The Washington herald., 1909-05-18

portion or the southwest section from
destruction by fire, when the Martin
wiegand planning and lumber mill. al
Four-and-a-half street and Maryland
avenue southwest. was destroyed yes
terday afternoon. involving a loss Of more
than S1,5e0
Ten minutes after the ere was discov-
cred the large mill was a raging fur
mace. and burning embers and scorching
flames soon set fire 70 adjacent buildings.
When the hremen arrived on the scene
the whole southeast portion Of the block
bounded by Maryland and Maine avenues.
Four-snd-a-half ard Sixth streets south
west. was mass OF flames.
While fighting the flames from an
elley IN the rear Of the mill. Capt.
HOulahan, Of No. Il Engine Company.
was struck on the head by falling tim
Der He was taken to the hospital. but
soon returned and resumed command Of
his men.
The FIRE vas the most spectacular that
has occurred in Washington in many
years. and was visible from all sections
OF the city The Iurid flames. capped
by an immense volume OF black smoke.
o5scuring everything in the vicinity OF
the FIRE. gave the impression that the
damage would be much greater than il
really was. From a distance Of two
blocks the fire seemed to be consuming
tEe whole southwest section OF the city.
TIE inhabitants Of the streets and al
lesWays near the blazing mill lost no
time n eE plying their houses OF nlrni-
tgre and household effects. and within
ffteen minutes after the FIRST alarm was
turned in The sidewalks were lined with
al manner OF household furnishinzs-
beds. bureaus. chairs. ChlfOnie-s. trunks
and bedding.
The first alarm for the FIRE was turned in
Al 2-l5 o'clock Within q few minutes
second alarm was turned in. and when
the fire chief arrived on the scene q gen
erGl alarm was sent 20 FIRE headquarters
stray spark Fixed as Cause.
SPARKS from nearby chimney or the
careless handling OF cigar OF cigarette
are held responsible for the FIRE by the
C1t%-lals Of the FIRE department and those
connected with the wiegand COMPANY.
Most Of the loss IS covered by insurance.
Starting ~ a few minutes after ,
o'clocs. the FIRE was not under control
until ; o'clock. During this time more
than ffteeH engine coTGpanies PLAYED
streams on the burning structure. and as
many more streams we're played on near
by buildings 10 saTe them from catching
Ere.
Martin Wiegand. senior partner Of the
firm OF Wiegand & Co. was in the Office
adjoining the building containing his
planning mill when the cry Of IRE was
raised He rushed into the rear part Of
the mill and upon opening the door
leading into the sanGpapering depart
meEt was greeted with blast o. hot
ar heavy with smoke and tinged with
fame. He walked toward the center OF
'he room. and in second was hedged
IN BY the fire and smoke By 2 dash
through smoke and iame-laden air he
reached rear door and the open. air.
An alarm Of FIRE was Immediately
turned in. Directly after the arrival az
The first engine company other alarms
were turned in, and within half an hour
Engine Companies Nos 4. a, I2. Is s
=. 5 Is. ], p and were on the scene.
assisted by Truck Companies Nos. J. 3
:. g. and ?
Chief Engineer Wagner was in charge
resisted by Deputy Engineer Sullivan.
FIRST Battalion Chief James Kelliher.
hiid Battalion Chief G. B. Proctor.
superintendent Of Machinists T N. Rob
iEson, and Fire Marshal Nicholson.
Police from the First. Second. Third.
FoIIta- Fifth, and Sixth precincts were
called upo2 10 90 duty at the fire under
direction o. Inspectors Cross. Cessford
Jn5 Boyle. Maj. Sylvester was AZ the
scere cf TIRE fire. as was Commissioner
M@cfariand
NiH abandoned 80 Fate.
When TIE fremen reached the scene
W'egsnd's min was a mass OF fame. and
tie buildings on Four-snd-a-half street
% The east and On Armorv place n the
north were catching fire. A erJrsorv ex-
animation convinced Chief Wagner O;
i..e fut;lity Of trying to save the mill.
ard the efforts Of the fremen were turned
saving adjoining property.
EHsine Company No. IS was stationed
4a tae roof OF the Office next to the burn
'eg mill. and in the face Of a blisterine
a@G o. fame stood their ground and
w streams Of water into the burning
crty It was only when the walls
he min fen in that the members OF
company abandoned their point Of
mage
i WIS while Engine Company No. I.
si9ing effective work in the rear
Capt. Houlahan, who vas in COM
~. was struck by a falling timber
sitht ush che dremen battled hard. the
flames IN the mill gained rapid headwav
-d before the last alarm was turned
81. had communicated 70 the buildings IN
lg-and-a-Ealf street and 10 the row
Continued on Page 3, Column 2.