Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-02-25

i
fires in this city occurred when
the building adjoining the Willard
Hotel on the avenue side. known
as the Owen House. was severely
Quilted, and this is the way The
Star Of May 10. 1861. reported It.
"This morning the fine new
building owned by Mr.. Samuel
Owens and known as Fields
Building was totally destroyed by
fire. the occupants not even saving
their personal effects. The lower
floors were occupied by Mr.. Owens
as a merchant tailor and by Mr..
D. j. Bishop, bookseller. A tele-
graphic Office was also in the
building, but everything about the
office was saved. The upper
stories were occupied by Mr.. Field
as a hotel. This building, it will
be remembered, was fired about a
month ago. but the fire was dis
covered before 1t had made much
Roadway.
about half past 3 fire was dis
covered issuing from the roof near
the center of the building on the
side next to Wizards Hotel. Mr..
Willard Immediately attached the
hose to the water cocks in the
several stories of his hotel and
conducting them through the win
dow extinguished the fire, cutting
a hole through the roof in order
to reach it more effectively. His
guests in the meantime were
quieted, and the alarm was about
subsiding when, just as the fire
in the roof had been put out. the
whole, basement burst out in a
sheet Of flames, having been fired
in several places.
Responded in Twinkling
"Col. Mansfield Immediately
sent for Col. Ellsworth's Fire
Zouaves at the Capitol. who made
their appearance in twinkling,
end, manning the engines, mount
ing roofs and climbing in at win
dows, soon cleared the progress
OF the fire and finally succeeded
IN extinguishing it.
when the fire was at its height,
a small national flag fell from the
rear OF the building, attracting
the attention of a squad of recess
sionists in the vicinity, who nudged
each other. remarking. There,
there, that's the way they'll all go
before long, The Zouaves i'm
mediately caught up the flag and
waved it. amid considerable cheer
ing, while Mr.. Willard ran up from
his hotel two large flags, which the
immense crowd greeted with a
perfect roar of cheers, the Zouaves
shouting, They shall never be
burnt They shan't come down!
"a large number of the New
York boys were soon putting down
the walls of the. burned building
amid the occasional cheering OF
an immense crowd, and giving a
few lessons in daring feats. Several
having mounted to the roof of the
Wizards Hotel, a large cable was
thrown across to a gallant Zouave
who had climbed to the third
story window of the tottering wall
and made fast to the brick work,
when, all hands having got out of
the way, the boys on the roof with
two or three jolly 'heave hos
fetched over nearly the whole side
with jar like an earthquake.
"Mr. Owens loss is estimated at
about $4,000, the property being
covered by insurance to the
amount of $4,000. The loss of
the Messrs. Willard was not heavy,
being only the damage to walls
and carpets by water and the de-
struction of furniture. They feel
that nothing but the promptness
of the New York Zouaves saved
their building, and that the eff
cient aid rendered by all the men,
bers of the military in protecting
their property cannot be too
highly appreciated.
Dashed Out Pell-Mell
when the alarm of fire reached
the quarters of the Zouave Regi-
ment at the Capitol. leave was
given by the colonel for some of
the men to 60 out and assist to
extinguish it. Nearly 500 men at
once rushed to the sentries' posts
to get past, but not half that num-
Der were permitted to pass. The
lucky ones made a break for the