Evening star., 1923-02-16
DRUG WAREHOUSE
WRECKED BY FIRE
Loss of $65, 900 Caused by
Flames in Peoples Drug
Store Building.
HUNDREDS WATCH BLAZE
Four Alarms Turned in and Police
Reserves Called Out to
Handle Crowd.
HUNDREDS WATCH BLAZE

Fifty thousand dollars worth OF
oils. drugs, cosmetics, toilet articles
and miscellaneous items went up in
smoke last night when a four-alarm
fire destroyed the stock of the Peo-
pies Drug Store warehouse, at 1922
1st street northeast, and brought
more than IL score of fre-fghting
vehicles to the scene.
Damage to the building itself, which
is valued at s25.G00 has not been
estimated. The roof cayed in and
the walls for u time were imperiled.
Total damage as a result Of the fire,
to both stock and building, is not
expected to exceed $4,000.
Ice Coats Streets.
hundreds watched the spectacular
blaze. AS the water fell on nearby
trees il froze. coated them and the
streets with ice. AS firemen worked
the water frUze on their oilSkins.
The blaze started in the basement
of the two-Story brick building. 1t
spread quickly to the upper floors,
chemicals feeding the flames and &C
celebrating their progress. Exact
origin of the fire Is not known. 1t
$3.50 and : o'clock last night.
1t was Q O'CLOCK before fire depart
ment officials felt that the blaze was
under control and sent the apparatus
responding to the fourth alarm back
to the firehouses. For time, an ad-
joining warehouse of the same COM
pany was threatened. and under di-
rection Of Acting Chief Sullivan a
barrage of water was directed as a
curtain between the flames and this
structure.
The fire was discovered by Irving
+. Haskins. Il watchman. shortly after
$50 O'Clock. william Huppert. EN-
ployed in nearby lunchroom, sent
IN the first alarm 1T $40 o'clock.
The second alarm was sounded at $50
and the third just before o'clock.
The fourth was turned III at : %.
Reserves Handle Crowd.
Maj Daniel Sullivan. chief OF police.
assisted by Assistant Supts. Evans
and Pratt, took charge of the reserves
handling the large crowds who braved
biting winds to watch the work of
the treighters Police were sent
from headquarters. the second, the
eighth and the ninth precincts.
DR.. Malcolm -. Gibbs, in charge Of
the Peoples drug stores here. said
the stock was covered by insurance.
He fixed the value of the stock in the
building at $4,000, announced that II
probably was totally destroyed, ana
said that the value Of the building
itself was rated at $4,000. damage to
which has not yet been estimated.
The damage TO the building, however,
II was declared, will amount to more
than half its value.
DIR. Gibbs stated that large
quantity OF stock was en- route to
Washington and that the second
warehouse in the rear Of the one
burned contained large supplies. The
second storehouse was not damaged by
flames. but the stock therein was so
badly damaged by smoke and water
that Or Gibbs said none Of it would
be put on sale here. ARRANGEMENTS
to obtain a new warehouse are al
ready under way.
Private L. l. Mothershead Of No. f.
engine company, Brooklard, was
taken sick in the dorlnitory of the
companys quarters shortly after .
o'clock this morning and was remor
ed to Emergency Hospital. 1t is be
lieved his illness resulted from in
haling gasses at the fire last night.
The fireman was in a daZed con-
dition when he reached the hospital.
He is under the care of DIR. Daniel l..
Borden, member of the board Of police
surgeons. Mothershead's home is at
1908 Sth street northwest.
% CALLS IN "a HOURS.