Evening star., 1912-11-03
MYSTERY IN FIRE
Third Floor of 18th Street
Building Wrecked.
PRINTING CONCERN LOSES
Total Damage Estimated at From
$4,000 to $4,000
BLAZE SOON UNDER CONTROL
Dense Smoke Drifts Into Nearby
Stores, Lunchrooms and Nov
ing Picture Theaters.
PRINTING CONCERN LOSES
BLAZE SOON UNDER CONTROL

Fire of unknown origin completely
wrecked the third floor of the building
at 42o-429 11th street northwest shortly
after o'clock last night and resulted
in an estimated damage of between $15,-
600 and $4,000 to the plants Of Barnhart
Bros. & Spindler and the National Capt.
age to the building will not exceed 1000.
it is estimated. Practically all of the
loss is covered by insurance.
How the fire started is a mystery. The
only occupants of the building were five
printers. who work on the second floor.
where the presses Of the National Capital
Press are located. On the third floor a
large quantity of paper was stored
Shortly after o'clock William Calvert,
one Of the printers. noticed smoke close
to the ceiling of the second floor near
the front of the building. He shouted
to his fellow-workers. Ernest Gibson,
Michael O'Leary. Albert Stevens and
Benjamin Ellis, and then rushed from the
building to the box at the northeast
corner of 11th street and Pennsylvania
avenue and sounded an alarm.
Engine Quickly on Scene.
NiOItiS DclOTc SdlVeTt Ndu sent the
alarm, however, Joseph Soracco, who
lives at 1904 E street northwest. had
discovered the building was afire and had
sounded an alarm from a box at the
corner Of 10th and streets. Within a
remarkably short space Of time engine
company No. IA, X lted at Sth street
near D. had reached the scene and taken
its position at a fire plug directly In front
Of the burning building.
Several streams of hose were soon
brought into play and, despite the infiam-
mabie nature of the contents of the third
moor OF the building, 1t was not long be-
Iore the names were under control. The
flre was confined to the third floor,
burning through the roof.
The fire was discovered at an hour
when pennsylvania avenue and other
downtown streets were thronsed with
gathered in 11th and E streets. At first
the crowd was SO great that the tiremen
were hampered In getting their appara-
tus into position. A few minutes after
the reserves of the first precinct had
reached the scene. however. the crowd
was held back
smoke Drives Out Customers.
The great volumes Of dense smoke that
rolled from the burning building swept
into nearby Establishments and banked
solidly up street to Sth, causing con-
siderable excitement in the stores and
other places Of business in that part OF
the city. Several stores, lunchrooms and
other places Of business were compelled
to .c.ose, the smoke being SO thick that
1t was impossible to wait on customers.
Several OF the moving picture theaters
on pennsylvania avenue between 9th and
10th streets became fl ed with the smoke,
which drifted in at the rear entrances
on D street, but so far as could be learn
ed little or no excitement was occasioned
among the patrons of the places.
Street cars on E street and those of
the l1th street line were tied up for some
time, until the Overheads We're placed in
position and the lines OF hose were car
ned high In the air, above the tracks.
OF time to permit late marketers and the
theater crowd to get home on time
{. II. Ridenour. member of the firm
operating under the name Of the National
a few minutes after the arrival of the
engines, was unable to discover how the
fire started. There were no lights on the
third floor of the building All of the
electrical wiring of the second and third
floors was inspected recently. and 1t is
not thought the flames could have been
started through any wiring defects
Print Many Publications.
The National Capital Press prints a
number Of weekly and monthly publica-
tions. among them being the Army and
Navy Register. United States Govern
ment Advertiser. r. F. D. News, Mill
tary Surgeon, Fleet Review, American
Forestry. Government Accountant. Arms
and the Man, and the Artillery Journal.
None of tn; publications was ION the
presses" at the tiE-e OF the fire. Mr.
Ridenour said that while the company's S
presses were water-soaked none OF them
had been broken and that within q few
days they will be ready for work again.
He believes the various publications can
be issued next week on scheduled time.
The damage to the lower floor OF the
building. which Is occupied by Barnhart
Bros. & Spindler. lessees OF the build
ing. cannot be definitely estimated
until a careful examination of the stock
is made. This firm carries an extensive
stock of printers supplies. which in
cludes large quantity of type. Mem
bers Of the firm placed the damage last
t,n;er ba$u