Evening star., 1926-02-16
WALL PAPER STORE
GUTTED BY BLAZE
Flames on Seventh Street
Cause Loss Estimated
at 100000.

A spectacular five-alarm fire last
night gutted the building of the Cap
ital Wall Paper Co., 900 Seventh
street, causing damage estimated be-
tween $4,000 and 100000 to that
building and adjoining structures and
their contents
Two tiremen were hurt. but not seri-
ously. when backdraft blew them
completely through the front show
window of the wall paper company
store. They are Private l. c. keppler,
As years old, of No. IA engine com
pany, who was cut about the hands
by glass and nauseated by smoke, and
private Leo Lanahan. 80 years old, of
NO. engine company. who sustained
crushed hand and cuts on his arm.
Both were treated at Emergency Hos
pital
The blaze evidently originated in
the cellar, not far from the furnace,
from a cause undetermined. 1t pro-
gressed up rear elevator shaft. but
through freakish maneuver, the fire
almost skipped the second floor of the
three,story structure and centered its
activities on the topmost floor. The
thousands of gallons Of water which
seeped through the third story flooring
saturated the maSSed stores of paper
on the second floor, however.
Dense smoke from the blazing pa
per. combined with the disagreed BILE
doors from the chemicals in the paper.
hampered the work of the firemen and
anected persons living in apartments
ana nearby rooming houses. the thick
clouds drifting over the entire block
east of Seventh street and north OF |
street.
Damage principally consisted in
the property and stock loss in the
capital Wall Paper Co. which il
was considered doubtful that insur-
ance would entirely cover The stock
was valued at $4,000. on the imme-
diate north of the wall paper com
panys building the Penn Electric
Co. sustained consdera BILE damage to
fixtures and electric accessories
through smoke and water
Damages Adjoining Property.
The Piggly Wiggly Co. and Kal-
lfpoliS Grotto clubrooms. in the ad.
joining building TO the south. sus-
talned damage also, the grocery com
pany suffering the lighter loss. while
the Wright Furniture Co.. south of
that building, reported some DANA ge
from a flooded cellar
Until the sewerage connections from
the building could be opened from
entire four buildings were flooded
the water reaching more than a foot
depth in some parts of the Penn
Electric Co. structure and more than
that under the wall paper company's
structure. This cellar water also
caused heavy damage in the wall
paper store. since a large number of
rolls OF paper were stored there.
A large crowd turned out to watch
the fire, which broke out while after
theater parties were still in the down
town section. Capt. Martin Reilly
called out reserves from the sixth pre-
cinct and from the first precinct 10
ha ndle the crowds and scores of police
men from the first and sixth precincts
reporting off at midnight. half hour
after the first alarm. also volunt eered
for duty at the fire lines.
Firemen STAND BY" Till Morning.
The crowd waited for more than an
hour and then, the blaze getting under
control. melted away as the biting
hreezes proved too fierce. But fire ap-
paratus continued at the scene until
early morning, most of the engines
aving at about 800 o'clock. although
water was still being poured into the
building from No. IA Engine Company
at a late hour this morning. TO guard
against smoldering sparks in the wall
paper stock.
The building principally affected by
the fire, the wall paper company's
plant. is recognized as one of the most
carefully built structures in downtown
Washington. Built in 1885. with low
er walls two feet in thickness, firm
and solid 1t was used by Christian
Xander. wine and brandy merchant,
As rectifying plant and salesroom
until prohibition came to Washington.
Fire Marshal l.. V. Seth is going
over the buildings affected by the fire
today. making a careful check-up on
stock and fixtures in an investigation
u determine probable cause of the
blaze and the loss.