Evening star., 1909-05-17
MAKES A RED-HOT FIRE
Plant of Martin Wiegand Prey
of Flames Today.
FIVE RtARMS SOUNDED
Capt. Hollohan of No. Ia Company
Sustains Injury.
STRUCK ON HEAD BY A TIMBER
Flaming Mill at ~ Street and Mary
land Avenue Will Probably
Be Complete Loss.

Fire broke out shortly after , o'clock
today in the planning mill of Martin
Weigand at the northwest corner of Az
street and Maryland avenue southwest.
The lumber in the mill nabled the flames
20 get rapid headway before the alarm
rould be turned in, and by the time the
lire department arrived upon the scene
The whole planning mill and the offices
were one mass of flames, which threat
med residences adjoining them. 1t is prob
able that the planning mill will be total
loss The mill was built about one year
ago.
IT is unknown at present just how the
ire started. but it quickly gained tremen-
ious headway. Four alarms were turned
II within a very few minutes after the
irst one Chief Wagner directed that the
engines be stationed all around the block
and that the occupants of houses be made
to take their household effects out on the
street
There is an alley running through the
block and it is a red-hot lane of fire, and
The firemen had all they could do to get
heir hose into it and had to work in
relays on account of the unbearable heat.
Alarms Sounded in Succession.
1t was but a few seconds after the
sounding of the first alarm that the sec
ond alarm was sounded. Firemen arriv-
ing at the scene found 1t necessary to
send in additional alarms until the fifth
one had been sounded. Twelve engine
companies. four trucks, Chief Wagner and
his several assistants were on hand after
the last of the five alarms had been sent
in.
The first alarm brought out three COM
panies and an assistant chief, and al
most before these companies had left
their quarters additional companies were
called out, apparatus reaching the fire
from all directions.
The calling out Of so many companies
was followed by the transfer of the ad
ditional companies in order that the city
might be protected from other fires
should any occur.
Several police precincts sent their re-
serves to the scene of the fire, and the
crowd was so great that some trouble was
experienced keeping the curious ones out
Of the way. Captains of the several pre-
cincts went with their men to assist in
the work of handling the crowd and doing
"hoS ehOy SooAd ~ PAOsSh1 iooo ~ iilO.
Capt. Hollohan Hurt.
Capt. I. j. Hollohan of engine company
No. IA, while making his way into the
burning building was struck across the
head by a falling piece of blazing tim
Der and received several severe lacera-
IONS
He was aided from the building by his
fellow-firemen and sent to the Emer-
gency Hospital in the No. patrol wagon,
where his injuries were dressed.
Homes Quickly Vacated.
The nre started in the Wiegand mill and
spread to the houses on ~ street be-
tween Maryland avenue and Louise alley
The flames burned their way through the
entire lumber mill and leaped across
Louise alley in the rear and set fire to a
row of houses on the north side of the
alley. The occupants of these houses had
previously been warned by the policemen
and firemen to be prepared to get out and
had carried a great many of the contents
of their houses into the back yards.
The occupants of the houses and stores
on Az street, with the aid of many citi-
zens, removed large quantities Of furni-
ture. The lower floor of 123 Az street is
occupied by Charles Kegha & Bro, fruit
dealers Adjoining this is Chinese
cafe. AS soon as the two Cinnamon saw
the fire coming toward the rear Of their
place they grabbed the money box and
disappeared. and the police have been un-
able to locate them. The second floor of
III Az street is occupied by Miss Mable
Scott, who was assisted in removing some
of her furniture by some of the police of
the fourth precinct