The Washington herald., 1909-07-19
FIRE LOSS $4,000
Ice Cream Plant of Chaplin
Sacks Partly Wrecked.
FIREMEN DO HEROIC WORK
Chief Wagner One of the First on
the Scene, and by Giving Prompt
and Wise Orders Prevents EnOr-
nous Loss TO Adjoining Property.
Origin of the Fire Unknown.

Fire Chief Wagner, the little gray
haired man at the head Of the Washing
ton fire department, jumped out of his
bed at No. IA engine house a few minutes
after o'clock yesterday morning. drove
a mile across the city to First and NJ
streets northeast. and saved the immense
ice cream plant OF the Chapin-Sacks
Manufacturing Company from almost
certain destruction.
The third alarm was turned in by the
active, rubber-coated chief less than a
minute after he first saw the blaze and
almost before he could say Jack Robin
fremen on hand with sufficient apparatus
TO cope with any fire in Washington.
Much Property In Danger.
Had Chief Wagner arrived two minutes
later than he did; had he hesitated be
fore calling out seven additional engines
swept the flames across seventy-five
yards OF space to the dreaded ammonia
tanks. the loss would have been hun
dreds of thousands of dollars, and prob
ably the total destruction of the plant,
instead of $4,000, which is covered by
Insurance.
It was Arthur Chaplin. president OF the
company which owns the Ice cream
plant, who arrived on the scene stimuli
taneously with engines responding TO
the third alarm. and running over to
where Chief Wagner stood. cried excited
ly: Il believe you're going TO beat II,
Chief"
1t was less than an hour later that
Mr.. Chaplin again made his way TO the
silent helmeted man who had been issu-
ing orders IN a quiet. calm voice, and
patted him On the back, This time Mr.
Chaplin said: You beat il, Chief; you
beat IL 10 a standsull." The chief smiled
and, turning TO a battalion chief. said
Tell those NO. men TO play that line
just a little higher.
Chaplin Then Gives Orders.
Then Mr.. Chapin began giving orders.
He sent negro ice-packers. wagon-drivers.
and mixers running in every direction,
and when they came back they brought
gallons and gallons Of ice-cream. A few
minutes later a big touring automobile
appeared. loaded with baskets OF sand
witches and urns Of coffee.
Perhaps a few Of the thousands Of per-
sons who ran TO the scene Of the fire
after their early morning slumber had
been broken by the clang Of fire bells
envied just q little bit the firemen and
policemen who dipped deep down into the
pals Of ice-cream and swallowed big
spoOnfuls Of the -delicacy. with mouth
fuls Of ham sandwiches. washed down
with steaming mocha and java.
But the crowd only stood By and
/ watched, for they were kept behind
guard ropes by Inspectors Boyle and
/ Gessford. Captain Charles Peck. Lieut..
/ Hodges and police reserves from the
/ Second, Third Sixth. Eighth. and Ninth
I precincts. Before church bells began
tolling fire laddies and officers were wend-
/ ing their way slowly back TO quarters.
Cause OF Fire Mysterious.
Although Mr. Chaplin. Chief Wagner.
and Ere Marshal Nicholson examined
the burned building after the blaze had
been subdued. they were unable to learn
definitely the cause of the fire. Il started
among 15e.OC0 fee cream cones on the
third floor of the first building occupied
by the ice cream plant. New buildings
have been built around the old structure.
until it now stands In the center Of a
small village Of buildings
The blaze was confined to the floor
where il originated. Spontaneous COM
bustion. defective electric wires. matches
and gnawing rats. stray sparks. and the
whole gamut of usual causes We're cOl-
sidered by Chief Wagner. but he left the
| scene mystified.