Evening capital and Maryland gazette., 1910-12-29


been visited by three fires, all of
mysterious origin. The two fires on
Christmas morning at 4.30 and 5
o'clock, respectively. did slight dam.
age, but last nights fire was more
disastrous.
At LAS this morning the Water
Witch Hook and Ladder Company
was the first volunteer fire company
to turn in the alarm, which was taken
up by No. and Rescue Hose Com
pany. Soon the reels, hook and
ladder and fire engine were on the
scene, and the brave and noble vol
unteer firemen fought the fires
fiercely, WORKING constantly from 2
a. m. until Z o'clock, and some
working on the smouldering embers
far into the day.
The fire originated in a vacant
shop of Z. A. l.. Wilson. timer
and sheet iron woker on State
Circle, near Maryland avenue.
What makes the fire more myster-
ious as to the origin is that it occur
red in shop absolutely with moth
ne in it and that had not been occu-
pied for three or four months. There
was no flooring or beams in the place.
Mr.. Wilson has been occupying a
shop on Francis street since his re-
moval from this old place months
ago.
The old shop was burned to the
ground, not a vestige Of it is left to
tell the tale.
1t was located between DR.. Gordon
H. Claude's dental parlors and the
plumbing shop of Charles A. How
ard. Mr.. Howard's shop and equip
ments were damaged to the extent
of $4,000, which estimate he places
on his loss, fully covered by insur
ance.
The fire burst through the back of
Howard S shop and the flames swept
upward, covering the roof of the Y.
NJ. c. A. Building. next to Howard 5
and damaging the roof and rafters to
an extent of $4,000, and otherwise
damaging the building with smoke
and water to such an extent that the
amount cannot be approximated.
There is an insurance on the Y NJ.
C. A. Building of about $4,000,
which would scarcely pay. for the
damage to the roof and rafters.
Located under the Y. NJ. C. A.
Building at the corner of Maryland
avenue and State House Circle is the
store of William H. Moss and
Clifton c. Moss, the entire stock of
which is totally damaged by smoke
! and wafer. The store this morning
was flooded, and every article of
stock saturated. 1t was impossible
to do business there today. They are
insured. An unfortunate feature of
their loss is the large coop of chick
ems in the rear of the store, all of
which were smothered by smoke.
The only building burned that had
no insurance was the dental Office of
DR.. Gordon H. Claude, former Mayor
of Annapolis. This frame building
had no insurance and the loss is un-
covered. 1t was completely gutted
by the flames. Perhaps the heaviest
loser will be the Y. M. c. A., the in.
surance on which will not nearly
cover the damage by fire, smoke and
water.
There are several conflicting stor-
les as to the origin of the fire, which
taken all in all is still a mystery
A watchman on State House Hill,
who is night watchman of the State
Buildings there, says shortly after
half past o'clock this morning be
heard an explosion and instantly
saw flames leap up from the rear anc
side of the Y. N. C. A. Building.
This would give credence to the story
that on Christmas Eve on the cal
that left Washington at 2 o'clock,
several Washington police came over
to Annapolis in search of a man sale
to be a bomb thrower and an ire
sponsible person.
Again, it is said Surgeon and hi.
wife who reside in the Claude Flat
next to DR.. Claude's dental offic,
that was burned out, saw the fire first
in the rear of Mr. Howard's plumb
ing shop. and it is thought probable
! it originated from spontaneous com
4 bustion, greasy rags, oil, etc., tha
may have been there. but the rea
origin of the fire still remains a mys
terry, and probably always will.
Since the fire four days ago whel
excelsior saturated with kerosen
was found in Mr.. Strauss wagon tha
was burned, and near the stable an