The Washington herald., 1912-02-12
CAR BARN Loss
PUT At s250,000
Offcialssay Costly Blaze Will
Not Interrupt Mount
Pleasant Service.
BATTALION CHEF HURT

Fire which early yesterday morning
wrecked the car barn Of the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company, at
Thirteenth and d streets northeast, and
destroyed sixty-seven cars Of the sum
mer and winter types, viii not cause
any noticeable difference in the service
On the Mount Pleasant line.
Fire Marshal Nicholson and the Off
rials Of the company estimate the loss
at S25OOOO The rolling stock was valued
at 5000 900, while the damage TO the build
Ing will reach $4,000 The fire originated
IN car No. S35, and is supposed TO have
been caused by a short circuit in heat
er. The flames spread to adjoining cars,
Bnd in a short time the structure was a
mass OF flames. ,Twenty-four box cars
Of the old style, twenty-three of the sum
mer type. twenty Of the new double
truck variety. and one sweeper were
burned beyond repair.
PrOctor's Leg Hurt.
Caught under q portion OF the south
W1Il OF the building, as II was falling.
Battalion Chief Charles b. Proctor, OF
the fire department, suffered a broken
ankle. He was taken TO his quarters,
No. / Truck house, and later removed
10 his home where he is reported as rest
ing comfortably. His leg will be in
cased in plaster cast this morning by
Police Surgeon Barry
Suffering among the. firemen extended
20 every member of the force, due to the
cold weather. AS soon as the water
left the hose it froze, making headway
In checking the fire difficult.
Last night William F. Ham, vice presi-
dent Of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company, stated that car serv-
fee on the Mount Pleasant line would not
be interrupted as a result Of the loss
Of the cars Substitutes have been bor-
rowed from other barns, but while the
loss of those by fire may not cause any
break in the schedule at present not
much margin is allowed for the upkeep
OF the entire system. as practically every
available piece of rolling stock which can
be pressed into service in the winter time
win be in the streets until new equip
ment arrives.
Flames were discovered at 3:l9 o'clock
by Grover Crown. in charge Of the barns.
He pulled Box 1863. on the premises.
Three engine companies, one truck, and
Battalion Chief Proctor responded. Six
minutes after the sounding of the alarm
Chief Proctor ordered a third alarm,
which brought six additional engine com
panies. three trucks. and Chief Wagner
and Deputy ChleI henneF-
Was on the Job.
When the fremen arrived in response
to the first alarm. Battalion Chief Proctor
dispatched his aid to Box 651. at Twelfth
and d streets, and communicated to
headousrters the call for help the fire
alarm box in the car barns being burned.
II was due 10 this grasp Of the situation
that further damage was not done as
had the call for assistance been delayed
several frame houses. in addition TO two
which were destroyed, undoubtedly would
have been consumed.
Oil used on the car trucks and in clean
ing the equipment aided in the spread OF
the fire. which had not spent itself until
after o'clock. Car No. S33, in which
the fire originated. was in the west front
of the building, where cars of the Mount
Pleasant line are housed at night.
Spreading rapidly to the main portion OF
The building, AL hope OF saving the struc
ture was abandoned. When time for the
cars to start arrived, debris outside the
building from the walls was removed
from the tracks. and after the hose had
been elevated by bridges, cars which had
been sent from other barns were enabled
10 make the turn at the loop at Thir-
teenth and d streets.
Two frame houses, adjoining the barns
on the east, were consumed. but no
niEht-robed Inhabitants were inconvSn-
fenced, as the houses were unoccupied.
Those who suffered most were the fire.
men, who. TO a man. were ice-clad and
shiveTing from the intense cold. Resi-
dents Of the neighborhoOd came TO their
rescue and provided sandwiches and cof-
fee. The coffee fund of the department
was also called upon by Chief Wagner.
Break Ont Afresh.
Although under control at 6 O'Clock
companies remained on the scene until
after l o'clock, when No. 10 engine COM
pany-first to arrive and last to leave
returned to its quarters. Sparks smoul-
dering in the ruins caused some excite
ment later in the evening and No. 10
engine was sent to the fire at 7:S3 o'clock,
remaining for about two hours. What
remained Of several OF the cars in the
northwest section OF the building had be-
Rome ignited, but no further damage was
done.
While responding to the alarm, Chief
Wsgner's automobile colIided with a
taxicab driven by william Deschaud,
who sustained minor injuries.
The Washington Railway and Electric
Company has ordered fifty cars of the
new transverse seat type for spring de-
livery, which will be available to replace
the summer cars destroyed. II is not
expected that any rush order will be
placed for cars for delivery as soon as
completed
In all buildings in Cologne except