Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-24
Fire Caused by Explosion of
Can of Gasoline.
DEATH IN HOSPITAL
BLAZE IN ROOM NEAR EIGHTH
AND E STREETS NORTHWEST.
Caused but Little Damage to the
Property-Frightened Guests In
Adjacent Hotel.

While crowds of Christmas shoppers were
hurrying along the streets In the vicinity
of 9th and streets northwest last night,
about $50 o'clock, they were startled by
the appearance of number of companies
of the fire department coming from all
directions. The flremen quickly located
blaze in a small room in the rear or az OH
street James N. Corron, sixty-two years
old, the occupant OF the room, was discov-
cred soon afterward, and was dragged out.
1t was seen he had been severely burned,
and he was cared for by flremen until the ar
rival of the ambulance from the Emergency
Hospital. When the firemen reached the
sidewalk with him he was bleeding from
cuts and burns, received, 1t Is believed.
when a can Of gasoline exploded In MS
room But little sign OF life was noticed
in Corron. and the fremen could with dlHl-
GUILTY keep up respiration. The PHYSICIANS
arrived upon the scene soon arterwaro anu
took charge of him. ,ss
The room In which Corron lived is in the
rear of the Hotel Atlantic, and smoke from
the fire filed the hotel. Many of the guests
including the members OF three theatrical
companies left the dining room table and
rushed to the street. Some of them tum-
bled down the stairs in their anxiety to get
out of the building. but none of them sus-
taIned injury. The clerk in the hotel mad
meanwhile sounded the fire signal 1t was
soon found, however. that there was no
danger. and the guests returned to the
hotel.
Corron. who was the janitor of the small
building in the rear of the hotel occupied
the ground floor, doing his cooking and
sleeping in one room. The several rooms
bn the upper floor are occupied by colored
families. Mrs. White, an elderly woman,
being one of them.
Assisted to His Room.
Last night short time before the fire
occurred, the janitor was found in the alley
adjoining his apartment, and persons who
saw him say he was under the influence
Sf liquor and was hanging over small
iron hydrant. Mrs. Grace Rhodes colored
walked against him while passing through
the alley. and notified Mrs. White. Cor
9on had a bottle of gasoline with MIN,
but, the women say. he was unable
TO get all the way to the door leading
TO his apartment. The two women took
hold of him and assisted him to his room.
aiding him to get inside the door and also
conveying with him his bottle of gasoline
in order to get himsthere one of the women
made light with a match to enable her
10 unlock the door.
"Are you all right? one of them asked
him after he had been put in the room.
I'm all right" was his response.
Thinking they had performed the work
Of good Samaritans. the women withdrew
Mrs. White going to her apartments on the
second floor and Mrs. Rhodes starting to-
ward ner nome Inc FORMER nad no more
than reached her rooms on the upper floor
shan she heard Mrs. Rhodes call to her.
my God, the place fs on fire."
The women summoned assistance and
had an alarm sounded for the fire depart
ment. Before the arrival of the firemen
Mr.. Edgar Van Horn of IA 9th street south
east responded "a the cries for help and
threw a couple OF buckets of water upon
the blaze. Then. he said. he was refused
the privilege OF getting water in a business
place near the fire. and was urabie to enter
the blazing room because of the fire and
= smoke. .5s-.-.-.
The Danger Increased.
While was there doing my best to keep
down the fire until the fire department
reached the scene.'' he told Star reporter,
some man came along and smashed the
window This was the means of furnishing
breeze enough to feed the flames and it
was then impossible to do anything until
the firemen reached there. If had had a
few more buckets of water ! could have
held down the blaze and probably saved
the man in the, room from being SO badly
burned"
Policeman Mellen of the first precinct
was near the corner of 9th and e streets
when he heard the cry of fire, and turned
in the alarm. After Corron had been
dragged from the room the firemen threw
out the burning bedding and what little
furniture there was in the room to avoid
the danger of any further damage being
caused by the flames.
Corron was unconscious and remained so,
his death occurring soon after he reached
the hospital.
1t is believed the fire was caused by Cor
ron making an attempt to light his lamp
holding the match too close to the gasoline
But little damage TO property resulted. Cor
ron formerly lived In South Washington
TWO sons conduct a lunch room in this
city.