The Washington herald., 1918-08-27

SAOANoE anu dAAA
Armour's Big Fire.
The fire at Armour's garage was
the biggest blaze. Twenty-eight
horses. that were kept in the livery
stable of J. A. Jones at 4s7 C street
narrowly escaped being burned
Quick work on the part Of two
Camp Meigs soldiers. Joe Nicholettt
and his brother. James Nichoietti.
prevented the burning OF these
animals. Both men rushed in and
led them to safety. James was
walked on by one excited horse. but
he didn't let that bother him any.
The fire started under the hood or
a big Packard truck that was being
hacked into the garage by Chief
Mechanic A L Hummer. When the
truck was fairly I'm the garage,
Hummer smelled smoke and looked
under the hood. The blaze leaped
out and knocked him out complete
ly. He recovered a few minutes
later and attacked the blaze with
fire extinGuisher. His efforts were
futile, however. and the fire spread
to other trucks that were in the
garage.
90 SS5O.DOO Loss.
Hummer estimated that there were
at least six trucks in the garage
when it caught fire at ten minutes to
eight. These machines were valued
at approximately $4,000 and are a
total loss. AS soon as Hummer and
his companions discovered that they
could do nothing, they ran next door
TO where S. Kanns. Sons & Company
had twenty-eight trucks stored for
the night. They recovered all of the
machines and drove them safely into
the street.
The blaze leaped up from the ce-
ment ground floor OF the garage to
the second floor, where tons of food
stuffs. soaps. oils. meats and provi-
sions were stored. AN OF. these are
a<totaI loss. were valued at $50 600
The flames sprCld rapidly, although
Fire Chief wagner had arrived and
a half-dozen fire engines were pump
ing water as fast as they could.
In the garage where S. kann &
Sons machines were stored-the sec
ond foor-where thousand of dollars
worth of Christmas toys and tree
decorations were stored. caught fre
and were deluged with water.
Baking Co. Garage.
Then flames appeared on the west
side of the garage. where the Ha-
yener Baking Company kept its
horses. and to where J. A. Jones
kept his. Outside of smoke and
water. little damage was done to
these two places. The horses had
been removed.
Nearly I0.oOO persons were gathered
around Sixth ana c streets and John
Marshall place.
The street in 'front.' of the garage
looked like a small river. Fire engines
blew their whistles constantly for coal.
Police and provost guards had their
hands full in keeping the crowd back
from the fire.
The hreighters we're handicapped
because Congress had failed to pro-
vide them with powerful portable
searchlights. Several times the fiTo-
men were drenched by their own hose.
because their fellow firefigh;ers could
not see through the smoke and dark
ness to direct the streams of water
One fireman was nearly knocked off
his ladder when he caught the full
force of a stream OF water Luckily
a small hand 1ashlight was turned
on him IN time.
Stag Hotel.
The garage was still afre when two
alarms were sounded for the fire In
the Stag Hotel at Ninth and F
streets. This blaze started at the top of
the elevator shaft caused by a short
circuit. and did 5000 worth of
damage. The flames ate upwards
towards the roof.
The patrons of the Virginia Thea
ter. a moving picture show on the
ground floor OF the hotel. were sur
prised at hearing the engines outside
ana fIed quietly out The manager OF
the show. John ]. Noonan. by rare
good judgment. shut on the pictures
when he learned of the fire and OPEN
ed the doors Of the theateT. The audi
ence left quietly and good-naturedly.
The flames kept the 1remen busy
for half an hour. The Ninth street
car lines were blocked. Great crowds
eethered at Ninth and C streets and
at Ninth and F streets. Most of the
damage here was confined to the top
floor. very little of the water coming
downstairs The hotel was managed
by E. ]. Crawford. The hotel guests
got out safely.