Cop's Probe Fails to Fix Cause of Poultry Blaze

A police investigation of the fire which drove 30 families from their homes and caused $50,000 damage to the 3-story warehouse of Bell and Evans, Inc., poultry dealers, near Twenty-seventh and Pleasant streets, Saturday failed yesterday to determine the cause. Detectives Benjamin Simon and Clifford Del Rossi said they could find no clue in the wreckage. More than 10,000 chickens were burned to death and thousands of dollars' worth of dressed stock ruined. Capt. Henry Zook, of the Mt. Ephraim and Kaighn avenue engine company, was overcome by smoke as he led his men into the first floor of the blazing building. Also endangered by the flames was the old St. Joseph's Parochial School, Sisters' Home and the old St. Joseph's Catholic Church, at Twenty-fifth and Howell streets. Both buildings are vacant. The houses endangered were on Howell street, between Twenty-fourth and Twenty-sixth streets. Residents who fled, moving their cars from garages and in some cases furniture and household goods, were assured by firemen that the flames would be confined to the warehouse. The fire was discovered by Charles Stevenson, of 2419 Howell street, who shouted to his brother-in-law, Louis Jones, of 2507 Howell street, who was passing, to turn in an alarm. Flames seared the rear of the home of C. W. Helms, of 2415 Howell street. Forty persons living at the house were forced to take to the street.