The Washington times., 1895-06-16
FIREAEN RESCUE GUESTS
Garry Them Down Ladders While
the Owen House Burns.
BIG FIRE ON THE AVENUE
Historic Hotel Saved From Total De-
struction Only by he Most Strenuous
Efforts-Inmates Escaped In Their
Night Robes-Damage, Twenty
Thousand Dollars.

The owen House, No. 1413 Pennsyl-
yana avenue northwest, was the scene
of a disastrous fire about 8 O'Clock yes
terday morning, and for "a time 1t looked
as if the hotel was doomed to complete
destruction.
The inside was badly burned, and 1t
was necessary to call eight of the nine
engines in the city into service before
the flames could be subdued. The hotel
was damaged to the extent OF ABOUT
$40, 600, including the furniture and build
ing, about $4,000 of which was covered
by insurance in Baltimore and New York
companies
The fire started in the center of the
third floor near the staircase, but It's
origin is a mystery There were no stoves
or furnaces in that part of the house, and
no flues in use except at the north END or
the building. Mr.. Moylan, the proprietor
is of the opinion that some careless smoker
dropped q spark on the carpet of one OF
the rooms, which caused the fire.
The first alarm was sent by telephone,
and the chemical engine responded. AS
soon as Foreman Sullivan ofthat company
reached the scene, he saw the extent oil the
fire and at once turned in a regular alarm,
which brought Assistant Chief Belt aud
engine companies /, 2, and z, and
| truck G.
GUESTS CARRIED d OWN LADDERS.
Chief Belt then ordered another alarm
to be turned in, which brought Companies
8 ana A. and Truck b, and third alarm,
which was sent in after the arrival OF Chief
Paris, brought out Truck A and Companies
| 3 and 8, leaving 8 to take care of the rest
| of the city A reserve squad of policemen
| from the First precinct was also hurried
| to the scene.
Many of the guests on the upper floors had
| by thistime found their way tothefrontpar
| of the house, and the meu directed their
attention to getting them safely down on
| ladders. Aided by Policemen Barry and
| McGrath they succeeded in rescuing all OF
them from the burning building.
John Leach. q bartender, who was lying
sick on the top floor of the hotel, vas the
first TO be brought down, the men and
women making way for him to pass down
the ladder. Miss Lizzie Moylan, who was
on the third floor, had TO be carried down
| the ladder She bore up with considerable
! fortitude until the ordeal was over, when
| she tainted and was carried into a drug
| store and revived.
Dr. ]. r. Harrison, Miss Florence Light
| foot, Mr.. j. V. Davis Mr.. j. G. Lay, Mrs.
Were all in the building when the fire was
raging, but Were gotten out without in
| Jury. John Eckens, the big cook of the
| hotel, and Firemen Handy, Sweeny, Smith
and Darlington did valiant service IN
| rescuing the inmates of the burning build
ing.
FIRE ESCAPES NOT USED
There are several fire escapes in the rear
of the building, but none on the front or
the side which faces on wide alley. All
of the roomers who could not get down
! the stairway rushed TO the front or the
| house, so the ire escapes were OF no Use
| at all.
The fire was very stubborn and it was
necessary to flood the building with water
before it could be subdued. BY 1915
! O'clock however, the flames were under
! control and all danger OF their spreading
| past.
The upper part of the house is completely
| wrecked inside, but the bar down stairs was
uninjured, except by water soaking through
the ceiling. The gas and electric light
connections Were cutoff, and 1t W as notuntll
late yesterday evening that supply of
| light for the barroom could be obtained.
Many of the inmates of the hotel were
compelled to make their escape in robes
usually donned as sleeping attire, and
| few of the male unfortunateS were unable
to find anything but the charred remains
of their apparel when they re-entered the
| building.
So flowing night robes and carpet slip
pers Were conspicuous features in the attire
ofseverala about the hotel yesterday. Friends
| soon came to their rescue, however, and
they We're enabled to don presentable gar
ments aBd-show themselves again.