The Washington herald., 1915-04-22
ARREST FOLLOWS
$4,000 BLAZE
Negro Suspected Of Starting
Big Fire in Avenue
Building.
THIRD LOSS In 7 MONTHS
Half of District Force Engaged Four
Hours in Battle with Flames
in Adams Store.
THIRD LOSS In 7 MONTHS

Investigation by fire officials and de-
tectives of the fire which gutted the
wholesale crockery and glassware
house of r. Il. Adams Company. 614-
sI6 Pennsylvania avenue northwest
yesterday, resulted in the arrest of a
negro laborer employed in the store
on suspicion that he knows a lot
about the mysterious spark which de-
veloped into $4,000 blaze before 1t
was conquered by firemen.
The negro spent last night in a cell
at the Sixth precinct station, while
a score of detectives sought additional
facts. The prisoner is Clifton Roberts.
"A years old, who says he lives at 2246
Cleveland avenue northwest. He is be-
ing held on the technical accusation
Of Investigation" There is little
doubt that the fire was of incendiary
origin.
The fire was the third in the Adams
Building in the last seven months. The
origin of none of the :. fires has been
learned The first fire, in September,
started between noon and l o'clock, ana
caused S22 go damage. The second fire
was in February, and started between
and o'clock in the afternoon The dam
age was $4,000. The fire yesterday start
ed about o'clock. The damage is estl-
mated between s45, 900 and $4,000. Stock
is covered by insurance of 50 per cent OF
its value. The company is said to carry
$4,000 insurance now.
Started on Second Floor.
Fire Marshall Nicholson said the fire
yesterday started on the topmost of sew
eral shelves on the second floor on the
west side of the building and opposite an
elevator shaft.
Mr.. Davis, secretary Of the company,
said: "There We're brooms stored in there
Just about where the fire started No one
was at work on that second floor, but
employees were passing through the second
floor going up from the first floor to the
third and fourth floors and coming down
That was how it was discovered. A ship
ping clerk was going up when he saw a
cloud of smoke and yelled fire.!
Half of the fire-fighting apparatus in
the District was at the scene. Three
alarms summoned eleven engines and as
many hose wagons. five trucks. the water
tower. Fire Chief Wagner, and all other
fire officials except those off duty.
The firemen had the toughest fight OF
many months The four floors of the
building were separated by wooden par
titions which shut off hose streams.
Every stream that Chief Wagner tried
TO get on the heart of the iameS eating
up through the center of the building
struck a wooden partition. Finally. fire.
men climbed to the roof of the National
casket Company, at 6l2 Pennsylvania
avenue adjoining the Adams Building on
the east and made two holes in the east
wall of the Adams Building, pounding
through the bricks with batterng rams.
Through these holes streams were shot
into the fourth floor. Two holes also
were made in the roof. and streams sent
thruugh these holes did effective work.
Six streams were sent through win
dows in the rear of the building, fac
ing on + street. Through the windows
facing on Pennsylvania avenue the big
stream from the water tower was di- i
rccted with four ordinary hose streams
Th" last spark was not eNtinguished
until four hours after the fire started. |
List of Damages.
Fire Marshal Nicholson made pre-
liminary estimate of damage. The |
Adams stock was DANCED between
s25 5000 and $4,000. Damage to the |
Adams Building is placed between /
s. 900 and $4,000. Water damaged the |
stock of the National Casket Company |
q bout $1,000 and the building was
damaged about $20O. Despite a twenty |
four inch fire wall, smoke seeped |
through into the building of the Man |
haitian Coffee Mills. Incorporated. at |
6lS Pennsylvania avenue. adjoining the !
Adams Building on the west.
Damage to the coffee stock is estimated |
at 5000 The buildings damage is put |
at $500 Smoke also entered the beef and |
lamb wholesale store of the T. T. keane |
Company. Inc. at Gig b street. This |
building is in the rear of the coffee build |