Evening star., 1911-01-14
ALEXANDR|AAFFA|RS.
Four Houses on North CoIum-
bus Street Damaged by Fire.
THREATENS WHOLE ROW
Tenants Driven to Streets With
Household Goods-Hit by
Sledgehammer.
speeia, Correspondence Of The Star.

Special Correspondence OF The. Star.
ALEXANDRIA. Va. January Il. 1911.
An entire row of eleven two-story frame
tenement houses situated on the west
side of Columbus street between Wythe
and Madison streets, numbers from 100 to
go North Columbus street, had a marrow
escape from being wiped out completely
by fire shortly before o'clock this morn
ing. At it was. however, only four were
seriously damaged. and they are known
as ia to 40, on the north end of the row.
The houses known as 71S and TO North
Columbus street were the most seriously
damaged by the fire, while the damage
done to 116 and IA was due principally
to water. although the back buildings
were badly burned. The tenants quickly
moved their effects to the street and the
commons opposite.
Started in a Closet.
The fire started in closet on the second
floor of the home of Charles Dilger, 40
North Columbus street. Mrs. Dilger was
alone in the house at the time. The clos
ct was filled with clothes and other ar
ticles. She was attracted by smoke when
flames suddenly shot upward to the roof.
An alarm was turned in and the entire
fire department responded. 1t is believed
that mice playing with matches caused
the. fire.
When the firemen arrived smoke was is
suing from all of the houses leading to
the corner. Five streams were played on
the first four houses known as ia. 1l6,
71S and 10, with the result that the fire
men succeeded in keeping the flames con-
Av,e1 70 fr,rv
to buildings will not, it Is thought. ex-
ceed $1,000, covered by insurance.
/ The houses were occupied by the fol-
lowing: No. 100. Charles Dilger; us.
Charles Finnegan; 716, Howard Harrison; !;
714,. Edward. Corbin:s 712.. Joseph Vein
CART: TO. Winter Crupper; 7Os Thomas
Warnock; 7O6. Theodore Muller; iO4, S. J.
Petit; 7O2 Mrs. Blanche Mullen, and 100,
George Whitton. store and dwelling.
The loss to the personal effects OF
Charles .Dilger and Charles Finnegan is
covered by insurance. Several other ten
ants also carried insurance. Some OF
their effects were damaged and, some lost
during the excitement, but their loss is
slight. .- ;;
Sleeping Child Escapes.
"A little son. of Theodore Muller was
asleep when the fire started and was
aroused by smoke in his room. He quick
ly dressed and made his exit. A cat IN
the house occupied by Charles Finnegan
was suffocated.
George H. Kidd, eighteen years old, en-
ployed as a bOilermaker's helper. was IN
jured this morning while at work by being
struck in the abdomen by sieage nam
mer, which was being welded by a fell
low-employe. The injured man was taken
to the Alexandria Hospital, where his in
juries were dressed by DR.. w. M. Smith.
In the circuit court for this city this
morning in the case OF r. r: Mar0uTy i
way Building and Loan Association a de-
cree was given authorizing the taking OF
testimony in vacation.
In the same court in the case of Mary
Coward, a decree was entered authorizing
Robert H. Coward to take necessary steps
to employ counsel.
J. T. Pettis, a police detective of Nor.
folk, Va, came here today and this even
ing will take Annie Green. colored, back
to that city to face charge OF the lar
ceny of clothing valued at $50.
The alleged theft occurred some time
ago.
Examining Associations Books.
The work of going over the affairs of
the, Mercantile Railway Building and
Loan Association. which association was
Thursday afternoon placed in the hands
of receivers. is still in progress by the
receivers. There is nothing new to report
in this matter.
The receivers for the Virginia Safe De-
post and Trust Corporation are also still
engaged in their work.
Depositors are anxiously awaiting the
reports from the receivers Of both in
stitutions.
Oh1cers of the Alexandria Building and
Loan Association held a meeting yester-
day afternoon at the Office Of J. Randall
Cation, jr. secretary, at which time an
nouncement was made that one-third of
the capital stock of the concern had been
subscribed for. 1t is expected that the
residue will be subscribed for within the
next few weeks. A contract for the print
ing of the books of the concern has been
awarded.
Fire Company Elects officers.
At the annual meeting OF the Relief
Hook and Ladder Fire Company. held
last night, these officers we're elected TO
yer, president: F. C. Spinks, first vice
president; c. r. Yates, second vice presi-
dent; r. M. Latham. captain: A. c. Hull
ings, first lieutenant; Charles Clarkson,
second lieutenant; ]. T. Waddy. secre-
tary; William Cleveland, recorder; e.
,Steuart Smith, treasurer.
The Bar Association of the sixteenth
judicial circuit, composed Of lawyers from
here and the adjacent counties. are hold
in a banquet this afternoon at the Hotel
Rammel. The affair is being attended by
large gathering During the afternoon
officers will also be chosen. A business
meeting was held at the Office of Col. +.
L. Smith.
Frank Michelbach reports to the police
that his stable in Friendship alley was en-
tered last night and a valuable set Of
harness stolen. The thieves entered by
means of the loft window, which. it is
said, was open.
The euchre and dance given last evening
at the Young Mems Sodality Lyceum
Hall, under the auspices of the alumnae
of ST. Mary's Academy. was large at
tended Many prizes were awarded the
successful contestants. Dancing was
afterward indulged In.
Memorial Lodge Banquet.
George Washington Memorial Lodge of
Perfection. No. T. Scottish Rite Masons.
held a business meeting last evening at
the Masonic Temple. which was followed
by a banquet. The affair was largely at