The Washington times., 1912-02-20
MILL IS DESTROYED
AND WATER FRONT
!. MENACED BY FIRE
Damage to Cissel Plant in
Georgetown Between $780,
/ 600 and 100000.

WV ~NAANA v
The -four mill Of the George w. Cis-
sci Company, n f1ve-story brick build |
ing at tho Southeast corner of Potomac |
and X streets, was destroyed carly to-
day by fire, which for time threaten
ed to sweep the entire Georgetown
water front. The loss. was between
$4,000 and 100000, fully covered by in
surance.
That the big plant Of The Distri t of
Columbia Paper Manufacturing Com
pabY, on the opposite corner, was not
destroyed. was probably due to the eff
ficiency Of q modern fire protection
system installed on every floor of the
building The two buildings are sep
arated by Potomac street, narrow
thoroughfare, across which the flames
were rapidly spreading when the fire.
men arrived on the first alarm.
Spread Prevented.
On every floor as we'll as on the roof
. Of the paper mill-are large stand pipes
or MIGRANTS connected with a powerful
pumping system in the basement. In a
few minutes the system was put in
operation, and while the regular fire en-
gines experienced some difficulty AMI
of the steep. grades, and the round
about route necessary to cross the
Chesapeake and OHIO canal, dozen
streams from the windows and roof of
the paper mill were soon playing on the
burning building. In this manner the
fire was presented from spreading east
i ward.
The blaze was discovered about 2:j
by Robert Golden, an employe of tho
paper mill. Rushing from the building
he ran to Thirty-five and X streets and
sounded an alarm. The fire, which
started on the fourth floor, gained
hcadway rapidly. The blaze was
, spectacular, as we'll as a most stub
! born, one to fight, because of the large
quantity of grain stored in the estab-
! liShment.
Crowd Attracted.
The fire attracted a large crowd and
the police reserves of several precincts
were called out to keep the people back
Three engine companies and the fire
boat FircfightCr, responded to the frs.
alarm. When the first engine company
arrived. it was seen that more Compa-
MES would be needed to handle the
fire, and two more alarms were sound
ed, bringing Deputy Chief Sullivan,
while a few minutes later, Chief Wdg-
ner arrived in his automobile.
In spite OF the ice in tie river the
hrcboat made 4 fast run, and two pipe
lines were set TO work throwing water
on the * street side of tho building.
IThe building was literally Quilted from
the first to the fifth floor The walls
did not fall, but it Is probable they will
have to be torn down before the build
ing can be rebuilt.
Company to Rebuild
II was net until 8 o'clock. after the
firemen had been working six hours,
that the fire was cXtinguishcd. The fire
started on the southeast corner Of tn"
fourth floor, and is tC)ieNeG to have
been caused Nv heat resulting from
friction of the steel shafting setting
fire to the woodwork.
Thomas d. Harden. secretary Of the
company. said that he estimated the
damage between $4,000 and 100000. Of
this amount $l%0O) was TO stock on hand,
while the remainder was to the buiding
and machinery, which was ruined.
I'VE shall rebuild Immediately" said
Mr.. Harden. TT will take us a few
days, of course, to get things straight
ened out, but just as soon as possible
we shall tear down the old walls and
start putting w new mill. In the
meantime VIC have made arrangements
SO that there will be no interruption to
our business"
Between 10000 and $4,000 bushels of
wheat received during the last few
days were stored in the mill. Fire
Marshal Nicholson is making an in
vestigation with u view of determining
the exact amount of the damage.
While the fire was still burning i'll the
mill a small blaze was discovered in
the home of Seward S. Cisscl, a. mem
Der of the firm, living at 1916 Thirty
l. NlI FFC
caused by an ovcrheated fue. No. 81
engine company responded to a local
alarm, and cNtinguished the blaze be-
fore any damage was done to the house.