them
until after the fire department had started
to work with it's putting engines. The ex-
citement was all on the outside of the big
establishment, where thousands of curious
people had been attracted by the volumes
of smoke which issued from the roof in
dark clouds.
The fire ascended the flue and first made
it's appearance on the third floor of the
building on the d street side, where 1t
burned through the partition near the
flue The employees. armed with hand fire
extinguishers, went bravely to work on
the place where the flames first appeared
and believed they had subdued the out
break
Looked Serious at First.
At first it looked to him as if a serious
conf1agration was threatened, but the fire
men under his direction worked with par
ticular care. Deputy Chief Wagner re-
allied he said. that there were many
thousands Of dollars worth of valuable
goods stored on the floors below, and with
quick perception he ordered Engines IA
and Is to extend their chemical hose 10
the roof and tor. floor. and use as little
water as possible. TO avoid flooding the
lower floors.
With these two streams of chemicals the
flames were practically extinguished and
not dollars worth of goods was de-
stroyed by the water Chlef Belt soon
arrived on the scene and the two chiefs
tn
firefighters.
The MeSsrs Kann extended their thanks
to Chief Belt. Deputy Chief Wagner and
their men for their quick and efhclent
work in subduing the flames in the CEN
ter of the business section, without send
ing in a second alarm. The engine com
panies that were in service We're Nos. IA,
is and G. the companies arriving on
the scene in the order named with NOS
| and trucks and the water tower
An investigation made this afternoon
showed that the fire was conhned 10 the
roof on the D street side and the part-
tions on the fourth floor.
Discovered by an Outsider.
The fire was first discovered by a me-
chanic who was working on roof across
d street from the kann establishment.
Several incidents showing the coolness
and nerve of the employees Of 5. hann,
Sons & Co. were noted. A pianist on
the third floor. one story below the
flames. continued to play lively airs IN
the music department While the nre lad-
dies worked away above. The house
furnishings and glass and chinaware de-
partments are located on the third moor.
On the fourth floor are located the audit
ing offices of the company. storerooms
for shoes and hats and the bakery. Some
damage was done on this floor by water,
he flames and charred wood.
1T was stated that the use OF the two
streams of chemicals by Deputy Chief
Wagner's direction saved the company
from much loss of valuable goods on the
lower floors that would have resulted
had the upper floor been flooded with
water.
Fire Marshal Nicholson stated this
afternoon that the damage to the struc
ture will not exceed S40O. The flames
were started he added by an over
heated fue setting fire to some grease
in the air shaft.
The police reserves from the first and
sixth precincts. commanded by Capt.
Williams and Capt. Michael Byrnes.
were promptly on the scene and kept
the large crowd outside the fire ropes.