Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-13
EARLY MORNING FIRE
GUESTS OF HOTEL LAWRENCE
AROUSED FROM sLUMBER.
Blaze in Kitchen Threatened Destruc-
ton of Main Building-Damage
Amounts to $4,000.

One hundred and twenty-five guests at the
Hotel Lawrence were suddenly called from
their rooms this morning about I:1j O'Clock,
when fire started On the second floor over
the kitchen in the rear Of the building and
threatened the destruction of the building.
As it turned out, the blaze did not reach
the hotel proper, although smoke and water
did a small amount of damage In that por-
ton. By the time the f1remen reached the
hotel the big building was well filled with
smoke and they found some of the guests
to be thoroughly frightened. 1t is probably
due to the thoughtfulness of Mr.. Samuel
Cassenheimer. the hotel proprietor, and Po-
liceman Oriani that a panic did not occur
among the guests. These two went about
from room to room in a manner not calcu-
lated to cause excitement and aroused the
sleeping occupants, most OF whom were
theatrical people, and very few having left
their beds when the fire started. The first
they knew of the affair was when they
heard the rappng on the doors and We're
advised to dress and leave the building.
The proprietor Of the hotel and the po-
iceman were careful to explain that the
guests We're in no danger, and in this way
prevented any exciting scenes such as usu-
ally follow hotel fires. Three of the guests
left their rooms and descended the fire
escape without stopping to dress. Some of
the younger occupants CT the upper rooms
were carried down the IRON stairway by Po-
liceman Oriani and members Of the fire de-
partment, while the others were able to
descend without assistance
The guests all managed to get to the
lower floors or to the street without sus-
tanning any injury or losing any Of their
personal effects. Two firemen, Privates ST.
mon McLane of No. 1 engine company and
Lee Hunt of No. company, were badly
shaken up by falling through with the floor
in the burned building but were not injured
enough to them tn tUnr
Where the Fire Originated.
~The building in which the fire occurred is
tWo-story brick building located on the
alley In rear of the hotel, and a door con-
meets 1t with the main structure. On the
second floor of the building the proprietor
had cots, pillows, bedding and dishes stored.
They were used In the hotel during in
augurations and at other times when the
city is crowded with strangers The fire
started among this material from some un1
known cause, probably spontaneous COM
nustlon. Fortunately, the night Waterman,
FRANK Thomas, discovered the flames be-
fore any Roadway had been gained He
hurried to the room of Mr.. Gassenheimer
and Informed him of the blaze, and the
latter sent him to summon the fire depart
ment. One company quickly reached the
scene and an alarm was then turned in
which called out several additional COM
panies.
In the kitchen We're the cook and several
assistants preparing breakfast, while the
walters were in the dining room adjoining
These men undertook the task of extin-
gushing the blaze, but the smoke was so
dense that they were driven from the upper
MOOR and all they could do was to save
the portable ma terfal on the lower floor and
await the arrival of the firemen. The hotel
adJoins the National Theater. and fear was
expressed that the latter building would be
destroyed or damaged, but the f1remen kept
the flames within the walls of the two-story
structure, and no additional alarm was
sounded Assistant Chief Wagner was on
hand to direct the movements of the fire.
men, and the work done by the crews
brought them congratulations after the
flames had been eXtinguished.
While the flames did not reach the hotel
building proper the guests had to go else
where for breakfast. The damage to the
building and contents is estimated at about
1900, and the property was fully insured.
The building is owned by the National Cap
ital Brewing Company