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 .
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 2 and Rescue Hose Com
pany. Soon the reels, hook an1
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 I. 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
ng 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 vestige of it is left to
tell the tale.
1t was located between Dr. Gordon
II. 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 s
and damaging the roof and rafters to
an extent Of $500, 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 water. 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. NJ. 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 a night watchman of the State
Buildings there, says shortly after
half pasf1 o'clock this morning he
heard an explosion and instantly
saw flames leap up from the rear and
side OF the Y. NJ. C. A. Building.
This would give credence to the story
that on Christmas Eve on the car
that left Washington at 2 o'clock,
several Washington police came over
| to Annapolis in search of a man said
| to be a bomb thrower and an ire
sponsible person.
Again, it is said Surgeon and his
wife who reside in the Claude Flats
next to DR.. Claudes dental Office
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.
bustion, greasy rags, oil, etc., that
may have been there, but the real
origin of the FIRE still remains a mys.
terry, and probably always will.
Since the fire four days ago wher
excelsior saturated with kerosene
was found in Mr.. Strauss wagon that
was burned, and near the stable anC