The Washington herald., 1909-11-04

Flames or mysterious origin last night
threatened destruction 10 the four-story
brick building at 1852 New York avenue
northwest, occupied by Rudolph & West
Company as a hardware store. The loss
is estimated at about $4,000.
The blaze was not discovered until
flames burst through the roof. Alarms
were sounded almost simultaneously from
nve FIRE boxes in the vicinity OF the build
ing. Six companies Of fireman labored for
more than two hours. finally subduing
the flames after stubborn fight.
In the center OF the closely built block
between New York avenue. G, Thirteenth.
and Fourteenth streets the fire threat
ened one Of the most valuable squares in
Washington The flames were seen from
nearly every section Of the city. and at
tracted thousands Of persons to the
vicinity.
Paint store Threatened
paint store owned by Hugh Reilly,
ut 1884 New York avenue. adjoining the
hardware store on the east. narrowly
escaped destruction Fifty barrels Of oil.
thousands of gallons of paint and other
combusuble material were stored IN the
building, separated from tho flames by
a fire wall
A four-story brick building az 1890 New
York avenue is occupied by the National
Electrical Supply Company. and in it are
stored rubber automobile tires and fix
lures. said 90 be highly combustible This
building was slightly damaged by flames
and the contents were damaged 10y water.
but the loss % the supply company will
not exceed few hundred dollars A
brick fire wall separates the building from
the structure in which the flames orig
mated
In the opinion OF FIRE and police Off
cials and well-known business men, who
witnessed the blaze. the FIRE walls pre-
vented a conhaEration.
If that lire mad eaten into the paint or
the supply eomPanys store" said Fire
Chief Frank j. Wagner, 1T Is hard TO
realize what we would have been up
against" and he threw his hands I'D with
a nervous gesture
The first alarm sounded at 1920 o'clock
from box Isl al Fourteenth and @ streets.
bringing engine companies 2. Is. Il. and 1.
truck companies . and 3, and the water
tower to the scene. In less than half n
minute later. and before the companies
had time 20 leave quarters, alarms were
sounded from boxes 125. ct Eleventh and
G. streets. 1i6. at Fifteenth street and
New York avenue: 163. at Thirteenth and
II streets, and lS3. at Thirteenth and G
streets
Policemen Hayes and Sutton. OF the
First precinct. and Special Watchman
McDerman and Humphrey heard the
mufiled roar Of an explosion. and saw
flame or fire leap toward the sky.
Others saw The blaze and there was a
scamper for fire boxes.
Heard an Explosion.
Thomas c. Bradley an attorney. was
walking in New York avenue near the
hardware store. when he heard the ex-
plcsion, and the scream OF a woman.
Looking. he saw n woman leaning from
a window in the third story OF house AT
1928 New York avenue She was scream
Ing. Fire. and az the same time he
saw the flare Of flames against the sky.
Believing the fire 10 be in tho house at
15-S, and realizing the woman might
be IN danger. the lawyer ran up the mar
row stairway.
Angelina Jordan, sixteen years old
was running down the steps. and col
lided with Bradley. almost throwing him.
from his feet
Run quick TO the street"' he called.
and continued upstairs.
Just as he reached the landing on the
third floor he caught Amelia Garet, sew
al I'm er..
tainted. lie carried her TO the street and
into the house OF n neighbor, and then
returned for her mother. Nine A. Garet.
n milliner, who was running about her
apartments I'm panic. trying 20 collect sew
eral hundred dollars worth OF ostrich
plumes and hats and carry them to tho
street
Bradley assisted the woman downstairs.
The building IN which she lives was not
damaged, although the flames were near
the rear windows Of her apartments.
WRged an Even Battle.
When fire and firemen were fighting
about an even battle. the blaze worked
its way TO the front on the fourth floor
Water thrown from the back started the
generation OF steam. and this. with the
heat cracked the windows with explo-I
sions ike the report OF a small cannon.
The glass few in every direction and
the black smoke. telling Of great oianti-
ties OF burned excelsior. rolled heavily
out over the crowd. For moment the
pail was so dense the building from the
third floor up could not be seen.
When the blast shook the windows
from their frames three flremen were on
an extension ladder, reaching to the
fourth floor The man farthest up was
perhaps. within five feet Of the window
and that distance beneath the smoke and
broken. flying glass. HIS two companions
were separated from him at intervals OF
five feet The fremen did not move
They remained ike three statues. watch
ing the flames until the smoke cleared
sufficiently 10 enable them to see Com
missioner Macfarland, who stood near
by, commented on their calmness.
If they can stay that near 10 an ex-
plosion without flinching," said the Com
Continued on Page 4. Column 4.