The Washington herald., 1910-10-04

Fires Of mysterious origin in the whole
sale commission district and on the water
front last night threatened to sweep the
southwest section of the city, bat were
extinguished after a hard fight by the
hremen. It resulted in the injury of four
men and $500 damage.
Three fremen were hurt while fight
ing the blaze which gutted the paint
store OF II. F. Harper at 20 Tenth street
northwest. causing a loss OF 5000 The
other victim was injured while aiding
flremen in fghting flames in the stable
OF the Columbia Ice Company at G
and Water streets southwest.
The list OF injured follows
Lieut.. C. W. Weaver - No. engine company.
lacerations and confusion the head and body.
Fireman Frank MarkWoS5 Of No. > engine com
pany bruises on the head and body and an injury
20 the back.
Hreman E. j. Creamer. Of No truck company.
laoerstions Il the night ann.
George Reed. uight watehman for the Columbia
Ice Company burns neck and cuts on the face.
Streets Are Crowded.
II was about 1880 o'clock when the
first alarm was sounded<for the fire in
the paint store In the heart of the
downtown wholesale district Penn
sylvania avenue and other thorough
fares were thrOnged with theater-
goers and other pleasure seekers, who
followed the FIRE apparatus 10 the
scene. Fire Chief Wagner, who was
at home at supper, reached the scene
in a few minutes In his new automo-
bile. AS soon as he saw the blaze he
directed that second alarm be sound
ed. and IN a few minutes there was an
engine at every fire plug IT. the vicin-
ity of the fire.
Fearing the flames would spread and
get bevond their control. the hremen
with seeming disregard for their safe
~, crowded close on the burning build
ing, directing streams OF water through
the windows and door on the frst/foor.
and raising ladder to put hose into
the second story window.
Hurled from Ladder.
The ladder was raised. and Fireman
Markwood started up. He was about
fifteen feet from the ground when the
windows and DOORS of the building, were
blown outward by the explosion of a bar
rel of OIL Glass. iron fixtures. and splin-
tered wood were thrown across the street.
and the ladder was thrown backward
The firemen scampered for safety. re-
turning in a few seconds to rescue Mark
wood who had fallen and lay uncon-
sclous. He had been thrown from the
ladder when IL was overturned.
The First precinct patrol wagon was
summoned 10 the spot and the injured
man was removed to Emergency Hos
pital.
Ladders were raised to the roofs Of
adjoining buildings. and in short time
dozen streams were being directed on
the blaze from front and back. Lieut..
Weaver and Fireman Creamer. who had
been hurt by the flying debris caused by
the bursting OF the oil barrel, remained
on the scene and fought the blaze until
ii was under control Then. by Chief
Wagner's direction, Creamer entered
carriage and was driven to Emergency
Hospital. while Lieut.. Weaver went TO
Emergency on foot
Swarmed by Spectators.
a throng of several thousand persons
who gathered about the burning building
swarmed past the danger line until sergt
Harry Lohman. at the head of the First
precinct reserves. got busy. The First
precinct men were later aided by the re-
serves from the Second, Third. Fourth
and Sixth precincts.
The flames were extinguished shortly
after O'Clock. and the engine and truck
companies were returning 10 quarters
when the first alarm for the fire in the
ice company's stables was sounded. The
alarm was rung from box 455 at 9:IO
o'clock. Chief Wagner was among the
first TO reach the blaze and he sounded
second alarm, ringing in third shortly
after.
The stable is situated in a triangle
formed by Water. Tenth, and G streets
and houses more than fifty horses. Seven
carloads or hay were stored in the loft.
and It wes among the hay that the flames
started Efforts to learn the origin of
the blaze have so far proven fruitless.
Horses Are Rescued.
The fire lighted up the interior of the
building few seconds after it started.
and was seen simultaneously by several
persons. The IRE doors of the building
were broken down and the horses were
led to safety before the arrival of tba
firemen. Several score of sets OF har-
ness were also carried from the building
but the rest OF its contents were DESTROYED
The flames broke through the roof and
lighted the vicinity for several blocks
being seen from nearly every section of
the city. Hundreds>of persons visited the
scene, going down in cars. automobiles
carriages, and on foot.
Watchman Reed. who ran in the loft
10 throw out harness. was trapped by the
fssmes and was painfully burned before
a ladder was raised TO a window at which
he appeared calling for help. He was
removed TO Emergency Hospital in the
automobile patrol Of the Second pre-
cinct.
BY vigorous fighting the fremen sue
ceeded In quelling the flames before 10
o'clock.