Evening star., 1916-04-24
railway BUILDING
DAMAGED BY FIRE
Southern's Offices Wrecked by
Flames and Water.
Two Hurt.
FIVE HUNDRED CLERKS
MADE IDLE FOR A DAY
Total Loss Estimated at $1,000
$63, 900 for Structure and $56, 900
for Its Contents.

Twenty-Five companies Of the city
fire department last night combatted
a fire that damaged three floors of the
Southern Railway building at Penn
sylvania avenue and 18th street north
west. They succeeded in confnins the
nre to the three upper floors in the east
end of the building. but could not prevent
water damage throughout the big struc-
ture, which made it impossible for about
500 employees Of the company to take up
their duties this morning.
The overturning Of the water tower OF
the fire department and the injury OF
two fremen were the only casualties.
The tower was so badly smashed, it is
stated, that the department may be with
out the service of such an apparatus for
some time. Private J. c. Sydnor OF No.
is engine company was injured by fall
ing slate from the mansard roof, while
Engineer J. F. Rick of No. 3 engine COM
pany was scalded on the legs as re-
suit Of the blowing out Of the cylinder
head Of his engine.
Four Alarms Sent In.
1t was 1886 o'clock when an alarm
was sent in and one minute later an
alarm was received from the watchman
on duty in the building. who sent a fire
warning over the wires Of the Western
Union Telegraph Company. Three
other alarms followed and Chief Wag-
ner and his several assistants were on
N ta cha
directing the efforts of the fremen.
Police reserves from several pre-
cincts were on duty to keep back the
immense gathering of spectators, and
1t was fortunate thing for all con-
cerned that the crowd was at a safe
distance when the water tower toppled
over. A number of lremen were in the
danger zone. but their quick sprinting
took them out of harms way in time to
prevent being injured.
1t was about l o'clock when the tower
fell. Chief Wagner was directing the men
in charge Of the apparatus. and. he stated,
the stream was being poured through the
clock tower, just where he wanted 1t.
pling to one side. He shouted a warning
and the hremen who were in danger
quickly got out of the way.
Speaking Of the overturning OF the
water tower. Chief Wagner said he was
satisfied that the accident resulted from
the turning of the forward wheels of
the vehicle. The apparatus was placed
in position and did splendid work. and
who turned the forward wheels and
made 1t possible for the accident to
happen, he stated. he did not know.
Started in Vice Presidents Room.
The fire is believed to have started in
the room Of Vice President ]. NJ. Culp, At
the northeast corner Of the fourth floor.
Telegraph operators on the third floor
heard suspicious sounds in the building,
they stated, and il was such sounds,
coupled with the odor Of smoke. that at
tracted the attention of Watchman Craw-
ford. who was on duty at the front door.
Members of the fire department think
the noises were made by the dropping Of
plaster and cracking OF glass as a result
Of the intense heat. and they are Of the
opinion that the fire was burning some
little time before IT was discovered. When
firemen reached the building in response
to the first alarm they saw the advisa-
bility Of calling for additional assistance.
Firemen feared that the big brown
stone building would be ruined and
the new structure adjoining would be
damaged. and the only way to save
both buildings. they thought. was by
summoning more than one-half the
ire-fghting force of the department.
fourth floor to the roof. the top of
the seventh floor. and spread over a
large area east of the clock tower.
Many valuable papers OF the railway
were destroyed although. it is stated.
the most valuable records in the build
ing were stored in freproof vaults
and were not damaged.
Street Car Lines Held Up.
Trafic on the street car line was in
terrupted. and many persons found it
necessary to patronize other car lines,
walk or call taxicabs in order to reach
their homes before the early hours Of
the morning.
W. j. Madigan. employe of the Wash
ington Gas Light Company, who was
the alarm was sounded. reached the
building ahead of many Of the firemen,
gained access to the basement and cut
of the flow of gas in order TO prevent
during the progress Of the fire.
Chief Wagner ordered a supply of
coffee and sandwiches for his men, and
many Of the fremen accept11 an invi-
tatfon extended them by the proprietor
of a nearby lunchroom to partake of
what they wanted there. Early this
morning officials of the railway COM
pany proceeded to make arrangements
FOR temporary quarters for the em-
ployes, the telegraph force having been
II
f1ces before the firemen were with
drawn from the damaged building.
The delay will mean no more than a
holiday or a Sunday" said W. H. Tay-
loe. passenger traffic manager, who
stood in a group of employees in front
Of the burned building this morning.
And hardly that" he added, "for
many of the employees will be loca ted
this afternoon"
Damage Estimated at $4,000.
The damaged building formerly was
the home of the National Republican,
a morning newspaper printed in this
city many years ago. 1t was erected
by William ]. Murtaugh, owner of the
paper. and was the scene Of homicide,
Clarence Barton. editor. shooting A. NJ.
Soteldo. who. it was alleged. attacked
Barton because of the publication of a
story about him. Barton was exoner-
ated.
Fire Marshal Nicholson made an in
vestigation of the fire today He ex-
amined the building, conferred with Of
fcials of the railway company, and
estimated the damage to the building
at $63,000, and $56, 5000 to the contents,
total damage of $119,O00. He was
told that Vice President Culp left his
ONCE yesterday afternoon and started
for French Lick. Ind, and that his
office windows were closed about $50
o'clock last night. He was unable to