M.M.White undertaker WashingtonDC Matthias M. White undertaker of Washington , DC Fisk and Raymond metallic coffins

Destructive Fire  

Evening Star (Washington, District of Columbia) 01 Dec 1862, Monday

 About half past eleven o'clock last night a fire broke out in an old stable in the rear of Mr. M.M. White's embalming establishment south, side of Pa. Avenue near the corner of third Street and the flames spread to Mr. White shop and the adjoining buildings on the east-- all of which were of frame ..and in a short time three or four buildings were entirely consumed, and the building occupied by Mr. Chas Mades was a restaurant on the corner of Third St was burnt to such an extent as to render it useless. For a while the fire raged fearfully and the wind blowing directly across the Avenue the sparks fell thick and fast upon the houses on the opposite side of the street.

DC 1862 Directory ---------->

The property occupied by Mr. White belongs to the estate of Major P.J. Howle late of the Marine Corps and the balance of the property consumed was owned by Messrs H Naylor and John A Smith respectively. 

 At the time of the fire there were one or two corpses in Mr. White's establishment which were carried out. Most of his tools however were burnt, thus inflicting a loss of two or three hundred dollars.

Mr. Dolan who resided over Mr. White shop lost the greater portion of his furniture this is a serious loss as Mr. D had not been married more than six months and he was commencing housekeeping but a short time ago. The shoe store of G Huetter, the watchmaker shop of Mr. Weil and the small-ware store of Thomas Fawcett were also destroyed , together with a portion of their stock and furniture. The loss of the latter in furniture and stock will amount to over five hundred dollars – no insurance. A horse belonging to Mr. White was got out after have been very slightly burnt. McDermott’s large coach factory was no doubt the salvation of the entire Square as all the intervening buildings between that and Mr. Bannerman’s boarding-house very near the corner of the alley are a frame and very combustible. No serious damages was however done to McDermott’s building except for the burning of one of two window sashes and the fire there was this speedily extinguished. Some little damage was also down to the carriages and vehicles which were removed as quickly as possible. 

A Negro whose name we did not learn had the misfortune of having that have a bureau fall on him, and he was picked up for dead; but afterwards he revived as it was only a head wound. A soldier who was assisted in carrying out some furniture fell from a window was that was picked up uninjured. While the fire was in progress, two horses attached to an ambulance ran off and came in contact with the hack which was upset and somewhat injured. 

The file fire wasn't evidently the work of an incendiary as there was but little combustible matter in the stable where the fire originated and no one who had business there had been in with the light during the evening. Suspicion of the act was directed to a young man named Ed A Williams who was arrested by the fourth Ward patrol and conveyed to a station-house where he was held for hearing as soon as witnesses can be reproduced.

The Franklin and Perseverance fire company where the first on the ground The steam engine did not arrive until the fire had been raging nearly an hour and then could not procure water and sufficient time to be effective, 

The Metropolitan Hook and Ladder company rendered the most efficient service.

People and businesses mentioned in the article. According to 1862 Directory DC: 

1862 Mr Bannerman --Boarding house ( Mary A. Bannerman 447 Penn Av boarding) 

1862 Thomas Fawcett --small ware store ( Fawcett, Thomas fancygoods, 459 Penn av, h, do) 

1862 G. Huetter-- Shoe store (could this be Huefer, Charles tailor 461 Penn av ) 

1862 Mr. McDermotts --Coach Factory ( McDermott, M coach factory 455 Penn Av h 69 Mo ave ) 

1862 Charles Mades --Restaurant ( Meddes Charles restaurant 465 Penn Av ) 

1862 Mr. Well –Watchmaker 

1880 Map