Evening star., 1934-12-21
STORE IS SWEPT
BY S9Q,00O FIRE
Fiqhters Hurt at Blaze at
Harris JeWeIry Store
on T Street.

The five-alarm fire which ragged
through the basement and f1rst moor
of the r. Harris & Co. Jewelry store.
lloI F street, during the early morn
ing hours today, Gripping Its business
at the height Of the Christmas season,
caused damage to building and stock
roughly estimated by Fire Department
officials at $4,000.
Despite parched and smoke-dark-
ened walls throughout the six-story
brick structure, plans were begun to-
day for an early reopening. The floor
of the main show room, weakened by
charred supporting beams, was con-
demned by the District building in
spector, but the possibility Of bracing
1t with steel girders was being dis
cussed.
Two firemen were injured as they
fought the flames. Lieut.. Fred Lit
teral, No. 8 Engine Company, received
severe cuts on the left wrist from fall
ing glass as he climbed the fire escape
on the Eleventh street side Of the
building. Comrades rushed him to
Emergency Hospital.
TlHHcu against wan.
Pvt. Robert MacNeely, No. Engine
Company, was pinned against the
basement wall by a powerful stream
Of water and badly bruised.
Albert Sigmund, the manager, was
unable to estimate the value Of the
stock. The fire apparently started in
the rear of the basement, which Is
~, ctr
according to Fire Inspectors Ira G.
Keppler and R. c. Roberts, who took
charge of evaluating the damage this
morning. The heat and flames melted
large quantities of silverware there.
Ascending smoke tarnished silverware
and jewelry on the upper floors, all
of which are occupied by the jewelry
concern.
Call for More Fighters.
The first alarm was turned In at
1910 am, and firemen who reached
the scene Immediately called for more
apparatus. Shortly afterward all the
city's regular fire fighting equipment
had been called into service at the
sounding of the fifth alarm.
Although the theater crowds had
dispersed some time before the fire
broke out, the blaze attracted dense
gathering. Spectators lined F and
Eleventh streets from curb to build
ing line and impeded firemen until
the arrival of police reserves.
Shortly after the first alarm, Chief
Engineer Schrom took charge OF the
battle. Mai. Ernest w. Brown, super
intendent Of police, several Of his in
spectors and captains and detail
of detectives turned out to control
the crowd and to prevent possible
iooting of the stores stock.
Smoke Pours From Top.
Although the fire was confined prin-
cipally to the basement and first
floor, smoke assembled q stairway and
poured in a heavy stream from the
top story. creating the impression
among spectators that the entire struc-
ture was afire.
The firemen were so impeded by
smoke that an Eleventh street show
window had to be broken and all the
basement trapdoors in the sidewalks
opened. At the height Of the fire,
smoke became so dense the Hyatts-
vile Fire Department was asked to
furnish a smoke ejector to pump out
the building so the fire fighters
could work.
Flashlights mounted on fire appa-
ratus were played on the structure
from F and G streets and their beams
were visible throughout the down.
town section, attracting spectators
who had not heard the clamor of
the engines.
Hose Covers Streets.
A maze Of hose covered r, q and
Eleventh streets and blocked the
passage of street cars for about two
hours.
Firemen erected ladders to the top
floor of the building on the F street
side and others mounted the fire
escape on the Eleventh street side to
pour water on the blaze from various
angles. All Of the city's water towers
were called into play.
After the flames had been brought
under control, several employees Of the
company arrived at the store and
were admitted to the first floor.
Although the flames did not reach
above the street floor, the heat was so
intense that walls were parched and
peeled from top to bottom of the
building.
The first alarm was turned in by
Dominic Vincent, assistant manager
of Lofts candy store nearby. Smell
ing smoke, he went to investigate.
Seeing nothing he was about to leave
when flames shot up from under