Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-01-25
YELLING ABLAZE
THRILLING RESCUE OF A WOMAN
OCCUPANT.
Boarding House Damaged to the
Amount of p, 600 Origin
Of the Fire.

A thrilling rescue from death, heroic
display Of GOODNESS and nerve on the part
of the woman rescued, and blaze which
caused 5000 damage and required hard
work on the part Of the f1remen to prevent
its spread were the features Of confla-
grafton this afternoon in the fashionable
boarding house conducted by Mrs. e. L.
Temple. at 1347 L street northwest, which
was caused by children playing with
matches.
The fire started about 1: 80 o'clock this
afternoon, and an alarm was sent in by
Martin Mauger, quickly followed by a
second alarm. The flames started in the
third floor of the building, where, 1t was
stated, several children were playing
with matches
Blaze Spreads Rapidly.
The blaze spread rapidly over the upper
floor. so rapidly. in fact, that Mrs. F. Agnes
Merrill, boarder. who occupied a room on
that floor found herself almost hemmed
in by wall Of fire.
The boys ran down stairs yelling fire, and
Mrs. Merrill finding that her escape was
cut Off by way of the stairs, ran to a front
window and stepped out upon the roof of
the bay window. The flames and smoke
poured from the window almost obscuring
the woman from the crowd which was
gathering on the street below.
Among those who witnessed Mrs. Mer-
rill's peril was Joe Beach. bell boy at the
Hotel Dewey, across the way. Joe was
quick to act. Summoning "Aleck," the col
ored porter of the hotel, Beach seized a
ladder In the hotel and rushing across the
street forced an entrance to the vacant
house, 1345 l. street, next to the burning
building.
Going to the second floor, the young man.
with the assistance of Policemen ]. M. Nc
Grath and ]. H. Moore, Fireman Sylvester
of Truck B and Lieut.. Hanion of engine
company No. 2, placed the ladder dag
onally from a window to the roof of the
bay window Of the burning building.
Woman Remains Calm.
In the meantime number of citizens on
the sidewalk had made an impromptu
safety net of large rug for the imperiled
woman to spring into.
Don't lose your nerve" yelled citizen
below.
81 am not excited" replied Mrs Merrill
coolly.
1t was seen that she was almost suffo-
Gated by the binding clouds of smoke which
enveloped her, and she was observed to
reach down to the snow-covered roof, where
she secured a handful of snow and held it
to her face.
The men in the next building placed the
ladder in position and held it there by
main strength, and one of the most sensa-
t1onal rescues on record here was effected.
Mrs. Merrill came down the ladder in
safety. and was carried to the Dewey Ho-
tel, where the great strain she had en-
dured caused her almost to collapse
Mrs. Merrill is from Vermont, and only
went to Mrs. Temples house to board last
night.
The upper portion of the house was
burned out, entailing loss approXimated
by Chief Belt at about 5000.
The building is said to be owned by Mrs
Annie Y. Gier. and was badly damaged,
the fire burning away much of the roof and
interior of the upper floors.
By dint of hard work the firemen prevent
ed the flames from restroying the building
and from spreading to the adjoining prop
erty.
Chief Belt stated that the fire department
experienced the greatest difficulty In reach
ing the scene of the fire owing to the Slip
perry condition of the roadways.
The colored porter at the Dewey Hotel
who assisted in the rescue of Mrs. Merrill
was Alexander Wills.