The Washington times., 1922-12-01
S(;HAFFE
COMPANY
PLANT IS
GlJTT
Clerks Get Out Office Records
Through Dense Masses
Of Smoke.

Smoking on the part of EN-
ployes is believed to have cause
q fire today at the hardwar,
establishment of E. C. Schaffer &
Company, Thirteenth and C street
and Ohio avenue northwest, caus
ing an estimated damage ci
SIS, 900. Fire Chief George Ws z
son said that 1t was his opinit
that smokers on the third flof
were responsible for the bla.
which was one of the most stu
born that the local departure.
has had to combat.
Loss Put at $4,000.
"Most of the goods in the pla, :
were not perishable," Watson sal
"and we did not do much damat "
with water. think $4,000 woul
cover the loss"
The FIRE was discovered shortjl
before 8 o'clock on the secon
floor Of the building by u. &
Haring, superintendent Of tb
plant, when q dense volume
smoke penetrated to- the tim
floor Of the building, whore b
and . staff Of clerks were .
work.
An alarm vas turned in b.
J. F. Thornberg, an employ.
Haring formed q bucket brigat ?
and an attempt was made -
check the spread Of the flsm,
before the arrival Of the fireme .
Flames Burst Windows.
The second floor of the builAi-
was packed with highly Aflammnl
material. however. and when the d'
fighters arrived flames had bui
through the windows Of the buildb
and heavy smoke was pouring frc
every crevice.
Immediately upon the arrival a.
the first fire apparatus the magh'
tude of the fire was seen and thrt~
additional alarms were turned In
While rushing to the scene, o..
gine No. z from the fire house q
r street, between Ninth and Tent
streets, skidded while crossing tn
car tracks at Twelfth and e street
northwest, side-swiped true
parked against the east curb
front Of Howe's oyster establisI
ment, throwing the driver, Anthon
]. wering, to the ground. He va
seriously injured. II was reporte
at Emergency Hospital, where h
was taken for treatment.
Records Carried Out.
The flames In the Schaffer built
ing. which In three story brick. ha,
gained sufficient headway In th
east end Of the building TO doom
that part Of the establishment
| |Firefighters are making every effcr
to save the north end OF the builf
ing. the lower part Of which {
used for offices. ~ -
Gustav Escher. manager q Ii
building when the tire was dis
covered and Immediately detaile,
q force Of employees to rsmov1
They were carried TO the sideWal,
and guards placed around them.
Hundreds Of psrsons wsrs a.
tracted to the scene by the hsay.
smoke which arose high above n.
building in a black mass. Polic-
men were hurried to the fire q
1 BOOu - INC aiATTu WA8 BOunOe0 m
q corden placed around tn
structure. y x,
The flames and smoke at tim
completely enveloped the top Of G.
ladders. Hose was carried Into q
structure from both the G strv
and Ohio avenue sides Of the but
ing. a.. ..,t.
|. Residences Threatened. !,
To the east Of the burning bull
ing are two brick residences, a
one adjoining the Schaffer estn'l
lishment being unoccupisd. whf'
the next houses an Italian famik
Bedding and furniture and pereony
/, effects were hastily removed frus,
the occupied building.
The Schaffer building was a.
merly used a. . riding academy, !.
I. IL said. II was taken over by n
shaffer company last Ncvsmbe
and remodeled. The business too
over the premises early last Augusf
/ Mr.. Haring estimated that th
damage would probably exce66 NOR
than $4,000. InsurAncs Of 10 -
10 carried on the psrishAbls good
I'm the buildfng - ~ l.-sII