Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-06-10

the first one starting on Saturday night and
the other one late on Sunday evening This
version follows:
AT late hour on Sunday evening an Irish
woman entered a barn on the corner of Twelfth
and De Rowan streets, near the river, to milk
COW. For several years she was q pensioner
on the bounty Of the county. The relief agent
helped her because her appearance indicated
great poverty. About one year ago 1t was
accidentally discovered she was the owner of
six mich cows. Then the agent. refused to as
sist her further. She was in the habit OF
visiting her cows every evening. On Sunday
night she took the lamp In her hand, and
went out to the barn. Wishing to obtain some
salt from the house she set the lamp down
to go after it. During her absence the lamp was
overturned and the kerosene, escaping, became
ignited and communicated the flames to the
straw. What, therefore, might have been
readily extinguished with pail of water was
the cause of the fearful devastation. 1t will
be remembered that the night previous
there had been a fire, which at one time
threatened serious consequences. but the fire.
men subdued the flames and the citizens slum-
bered on in quietude.
ION Sunday night, however, the firemen,
exhausted with the exertions Of the previous
evening, appeared unable to work with their
customary alacrity, and the apparatus for ar
resting the flames was subject to q painful
delay. Then the wind was heightened by q
splurge from the southwest, until it assumed
the proportions of a terrific gale. Sparks
and flaming brands were borne far from the
scene Of labor; the flames, elongated by the
swift current into grasping tongues, stretched
from roof to roof. and quickly licked the dry
shingles into roaring fires"
After the fire was over the people of Chicago
were equal to the occasion and before the en-
tn ,cfr inn
began and by 1880 we find the population of
the city had increased to more than half q
million people, and by 1890 the population had
grown to 100000 Since then the increase
has been enormous. As has been said, you can't
keep a good man down, and the same may be
said of a hustling, progressive city.
\A/E HERE in Washington have never had
w really big fre-the kind that gets be-
yond control. We have had number of scares,
and upon more than one occasion were glad to
get outside assistance, but our fire department
has always been able to cope with the situation.
Our wide streets and our building regulations
have added greatly to our safety from q con-
and our water supply has always
proven ample.
We Of the older generation like to refer with
pride to such fre-hghters as Chiefs Martin
Cronin. Joseph Paris and Frank J. Wagner,
all courageous, worthwhile citizens men of the
highest type And those who have followed
them have fully demonstrated their fitness.
Since the local fire department has been q
paid institution, some Of the largest fires have
been the explosion and burning of buildings at
the Arsenal which occurred on June II, 1864.
or 10 years ago next Sunday A monument in
Cemetery. erected by the people
of Washington, contains the names Of 20 young
women who died In this disaster
The following year the Smithsonian Building
burned: then came the Patent ONCE fire in
1877, when the Baltimore department assisted.
The Jefferson Public School, In the southwest
section, comparatively new building, was de-
stroyed by fire In February, 1882; The Star
Building. st. Dominic's Church and the Ma
tional Theater, in 1885; Calls warehouse,