Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-02-12
EFFECT OF BIG FIRE
Car Service Not Materially
Impaired, Officials Say.
fewer TRIPS TO BE, MADE
Loss by Burning Of w. 4. & E. Co.'S
Car Barn, $3.50, 900, Believed
Fully Insured.

The destruction by fire of the Washing
ton Railway and Electric Company's car
barn at 18th and D streets northeast
yesterday morning shortly after o'clock
officials of the company said today will
not materially interfere with the service.
although sixty-seven cars and a sweeper
were consumed by the flames. Fire Mar
shall Nicholson estimates the total dam
age at $4,000. $4,000 being to the
building and the remainder to the roll
ing stock.
The destroyed cars included twenty-four
of the old-style box cars, twenty of the
new style cars and twenty-three summer
cars. Fifty summer cars for use on the
Mount Pleasant line have already been
ordered, but they are not due to reach
here until about May 80.
Fewer Trips Necessitated.
1t was stated today that the loss of
the cars would mean only about ten
trips less on all the lines of the COM
pany. Their loss means that practically
all the rolling stock of winter cars will
have to be used and that a close sched
ule will have to be maintained. The
several insurance companies carrying the
insurance on the building and rolling
stock are adjusting the losses.
1t is thought that the loss is fully
covered by insurance. Officials of the
Capital Traction Company rendered as
sistance early yesterday morning, but Of
ficials Of the Washington Railway and
Electric Company thought they would be
able to get along with what stock they
have on hand.
Parts of the walls and a mass of twist
ed steel and iron left on the barn site
were viewed by thousands Of persons yes
terday. The fire marshal made a careful
examination of the ruins and conferred
with officials and employees of the COM
pany, and concluded that the fire prob
ably was caused by electric wires in car
1893, on which work was being done only
short time before the fire started.
Vain Efforts to Check Flames.
Grover Crown. foreman of the night
shift, discovered the fire and made an
unsuccessful effort to stay the flames.
He procured an extinguisher and hurried
to the burning car, but soon realized that
the fire department would have to be
summoned. After sending in an alarm
he returned to get the hose, but the
flames had spread so rapidly that he was
unable to reach it.
Several employees in the building started
to get out the rolling stock. They man.
aged to save only three cars, and one of
first companies OF the fire department to
reach the scene arrived it was evident
that the four companies there would be
unable to cope with the flames. Battalion
Chief Charles B. Proctor sounded a third
alorm. Later. while giving orders. the
battalion chief was struck on the leg by
falling debris and knocked down, sustain
ing a sprain Of his ankle.
Third Alarm Calls the Chief.
Chief Wagner responded to the third
alarm. His automobile collided on the
way with a similar vehicle. He was de-
layed only few seconds, however, and
soon was directing the work of the fire.
men. Because Of the cold weather the
work of fighting the fire was extremely
difficulty. Ice quickly formed and many
of the f1remen experienced falls, although
none of them was severely hurt. Several
residents Of the vicinity prepared hot
coffee for the relief of the firemen.
1t was but short time after the
firemen reached the building before the
roof fell and parts of the walls gave
away. The f1remen succeeded in keeping
the fire from the dynamo room and the
quarters of the motormen and conductors
The dynamo at that plant controls the
power on the Mount Pleasant, AnacOstia
and AZ street divisions Of the company's
lines.
Persons residing in the vicinity of the
were alarmed and many of them prepared
to get out of their homes at short notice
-0-