Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-04
PERIL FOR F|REMEN
Blaze in Paint Store a Dan
gerous One to Fight.
THREE MEN ARE INJURED
Explosion Blows Out Door, Knock.
ing Down Ladder.
FIRE IN STABLE STUBBORN
Forty-Three Horses Taken Out in
Safety-Two Other Alarms Kept
Department Busy.
THREE MEN ARE INJURED
FIRE IN STABLE STUBBORN

Two troublesome fires claimed the
attention of the fire department last
night; while two others were extin-
guished before they had gained much
Roadway. The first of the more seri-
Gus blazes occurred about TAO o'clock
! in the building of the H. F. Harper
Company, Incorporated, dealers in paints
and building supplies at 204 10th street
northwest. The second occurred two
hours later in the stable of the Column
bia Ice Company, at 10th and G streets
northwest.
At f,the fire in the paint and build
ing supply establishment the damage
amounted to about $500 and three
firemen were injured. They were Lieut.
B:W. Weaver of No. engine company
and Privates Frank Markward of the
same company and E. J. Trainor Of No
3. truck company. George Reed. forty
years old. who was employed as watch
man at the stable of the ice company
was burned about his neck and had to
be given treatment at the Emergency
Hospital. The damage to the stable
amounted to about $4,000.
Blaze in Hams Home.
One of the slight fires occurred about Z
o'clock in the house Of Gen. Peter c.
Hams. 818 18th street northwest The fire
started on the sill of window on the
third floor, and was extinguished by men,
bers of No. 1 engine company before
more than SIS damage had been caused,
while the small blaze occurred in a pile
OF brush near 10th place and Good Hope
road. No damage resulted.
When members of the fire department
responded to the alarm turned in from
box 152 for the fire in the paint store
they saw the blaze before they reached
the structure. and it was apparent that
some hard work would have to be done.
A second alarm was sounded by Battalion
Chief Proctor, and soon there were seven
engines, two truck companies and the
water tower in service
The fire had started in the rear of the
| lower floor, where tar paper and other
inflammable material was stored, and
when the first company reached the
building flames were shooting from front
and rear windows, the bulk Of the blaze
being on the upper floor Lieut.. Weaver
deemed it advisable to raise a ladder to
| by forging open the main door, and 1t
was while he and Private Markward were
on the twenty fve-foot ladder that an
explosion occurred.
Front Door Blown Out.
There was force enough to the explo-
sion to blow out the front door and hurl
1t against the ladder and knock 1t away
from the building. Lieut.. Weaver was
thrown to the ground and his head was
cut, hut Private Markward managed to
get hold of the awning frame and keep
| from being thrown. He was able to
drop the few feet to the sidewalk with
out severe injury. but he did wrench his
back when he grabbed hold of the avn
ing frame, and it was necessary to take
him to the hospital.
Chief Wagner was hurried to the fire
| in his automobile. an dhe fully appre-
ciated the value of the horseless vehicle.
| When he reached the burning building
and saw many barrels of lime inside he
| realized that water reaching the lime
would mean additional trouble and dan
ger, and he had the fremen take them
| from the building as quickly as they
| could.
| The firemen were able to prevent the
flames from reaching the many barrels
of oil that were in the store, and when
they were congratulated upon the sue
cessful efforts. Neighbors of the Harper
| in his automobile, and he fully appre-
the blaze in the paint establishment.
Horses Were in Danger.
| Commissioner Johnston was an inter-
ested spectator at the fire in South Wash
| ington The blaze started on the upper
floor of the stable, directly over where
forty-three horses were occupying as
many stalls, and, although the flames
spread with remarkable rapidity, all the
animals were rescued.
Three alarms were sounded. the fire.
men fearing the fire would get beyond
the walls Of the stable and endanger
other property in the vicinity Of the river
front. An interesting feature of the
work of the firemen was the part the
crew Of the Firefighter played. =
Several strong streams were furnished
by the crew, and it was partly due to
the large volume Of water direct from
the river that the fire was so quickly
extinguished.