Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-20
He Led His Hen Inside the Death
Trap.
CORoNER'S INQUEST over EIREMBN
Aid for the Families of the Dead
Men.
NE MORE DE AT II

An official investigation to fix the re-
sponsibility for the deaths of the five fire.
men who lost their lives as result of the
Louisiana avenue confiagraton Monday
evening last, was begun shortly before
noon today in the shape of n coroner's
inquest, which was held at Lees under
taking establishment. The case of Daniel
Francis Conway of No. engine company
was determined on as the one regarding
which witnesses should be examined, the
district attorney having notified the GER
oner that it would be necessary TO hold the
inquest over but one body, and the verdict
reached would cover the entire list Of fa-
talities.
Messrs. Edward c. Coleman, Matthew
McEelly, John j. Hogan, A. N. Hazen,
DIR. c. C. Winters and Harry n. Schneider
were summoned as a jury, and after as
scmbling at Lees, were driven in a patrol
wagon to Conway's home 91i iSt street
northwest, where the remains were viewed
and the oath administered by the coroner.
The party then returned to the starting
point, and the investigation proceeded
Not Ordered In.
Joseph Paris, chief engineer of the fire
department, was the first witness called by
tile coroner. He testified that he was
working about the fire Monday evening,
when he heard the crash of falling walls.
He FASTENED to the spot and asked if any
one had been hurt. He was informed that
three or four men of No. company had
been caught under the falling wall. The
witness did not order the men to enter the
building; in fact, he had repeatedly eau
toned them to stay outside because the
building was wrecked, and there was no
plausible reason for sending men inside.
Witness found it necessary 10 order GER
tain members of No. l company to come
down from the windows of the building
which later fell.
Chief Paris explained that he would not
order man under him to enter building
that he would not enter himself. The
motto of the department is, BE careful
The witness testified that later several of
the men went into the building with AS
sistant Chief Kurtz. Witness reiterated
that he had repeatedly cautioned the men
not to enter the building. To the best of
his knowledge, the men who were killed
went IN their own responsibility. prob
ably led by Assistant Foreman Kettler.
Firemen are ambitious, said Chief PARIS,
and one company, being eager to surpass
the others, will act in reckless manner.
An accident such the one Monday even
ing is Habl TO occur at any time, and, in
the opinion of the witness, was unavoid-
able Conway had been in the department
only one month, and promised to become
hrs.-ClaSS member.
Chief Paris, before leaving the stand,
took occasion TO state that the District fire
department is very weak, and added that
each company should consist of twelve
men instead of ten He explained that
every other day two men are allowed to go
off, which leaves three men to a hose car
riaGe, IN addition to the driver
II claim that no one could foresee the
accident" said Chief Paris, "ard the acci-
dent was certainly unavoidable"
Chief Paris described al some length the
Knox and Lincoln Hall fires to show that
loss of life in some instances is possible
although the greatest care is exercised.
The Second Crash.
John D. Kurtz, second assistant chief of
the fire department, who was the next
witness, described the positions of the
several engine companies. Witness heard
the chief engineer order the men not 10
enter the building where the crash later
occurred. Witness was with No. ) COM
pany at the horse bazaar when the walls
fell. He then, under orders took No
company and endcavored to rescue the I'M
fortunate men of No. S. who We're caught
under the debris. 1t was found that No
. did not have sufficient hose to reach the
men, and while an additional section was
being put in the second crash occurred
This all happened on the Louisiana ave-
nu" side. Witness went back and found
Assistant Foreman Giles lying as though
he had been struck from the rear A. the
time the men were in charge of Foreman
Wilson of No. 0. The first four men caught
were in charge of Assistant Foreman Ket-
tier. The first four men to be caught from
No. company and the first three killed
were members of No Q. No ore was killed
in the first crash, but two have since died
The men were about twelve feet inside
when the accident happened. Witness de-
scribed the difficulties encountered in res
cuinS the men from their perilous posi-
tions- So far as he knew the first four men
entered the building without authority
No. 9 company entered the building for the
sole purpose of saving the men of No &
In summing up, the witness said that all
due caution had been exercised by those
IN authority to prevent accident 1t is as
much the duty of the chief and his assist
ants to look after the safety of his men as
1t is to fight the flames, so said Assistant
Chief kurtZ.
kettIcr Led Them.
Fireman Anthony Malone of No. COM
pany stated that the men of No. were
working Louisiana avenue They were
later working on a cornice when they were
ordered down by Chief Paris and directed
to stand in front of the building; out lhe
chief cautioned them not to go inside.
few moments later, however, Assistant
Foreman Kettler. in charge of No s, di-
rected the men to advance slightly. The
fireraen demonstrated and called attention
to the danger. Kettlcr was persistent
occurred. the witness narrowly escaping
bring caught. Kettler had said: 1T looks
TOD bad to stay way out here on the side
walk. when We can get much closer 10
the fire.
The witness stated that during a service
of three years in the department he had
never Known the chief engineer or his as
s:stants to be other than careful in looking
after the safety of the men, and gave it as
his opinion that Rad Kettler obeyed orders
the lives would not have been sacrificed.
The order of Chief Paris and that of AS
sistant Chief KurtZ directing that the men
stay oats;de, was heard by all the men.
The enhance was made fifteen minutes af-
ter Chief Paris had left the scene In the
judgment of witness the risk assumed by
keuler was very great. OF the six who
entered. Sears and witness were the only
ores who escaped.
Fireman Charles w. Sears also of No.
company, said that he heard no one give
orders not to enter the building. Assistant
Chief Kurtz directed the men to descend
from the cornice and play a stream
through the doorway. The orders to enter
the building were given by Kettler. Malone
ard Mulhall demonstrated, stating that the
joists were weak, and that the situation