Evening star., 1918-08-27
MENAC|NG FIRES
HARD TO PUT OUT
Much Damage Done at Ga
rage, 483 C Street, and
at Stag Hotel.
TWO ALARMS FOR BOTH

hau 10 contend Win loT IIlOntlS pIOhc
out almost simultaneously. calling out
virtually every piece of fire-fghting
apparatus. So menacing were the
flames at times that fire engines and
trucks were transferred from one fire
10 the other in an effort to keep
the flames under control
Damage estimated at 100000 re-
suited in the largest FIRE, which broke
out shortly after . o'clock in the ga
rage of the Armour & Company, 4S5
street. and for a time threatened
nearby warehouses and livery sta
hles. a tire in the Stag Hotel. sos
9th street, which started several min
utes later. resulted in a loss estimated
at $1,000
Two Soldiers Rescue Horses.
Several thousand persons watched
the daring rescue by two Camp Meigs
soldiers of twenty-eight horses that
were partially overcome by smoke in
the livery stable of j. A. Jones at 4Sf
g street James Nicholetti and his
death of these animals. James was
trampled on by one horse, but not IN
jured.
The fire, which started under hood
OF Dig PACKARD auIOlnODlle lIuCh
which was being backed into the ga
rage, soon spread from the ground
floor TO the third floor OF the brick
building. where other trucks and
groceries were stored The build
ing was enveloped in a mass OF
flames when engines which responded
TO the first alarm arrived.
So threatening were the flames that
Fire Chief Wagner turned in sec
ond alarm upon his arrival. The
flames OeSDerate-
ly, but il was more than a half an
hour before they were under control
The flames We're confined to the
three-story building. Contents of
rage occupied by S. kann Sons Co.
as a warehouse were damaged ex-
tensively by water and smoke.
Six large trucks in the garage at tha
time of the fire were totally destroyed.
Tons of foodstuffs. soaps, oils. meats
and provisions in the upper floors Of the
building were damaged by fire and wa
ter
Twenty-eight trucks in the adjoining
building. the property of S. kann Sons
Co. were removed to safety before the
flames reached the building. The ma
chimes which were destroyed were
valued at approximately $4,000.
Christmas Toys Lost.
On the second floor of 4s1 street.
used by S. kann Sons Co. as a ware
house, were stored hundreds of dollars
worth OF rugs Christmas toys and tree
decorations. They were practically de-
luged by water and are a total loss.
The fire marshal estimated today that
the loss TO Armour & Co. was 100000
TO stock and $1,000 to the building. The
loss to S. Kann Sons & Co. was put at
$4,000 to stock and 800 to the building.
The building at 4S5-487, occupied
by the Havenner Baking Company as
a stable, was slightly damaged by
water. Horses in the building. were
by the smoke
Firemen were somewhat handi-
capped by the dense volumes of
smoke which rolled from the build
cause of the great crowd of specta-
tors, estimated at approximately TO-
900 persons, provost guards were
called out to assist the police in keep
ing them at a safe distance.
No sooner had the frefghters got
the blaze under control when several
engine and truck companies were
Naken away and rushed to the hre
at the Stag Hotel several blocks
away. Two alarms also were turned
in for this fire.
Stag Hotel Is Damaged.
shortly before $50 o'clock. while
several fire companies were still in
the vicinity of the packing COM
pany's damaged building, an alarm
sounded from box ISL summoned them
to the vicinity of 9Th and streets,
where Stag Hotel, sos 9Th street, was be-
ing damaged by fire. So threatening
was the blaze that second alarm
was sounded. summoning additional
help. Patrons of Virginia Theater, on
the ground floor, heard the changing
of the bells and many Of them went
to the street to ascertain the loca-
tion of the fire.
They were surprised to learn the
fre was in the theater building. J;
]. Noonan. proprietor OF the hotel
and theater. told the persons re-
naming in the theater that the fire
was on the upper floor and advised
them to go quietly to the street, tell
ing them they were in no danger.
Crossed Wires Started Fire.
Crossed electric wires. police of the
first precinct reported. started the
fire, and most of the damage was to
the roof and upper story. Water did
considerable damage on the lower
floors and in the theater.
Sounding of second alarm brought
out an exceptionally large crowd of
spectators. and police reserves from
several precincts were kept busy pre-
venting them from getting in the way
of firemen. It is believed the damage
to the building and contents will exceed
$1,000.
Four other Small Blazes.
Thirty minutes before the C street
ffre started an alarm sounded from box
ia summoned five companies in the
business district to the building Of the
American Florist Company, 833 14th
street. where quantity of rubbish in
the basement was burned. The fire
alarmed occupants Of the structure and
neighbors, but did no damage.
Earlier in the night the department
received a call from TIC 9Th street, a
building occupied by Ames & Co.. where
there was flre In shed. The shed
was destroyed
Two calls were received for a fire at
201 Gordon avenue northeast yesterday
afternoon Firemen responded to the
first alarm and extinguiShed a small fire
in the chimney. and an hour later the
second call was sent because smoke had
been seen coming from the chimney.
The property was not damaged.
Number engine company extinguish
ed small fire in the cellar at 1925 M
street early last night. No damage was
done. Late yesterday afternoon No
engine company went to the premises of
Carl Jerissen. 1919 Massachusetts, ave-
nue., where a fence was burned. The
fire was OF unknown origin and $40
damage resulted.
Children playing with matches this
morning started fire in bedroom
in the house of Mrs. Sarah Proctor,
11S Alabama avenue southeast Dam
age, s25.
KERMIT ROOSEVELT H0N0RED