The Washington times., 1911-11-17
SPECTACULAR FIRE
IN C|TYS CENTER
THREATENS BLOCK
Government Heaviest Loser
In Blaze Near District
Building.

Fire this morning swept the big brick
building on the northwest corner of
Fourteenth and d streets, recently pur-
chased by the Government in connec-
ton with condemnation proceedings Of
property south of the Avenue, and for
a time threatened the destruction OF
the adjoining building on Fourteenth
street, occupied by the Globe Printing
Company and the Andrew 3, Graham
Company.
Fire Marshal Nicholson estimates the
damage at between $4,000 and s5O,oLO.
although the eact loss cannot be de-
termined until the several tenants have
gone over their books.
A large quantity of hay stored on the
third foor of the building caused the
flames to shoot high in the air, making
the fire one of the most spectacular
that has occurred in several months.
The hay also made the blaze stub
born one, and 1t was not until water
had been poured into the big building
from more than a dozen pipe lines for
several hours that the flames finally
were checked. A dense, back smoke
hung over the business section of the
city for more than two hours, while
the fire attracted a crowd Of more than
10000 persons, according to the police
Fire Marshal Nicholson estimates the
damage to the building at $4,000 and
to the contents 5000, including the
damage done by water to the stock of
paper carried by the Globe Printing
Company. The building is owned by
the Government, and there was no in
surance on the building. The remainder
Of the loss is covered by insurance.
A lighted cigarette carelessly thrown
IN some hay in one Of the stalls on
the second floor is believed by the
At first it was thought the blaze origi-
mated from an overheated stove in the
living apartments on the second floor.
Deny Cigarette Smoking.
Four persons were sleeping in the
building last night. They were G. r.
Hollingsworth. jr., and the colored
stable men, Edward Thompson, Henry
Thor, and Marshall Moulter. They said
when they first saw the blaze it was
burning near the elevator shaft on the
second floor. They all asserted they
had not been smoking in the building,
tenants. DIR. G.. r. Hollingsworth, a
veterinarian, used portion of the first
floor as an office, with living apart.
his stable and hospita, in the building,
while on the second floor was stored
great quantity of hay and feed.
About forty horses We're in the stable
thought all the animals were taken out
but after the flames were extinguished
one horse was found in DR.. Hollings-
worths stable. The horse still was
alive, but died while the firemen were
carrying away the debris to get 1t out
In spite of the dense smoke two canary
birds were found alive in DR.. Hollings-
worths office.
e. X. Houser, who conducts the Will
lard storage, had about 100 wagons and
carriages in the building. Twenty-Five
of these were saved, while the others
were destroyed. N. Z. De La Vergne,
a harnessmaker. who occupies the
corner, had just opened his shop when
the fire was discovered. About one
third of his stock was saved.
Four Alarms Sounded.
The fire was discovered by members
Of No. 8 Truck Company, Ohio avenue
and Fourteenth street, who saw flames
shooting from the roof. An alarm WAS
sounded from the private box in the
truck house, while the firemen started
for the scene OF the blaze, a block ir
the street. The first alarm brought
Deputy Chief Sullivan. Realizing they
had bad fire to handle, two more
alarms were given, calling out eleven
engine companies, the water tower, and
all the other extra apparatus in the
downtown section.
In the meantime Chief Wagner was
on the way to the fire in his automo-
bile and as soon as he arrived he had
q fourth alarm sent in calling cut three
more engine companies.
The flames gained headway so rap
idly that the firep1en hardly had COM
menced fighting the blaze when the