Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-01-13
|IE FOR CANAL FAIR DAMAGED BY HRE|CLEMENTS NAMED
aims Pension Agency interstate Commerce Commits
sented to Committee Placed $6000 Selects Chairman
,GED FOR TRADE BODIES ESUCCEEDS KNAPP
q the eCaitlTh Endangered Today Democrat
Combat to sumo Shortly
in in
Newo
Loss in u S. Pension Agency
Placed at $4,000.
AN EARLY MORNING BLAZE
Valuable Ledgers and Other Records
Endangered.
BUT THE RESULT NOT SERIOUS
Office to Resume Business Shortly.
No Material Delay in PEN
sion Payments.

Fire swept two rooms of the United
States pension agency Office in the pen
sion bureau building this morning, de-
stroying a large number Of desks and
other Office furniture, as we'll as much
stationery No records were burned, how
ever. and United States pensioners re-
siding in the District will receive their
money March 4, the next pension day, as
usual.
The fire had been burning for a con-
siderable time before 1t was discovered.
1t started in a large pile Of envelopes in
the room where the pensions are mailed
A rough estimate Of the loss is placed at
about $4,000 to building and contents.
This agency pays pensioners in the
states of West Virginia, Virginia, Dis
trict Of Columbia, Maryland and Della
ware.
Capt. John R. King, pension agent. was
at the Office early this morning to ascer-
tain just what damage. II any, had been
sustained by the records.
The last pension payment was begun
December and has been to large ex-
tent satisfied. At this time the ofiice
pays claims only Mondays, Wednesdays
and Fridays, and 1t was explained that,
though the payments have been stopped
temporarily by the fire. the delay will be
only until next Monday. when the re-
sumption will be in full force and effect.
This news will come as q. pleasing as
surance to the large list Of pensioners in
the District, who, when they heard the
first news Of the fire, were of tho opin-
ion that valuable records had been de-
stroyed and that their payments might
be delayed indefinitely.
Watchman Discovers Smoke.
The blaze was discovered shortly after
4 o'clock this morning. when watch
man making his rounds discovered that
smoke was issuing from the two western
rooms of the agency oflces. He sounded
an alarm from box located inside the
pension building, and engine companies
g., y and IA and truck company re-
sponded. Upon their arrival tho highly
vanished. fling cases and book racks OF
Streams Of water were turned on at
once. and in q short time the fire was
subdued. -
The prompt action oe the department
saved the clerks Of the agency q great
amount Of work, It 10 conceded, % the
on the outside. All OF the index cards
have a metal rim about them and. this
formed great resistance To- the ,nem61
and heat, largely protesting the cards
thousands Of envelopes with the frank Of
the ONCE upon them. Tho IRE burned
furiously among thesS and today the
omces are .strewn with half-burned en-
velopes. Thousands Of them were water
soaked Also
Located on Ground Floor.
The on1ces OF the pension agency are
located in the southeast corner OF the
ground floor Of the pension building
Capt. King occupied the ONCE at the
southeast corner, and there are three
large rooms running to the westward
from his ofiice. The first. which is oc-
touched by the fire. the blaze being con-
fined practically to the two rooms Inn
mediately adjoining.
Many Of the clerks Of the agency had
not heard Of the blaze and reported at
the office as usual for the work of the
day; but. with large portion OF the
office In ruins. they were temporarily dis
missed from duty and many went to their
homes A number of the clerks whose
desks were located in the burned Offices
worked the great part Of the morning in
pulling out burned file cases.
Much anxiety was expressed by many
OF the clerks when they first beheld the
effects Of the blaze regarding the fate Of
the big ledgers on the racks. but apon
examination these records were found
to be unharmed. These big books are
still lying on the shelves. with their bind
ing charred and the leaves a bit water
instances the plentiful supply of wafer
which the firemen threw over the burning
file cases caused the ink to run in places,
but these instances are few and far De .
tween.
Origin Of Fire Not Known.
The cause of the IRE is unknown.
t. To- 4
being conveyed up r street in large
Office building at 7th and F streets.
This plant has been one OF the special
hobbies OF Chief Clerk Ucker Of the In
terror Department, and the service from
the very beginning. 1t is claimed. has been
highly satisfactory. 1t II hardly believed
that the arrangement Of the conductor
tubes could have caused the blaze.
The fact that when the firemen reach
ed the oflces they were q mass Of flames
will probably prevent discovery Of the
fire cause. The walls OF the building. ex-
terror as well as interior. are Of brick
| and of great thickness. and the portals
| leading into the other oflces In the build
| ing are arched. The walls and ceilings
soon as the water was thrown on 1t crack
ed and fell in large heaps about the
floors.
This. together with the mass Of en-
1 VelOpeB 8nO Otnof 8t3uOO0fy thrown about
the floors. made piles of debris, which the
clerks and others In the Offices today had
| to climb over In making investigations OF
the damage sustained.
The Interior Department has much Of
| fee furniture which IL not in use at the
present time. and with great rapidity the
agency offices will be cleared Of the
debris. and the surplus furniture moved
in to supply that destroyed. New bind
ings for the ledgers and other records
were ordered early today. and It Is ex-
pected the office will be In good shape
within a few days.
Blaze In Dwelling.
Fire destroyed about three hundred dol
lars worth Of bedroom furniture, drap
cries and clothing shortly after IL o'clocl
/ this morning In the fourth story OF tn.
home of Mrs. Annie Yudelevit at 5l5 6tl
street. Engine company No. II wal
i called by telephone and extinguished tha
blaze after q short but stubborn nght
i For q time the flames threaten4d 4
spread through the entire upper part o
the building. The origin OF the fire 10 be
| lieved to have been from spontaneou
combustion In . newly made feather bed
The damage to the building ID slight ant
confined to the flooring and other wood
work. The house IL owned by II. C. Nor
ton of HOO 9Th street. Loss to the build
ing and contents is partially covered b!
insurance.
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