The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1924-07-12
INSURANCE
T0COVER
LOSS
Three Alarms Sounded in
Early Morning Blaze at
Benning

Seventy head of cattle were
burned to death and the cattle
sheds at the Union Stock Yards,
Benning, D. c., were trans
formed into mass of shoulder
ing ruins in a fire which early
today did damage estimated con-
servatively at $4,000.
For an hour after the fire was
discovered, Northeast Washington
lay buried in fog of nauseating
smoke. The odor of scorched
cattle could be smelt within a
fifteen-block radius of the fire.
Shortly before A o'clock this
morning, George Jones, colored,
employed in the fertilizing plant
at the yards, saw the flames shoot
up at the northern end. He
dropped his work and gave
signal to the other workmen.
Third Alarm Sounded.
Half a dozen alarms from DIFF
6erent points of the premises were
turned in almost at one time. In
the excitement, Thomas J. Howard,
colored, another employee, forgot
that there were fire boxes at the
yard, and ran four blocks to turn
one in.
Number 81 Engine Company was
the first to reach the fire. Deputy
Chief Sullivan, who arrived a few
minutes later. turned in a third
alarm. A second was not sounded.
Nine truck companies and three
engines responded
In the meanwhile, the flames had
ignited the straw covering of the
floors of the pens, and already had
destroyed totally eight cattle styes,
and more than fifty bulls and
calves. Five more pens and twenty
head of cattle were burned before
the blaze was brought under con-
troll
Fighting their way through the
cense, choking smoke, amid the
burning and stampeding cattle,
firemen held the blaze from ig
hitting adjoining pens containing
thousands Of dollars worth of hogs
and calves.
AS soon as sufficient aid arrived,
the sheds nearest the fire were
opened, and the stock loosed on a
Held a short distance away.
Fire Plug Far Away.
The work Of the firefighters was
delayed partly by the distance Of
the nearest fire plug. Fire Chief
George Watson said this was at
least 1900 feet from the actual fire.
About 10000 feet of hose was used
to fight the flames.
According to men employed in the
fertilizer factory, a train of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, whose
tracks are within a few feet Of the
yards, passed less than fifteen min.
utes before the fire broke out. It
is believed a spark from the speed.
ing train ignited the straw in one
of the pens.
Two bulls, badly scorched, broke
from their pens. They fell exhausted,
however, and were shot by Police.
man j. B. Bum, of the Fifth pre-.
cinct.
Police Reserves Called.
Reserve police of the Fourth,
Fifth, Ninth and Eleventh precincts
were ordered out to the fire. Lieu
tenant Sprinkle and Inspector Evans
took charge Of the men.
The cattle belonged to Loeffler,
Auth, Keane, c. E. Cutler, of Fred
erick. Md, and Roland, stock deal.
ers and meat packers. The entire
loss is covered by insurance, it is
said.
Alonzo Diller, president Of the
stock yards company, visited the
fire. Other officials Of the firm
and the provision companies which
suffered damage also were present.
At $50 o'clock the fire was un.
der control. Only flicker here and
there among the charred beams
could be seen. All fire apparatus,
except Engine Company No. q, left
about this time.
No Shortage Expected.
No shortage of provisions for
Washington is expected to result
from the fire, according to MIR.
Diller. He said the seventy head
would probably cause no difference
In price either.
The burned cattle will be con.
verted into fertilizer, 1t is said.
Less than fifteen minutes after
the alarm had been sent in from
the stock yard, another blaze was
discovered in a box factory at 201
M street northeast. Little damage
was reported here.
Three alarms from different boxes
In that part of the city were turned
In by excited spectators. bringing