Evening star., 1932-02-28

then turned their attention to the office, and
having obtained assistance, they managed TO
remove the books and private papers When
the treasurer opened the front doors sheet
of flames came oIt like wedge and was sue
ceeded by a cloud of black smoke. under which
Mr.. Ford crawled into the Office and secured
the books; but in coming out, he was so SUI
focated that the books were taken possession
of by some one and he has not seen them
since. Mr.. Ford also attempted to 60 upstairs
to secure his clothes and $500 which were up
there but the suffocating smoke prevented
him accomplishing his object. The clothing
and money were therefore lost.
lin few minutes the entire building was In
] flames, and presented a magnificent spec
tacle The pail of black, stormy sky threw
back the light upon the city with singular ef-
feet and so widely illuminated the District Tor
miles around that the impression of people re-
siding at the greatest distance was that the
fire was in their immediate neighborhood. It
was not difficult to read print in the open air
at almost any point within the city limits The
roof was shingles, and the flames therefore
had rapid egress, and as they shot up presented
terribly beautiful sight.
In about three-quarters OF an hour after the
fire was first discovered, nothing of the beau
tiful structure was left standing but the black
ened walls. This Is the second time Mr.. Ford
has been burnt out in Washington. and he has
been a heavy loser on both occasions. The
National Theater.
"Ford's Theater was formerly q Baptist
church and known as the First Baptist Church
of Washington 1t was built in 1888 (and was
valued at $4,000 and the Rev. o. Brown OF
Newark, N. j., was the first pastor A few
years ago the congregation associated with the
Thirteenth Street Baptist Church, and re-
moved to a spacious building on the latter
street. Last Spring the building was sold and
soon after Mr.. Ford converted it into a thea
ter, at cost of $4,000. He soon made 1t one
of the model establishments of its kind in this
country. The first season, however, did not
pay him adequately, and he was at this time
just seeking a proper reward for his labor and
expenditure when this fire occurred. Mr..
Ford,s interest consisted Of the improvements.
Upon tie building the owners had an insurance
of $1,000. Mr.. Ford had q slight insurance,
but is stin great loser, owing to the destruc-
ton of all scenery, furniture. etc. By good
fortune, he lost but fev costumes or dresses
as he had just that day, or the day before
sent then, all to Baltimore"
THE cid building. which was entirely de-
! stroyed As feet wide and extended to a
depth of IS feet. to which was added a room
~ by 80 feet. and by this 1t will be seen that
the dimensions Of the present building, erected
through the efforts Of John T. Ford, apparently
do not agree with those of the First Baptist
Church, and that 1t is an entirely different
building.
The old building. as will be seen by sketch
made prior to 1853, stood back slightly from
the building line, and in front was q paling
fence Space is also shown at both the north
and south sides Of the lot. probably to insure
light to the building from these directions.
The Thirteenth street building was occupied
by the First Baptist Church up until about
1890, when it was sold, and upon Its site was
erected the Builders Exchange Building before
referred to. The writer understands that there
are still evidences of the old church to be seen
in the new structures, but If so, this must be
slight.
A friend Of the writer's who attended the
Sabbath school here recalls that w. w. Cor
coran's daughter was frequent visitor to the
church, being a personal friend of Miss Orm,