Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-11-23
UNDER MARTIAL LAW
Fire-SWept Town in Virginia
Guarded by Troops.
HEAVY LOSS IN WARRENTON
Blaze Starts in Livery Stable and
Burns Four Blocks.
DYNAMITE STOPS ITS PROGRESS
Furniture and Other valuables Piled
in the Streets-Damage
Placed at $4,000.
DYNAMITE STOPS ITS PROGRESS
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
WARRENTON, Va, November 3D.
Martial law prevails in this city today,
and the local military company and a
detachment from Bethel Military Acad-
envy are guarding the smoking ruins Of
four city blocks. Fire started last night
in a livery stable. and, famed by high
winds, was soon beyond the control Of
the fireighters, and it was only by the
use of dynamite that the destruction of
the entire city was prevented.
The military is also guarding piles of
furniture and other valuables taken from
burned houses. and which were tempo
rarily placed in the open. The guards
are armed with loaded rifles and any at
tempt to loot will be dealt with quickly
Twenty-Five buildings were destroyed in
the heart Of the city, and the loss is es-
timated at $4,000.
Origin Of Blaze.
The fire started in Bradburn's livery
stable in the southwestern section of the
town. south Of Waterloo street and not
far from the Warren Green Hotel. A
south wind swept the flames toward
Waterloo and Winchester streets. In a
streets were ablaze. The courthouse and
the Jail were not more than hundred
feet away, and the prisoners in the Jail
became terrified and were Gained only
with the greatest difficulty. The Warren
Green Hotel was saved by dynamiting it's
annex. Among the buildings totally de-
stroyed were the studio of Richard M.
Brooke, Washington artist, located on
Waterloo street, and the fire house. which
contained the fire department. the
mayors Office and the council chamber.
Alexandria Asked for Aid.
The request from Warrenton for assist
ance first reached Alexandria. The
chief Of the fire department there imme-
diately called up Marshal Wagner of the
Washington department, asking advice
At conference over the telephone it was
decided that in the face of the apparent
conf1agration in the little Virginia city
the chemical engines of the two depart
ments would be of no avail.
1t was agreed that the dispatch Of reg
ular waterpumping apparatus to War
renton would be useless, as the cisterns
and wells here were reported to be COM
pletely, Or almost completely. dried up,
owing to long continued drought
Numbers of society people in Washing
ton, including members of the official and
diplomatic set, are members of the War
renton Hunt Club, which ranks as one of
the best institutions of its kind in the
United States. There are large number
of extensive estates, belonging to resi-
dents of Washington and elsewhere, in
the immediate vicinity of the town.
Buildings in Ruins.
The buildings which were in The track
of the flames, and which are a mass of
ruins, are the Farmers Hotel, which was
unoccupied; Jennings furniture house, T.
E. Pattie's store and residence and the
residences of w. A. Garner. H. A. Gar
rett, Mrs. Ida Wall, frank G. Brooke, D.
NJ. Houchens, H. B. Luce, Mrs. F. v. T.
Moore, DR.. Shirley Carter, ]. D. Kirby
Mrs. j. B. Britton, Mrs. H. V. Wilson,
Capt. Edward Carter. Mrs. William Rit-
tenour. the Yates building and w. M
Moore's meat shop.
Nearly all Of these buildings were of
frame. but several Of them were among
the handsomest homes in Warrenton. The
two frame buildings dynamited were
owned by Charles D. Houchens