Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1916-08-26
Loss Between $4,000 and
$4,000, and Many Per-
sons Are Homeless.
PRISONERS FIGHT FLAMES;
ALEXANDRIA SENDS AID
Church, Bank Building, Man"factur-
ing Plant, Stores and Resi-
dences Destroyed.

OCCOQUAN, Va. August 26.-Be-
tween forty and fifty residents of oc-
coquan last night slept in the homes
of friends or In the Odd Fellows Hall
here as the result of disastrous fire
which swept away their homes and
other property in the afternoon. The
loss is between $4,000 and $4,000.
The fire originated about 2:30 O'Clock
from an unknown cause in the rear
part of the home of Mrs. J. Hood
Weldon on Mills street. the principal
thoroughfare Of this little town. By
the time the flames were discovered by
Mrs. Weldon. who had gone to the
front porch Of her home few minutes
before, they had gained considerable
Roadway. The cries of Mrs. Weldon
were heard by neighbors and soon an
alarm was sounding throughout the
village calling for help. A bucket bril-
gade was formed. Water was taken
from nearby wells and also from Deco
guam creek, on which the town lies,
The fre-fghters, however, were unable
to do much good against the flames.
which were famed by strong wind.
Although Mrs. Weedon's home. former
| ly the Alton Hotel. was built of brick,
1T was soon mass Of ruins
| Bank Building Burned.
| With the outbreak of the fire James
| Barbee, cashier of the Bank Of Deco
guam, which adjoined the hotel, placed
| all of the money and papers in the
| large vault, and then went to join the
fire fighters in their efforts to keep the
| fire from spreading to the bank build
| ing. Their efforts, however, were with
| out avail. as the roof of the building
was soon a mass of flames. and in
few minutes the interior of the insti-
| ton was wiped out. 1t was said the
| money and papers in the vault were
| believed to be safe
| The fire spread northward. and soon
the general merchandise store and
| dwelling of w. S. Lynn went up in
| smoke. About the time this building
caught fire Ralph Whitaker. son of
w. H. Whitaker, superintendent OF the
District workhouse. across the creek,
heard of the fire and dispatched the
chemical engine stationed at the insti-
| tuition to the scene. For a time the
volunteer fremen used the chemicals
to advantage. but the wind shifted
the flames toward the rear. and soon
the dwellings and the Occoquan NJ E.
Church South were on fire.
Prisoners Render Aid.
| In connection with the sending of
the fire apparatus to Occoquan. Mr..
Whitaker, with several guards. took
seventy-fve prisoners from the work
house to the scene, and they worked
diligently in carrying furniture, cloth
ing and other property from threat
ened buildings. They also formed
bucket brigades.
1 After the flames had destroyed the
LYNN store and residence they burned
through the residence. of Oliver Under
wood and then jumped across an alley
way and destroyed the home of Wade
H. Hammill.
| calls for help were telephoned to
nearby towns, and an effort was made
to reach Alexandria by telephone to
ask that fire apparatus be sent. Com
munication, however. could not be had
| with that place. and a telephone mes
sage was sent to the Washington Star
asking that the fire department of
Alexandria be notified. 1t was on the
message sent from The Star that the
big motor fire engine of that town was
dispatched to the scene. The run of
fifteen miles over a road which Is bad
in spots was made in forty-three min
utes.
When the fire apparatus. in charge of
Capt Henry Beach. pulled into the
town. he said later, 1t looked as II the
entire place would soon go up In
flames. The motor engine was backed
up to OccoGuan creek and residents as
| sisted the fremen in carrying the hose
several hundred yards and soon water
was being thown. but not before the
| Hre had jumped across the-Street anu
destroyed the plant of stfe Valdez
Manufacturing Company. dwelling
occupied by walter Neal and the ice
house of DIR. Frank Hornbaker.
Aided by Shifting Wind.
1t was but short time later that the
fireInen succeeded in checking the fire r
. it's northward spread. The wind. which
had shifted also aided the firemen, a..
the flames were kept away from a mum
Der of large buildings.
Telephone wires and brick walls Of som.
Of the buildings began to fall while The
hremen were working nearby and for 9
time menaced them. When It was seer
that there was but little chance Of saving
| the church and property on Commerce
street articles of furniture were removed
to places of safety.
| II was not until the church and severa
residences on Commerce street had beer
burned down that the fire was actual,
evening before the danger Of the flames
spreading was passed. The fremen ant
residents. as bucket brigades. worked lonJ
into the night putting out the smolderinl
flames in the burned buildings
No one was injured during the fire, al
though. after the flames had wiped OH
the places Mills street, several ven
turous ones had narrow escapes from fall
ing walls. As soon as 1t was seen tina
the IRE was under control preparation
were being made by the more fortunat
had been DESTROYED. The Odd Fellows
L Hall vaa thropvn oman and navAral fnusf