Evening star., 1909-03-01
FLEE IN NIGHT ROBES
Occupants of Burning House
Escape Over Roofs.
INTERIOR Is BURNED OUT
About $4,000 Damage Done by
Early Morning Fire.
ADJOINING HOUSES MENACED
Firemen Devote Energies to Prevent
ing Spread Of Flames-Little
Saved From Building.
HOUSES MENACED

Maj. and Mrs. Frederick Bracket and
their son Frederick; Mr.. and Mrs. Will
liam F. Mahoney, Frederick Bracket. jr.
and his son. Joseph Bracket. both Of
Richmond, n. j.. escaped in their night
clothes early this morning, when fire
broke out in their home. at 1903 Girard
street northwest. The interior of the
building was entirely burned out.
The lightly clad occupants OF the house
fled over roofs to adjoining houses. The
flames were extinguished after between
$4,000 and 5000 damage had been done
to the building and contents.
The fire was discovered about $50
O'Clock by Joseph Bracket, who occupied
a room on the third floor. The young
man was awakened from sleep by smoke
Without waiting to dress he woke his
father and Maj. and Mrs. Bracket. He
then went to the second floor and aroused
Mr.. and Mrs. Mahoney.
Flee Over Roofs.
The flames had gained such headway
that none had time to dress. Maj. and
Mrs. Bracket, with their son Frederick
got out on the rear second-story roof.
BY a rear window they got into the home
OF Mrs Helen Bartlett. 1:O1 Girard street.
Mr.. and Mrs Mahoney and the young
est Brackett went into the home of Will
liam Mcdonald, 1905 Girard street A
servant, Mamie Cook, In the basement
at the time. escaped to the rear yard.
The servant arose about O'Clock this
morning in her room on the second
floor and went down a back stairway to
the first floor. She then proceeded to the
basement, where she was occupied. when
Joseph Bracket rushed downstairs and
warned her
was also in the basement. His young
master took him from the burning build
ing.
Shots Are Fired.
Shortly after the flames were discovered
the entire neighborhood was aroused.
Some one in the neighborhood fired sew
eral shots from a revolver. which gave
the idea that an explosion had occurred.
The shots were probably fired to attract
the Ioice
Alarm was sounded from box S43. at
18th and Harvard streets. Engine COM
panies II, u and and truck company 6
responded.
The fire department found that the
flames had gained such headway that
there was danger of spreading to ad-
joining buildings and probably destroying
the entire row. Acting Fire Chief Mar
tin turned in a second alarm at 5:5S.
O'clock which brought out engine COM
pan!es Nos. 7, IL and I and truck COM
pany No. 8.
Lines Of hose were laid and soon
streams of water were poured into the
building. The flames had burned their
way through the first floor and were
spreading to the upper stories when the
firemen reached the scene.
Acting Chief Marion directed the ener-
gies Of number Of his men to keep the
flames from spreading to adjoining build
ings. Flames had already jumped an
areaway in the rear of the burning build
Ing and set fire to three windows in the
home Of William Mcdonald. The loss TO
his home amounted to about $50.
The fire did not reach the Bartlett
home. About $50 damage was done there
by smoke and water which penetrated the
walls.
Origin Of Fire Unknown.
The origin of the fire is unknown. 1t
is supposed to have started in the dining
ROOM The flames travelled up front and
rear stairways.
In the dining-room every piece of fur
niture was destroyed. Silverware was
melted into one mass.
In the reception hall and parlor costly
furniture was destroyed or badly dam
aged. The railing along the front stair
way was burned away and the flames
invaded the second-story front room oc-
cupied by Mr.. and Mrs. Mahoney.
In an adjoining room there was not so
much damage. The back second-story
room, reached by flames that went up
the back stairs, burned out.
After burning through the second door
the flames went to the third floor, oc-
cupied by Maj. and Mrs. Bracket The
only things not damaged on this floor
were articles Of clothing.
Mr. Mahoney considers he was lucky to
get out Of the place alive. He was able
to save only several suits Of clothing,
some papers and several other articles Of
apparel belonging to himself.
Many pieces of furniture, trinkets and
rugs presented to him, which he valued,
were destroyed and could not be replaced.
His loss is estimated at $1,000
Maj. Bracket saved some clothing. His
loss is estimated at $1,000. His son saved
some clothing and hunting articles. to-
gether with several guns which he had
used on a recent hunting trip.
The servant told the f1remen she did not
see anything of the fire when she went
downstairs this morning. She had not
entered the dining room. All her clothing
in her room on the second floor was
destroyed.
Fire Burns Hay.
Fire last night caused about 81 400 dam
age to the barn and contents on the prem
ises Of DR.. Charles G. Stone. 1856 Georgia
avenue. A fire company near his prem
ises So quickly responded that the fire
burned only the roof and some hay
stored on the second floor.
There was a horse, COW and vehicles or
the lower floor. They were removed be-
fore the smoke had reached them.
The fire started about 7:30 o'clock on
top of/several tons of hay stored on the
uppeY floor and soon burned a hole
through the roof. Firemen prevented the
blsEe from reaching the lower floor, how
ever, and extinguished 1t before it had
rfached any other building.
DIR. Stone thinks the Iire was accident
ally started by some person who was
asleep In the building at the time the
hired man closed the place for the night
The damage is covered by insurance.
Incendiarism Suspected.
Policeman f. NJ. Jett Of the tenth
precinct and his wife, whose home is