Evening star., 1911-08-24
ARSON THE CHARGE
Man Arrested After Knox Ex-
press Company Blaze.
HAD JUST LOST POSITION
Said to Have Been Leaving Stable
as Fire Breaks Out.
DEPARTMENT HAS HARD FIGHT
Flames Spread ouickly-Stream of
Water From Hose Knocks
Down Spectator.

SHdfseQ with arson winch resulted jill
between 5000 and 10000 damage, Jesse
I. Frazer. thirty years of age. who gave
his address as Lynchs Station. Va. was
arrested today by Detective Armstrong
and Policeman Lynch Of the sixth pre-
cinct.
Frazer Is charged with setting fire to
the stable Of the George w. Knox Ex-
press Company. located in an alley be-
tween I'd. Sd. B and c streets northwest,
early last evening. He will be given q
hearing in the Police Court tomorrow
morning.
During the progress of the fire last
evening the police and Fire Marshal
Nicholson were busily engaged In en-
deavoring to solve the origin OF the fire.
They worked throughout the night. they
say, on several clues. At first. however.
1t was thought spontaneous combustion
had been the cause of the fire.
The police, however. declare they later
received information that Frazer was
seen going into the stable a short time
before the fire was discovered. and that
he was observed running from the place
about the time the smoke was first
noticed coming from one of the windows.
The police also learned that Frazer, who
had been employed as a stablehand at
the place for the last three or four
weeks, was discharged yesterday after
noon about o'clock, and received his
pay about 3 o'clock.
When the police received this informa-
tion they started out to look for Fraser.
1t was not until $50 o'clock this morning,
however, that the detective and policeman
found him walking along Pennsylvania
avenue between I'd and AZ streets. He
was arrested and taken to the station
house. The police say Fraser denies that
he set fire to the place. He is said. how
ever, to have admitted he was in the
place, but that he went there to collect
some money which three of the employees
owed him.
Finds Hay Burning.
1t was shortly after O'Clock, when
the day and night shifts Of employees of
the stable were changing, that the fire
was discovered. An assistant foreman
had just stepped outside of the Office
when he saw smoke emerging from one
Of the windows on the second floor of the
stable. Running upstairs. he discov-
cred that a quantity of hay was burn
ing.
Running to the corner Of Sd street and
avenue northwest he
sounded an alarm from box 13. Chief
and Battalion Chief Proctor were
Early on the scene, as were engine COM
,anies IA, 3. and 8. with the water
ower and truck companies 1 and B.
D., xho +;rr~ tha u,otchnop bod rot,,rDod
o the stable flames were shooting from
Ill of the windows.
1t was quickly realized by Battalion
chief Proctor that the firemen would
rave hard work checking the flames and
ne ordered second alarm sounded. This
brought out engine companies 16. 2. 13 and
;, with truck companies 10 and 4. With
he flames fast gaining headway Chief
ordered a third alarm a short
time later and Nos. 1, 1S and II engine
sponded.
The police reserves of the sixth pre-
cinct arrived on the first alarm, and
Capt. Byrnes. with several of his men
began rescuing the 200 horses in the
stable. After the horses were gotten
out the large trucks were removed from
the lower floor.
Hit on Head by Box.
William Ellsworth of Sd and D streets
who was assisting in the res
cue work, was struck on the head by a
box which fell from a truck His head
was badly cut. He was treated at a
nearby drug store. While the firemen
were fighting the flames a stream Of
water was accidentally turned toward a
crowd Of spectators. The full force of
the water struck George Simms of Ben
ming, D. c., In the face. He was knocked
to the ground. Before he could rise a
number Of persons who were running to
get out Of the way Of the water tram
pied upon him. The police succeeded in
getting him to his feet. He was treated
at Casualty Hospital.
While several companies fought the
flames on the inside Of the building,
others were stationed at vantage points
on the outside, and thousands of gallons
of water were thrown into the flames.
A number of firemen climbed to the roof
of the United States College Of Veteri-
nary Surgeons, from where they fought
the flames with advantage.
AS the floors OF the stable are Of con-
crete, the fire was unable to penetrate
them. and the flames were confined to
the second and third floors. After nearly
two hours of hard fighting on the part
of the f1remen Chief Wagner announced
that the fire was under control.
The fire last evening was within q few
weeks Of the eighteenth anniversary of
the catastrophe In which three men and
100 horses were burned to death at the
Knox stables and which resulted In
thousands Of dollars damage.