Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-12-29
WOMAN PER|SHES
IN BURNING HOUSE
Dwelling of P. M. Becker De-
stroyed by Fire.
MRS. BECKER LOSES LIFE
Her Daughter Seriously Injured and
is Conveyed to Hospital.
HUSBAND ABSENT FROM HOME
Searchers Unable to Locate Him
Inquiry Continued Until Late
Hour This Morning.

During the progress of tre at the
residence of P. NJ. Becker. secretary of the
Frazee Laundry, 1OO6 18th street, at .
o'clock this morning, Mrs. Becker was
burned to death, and her daughter, Edna,
was severely burned. She was conveyed
to the Emergency Hospital for treat
ment.
One of the fremen, upon entering the
basement of the house, stumbled over
the body of Mrs. Becker. She had pre-
sumably gone from her sleeping apart
ment on the third floor to the basement,
overcome by the smoke and later burned
TO death.
Cause of Fire Unknown.
The fremen were unable to discover
the cause of thes blaze. When they
arrived the house No. 1905 18th street
northwest was a mass of flames and the
home and it's contents practically des-
troyed, although the fire was extinguished
without much damage to the front of
the building. The houses on each side
were uninjured
Mr.. Becke- was not at home when the
fire started. Neighbors who came from
all directions did an that was possible to
aid the occupants of the house. but mat
ters were in such confusion that little
could be DONE
When the daughter, Edna, left the
house she ran to the home Of Mr.. ]. NJ.
Moore. 1902 nth street, where she fell in
faint in the front yard. She was then taken
20 Emergency Hospital. Nothing serious
IS expected from her burns. From what
the firemen can leafn the blaze started
in the basement
1t is the belief of 'some of those who
were at the fire that gas was escaping,
and when Mrs Becker went to investigate
she struck match and the explosion
followed enveloping Mrs Becker in
4rmry 6SlTwo of her daughters, Mrs
Joseph {mS jr.. ami Mrs. Marshall.
are said SWeside in yhis city, the latter
On New Fos avenue
Daughters Statement.
The d<ughter's version of the fire Is
thu her mother and she were awakened
by the smoke. and they went down stairs
to the base@fh, where the furnace was
red net and a gas stove was blazing
The flames were spreading in all direc-
tions. s,Ahe young woman became fright
ened an4 ran upstairs. but Mrs. Becker
apparently tried to extinguish the fire,
when she was overcome by the smoke
and vas burned to. death.
Mr.. Harper and Mr.. W. j. Pltner
were the first persons in the house and
when they discovered Mrs Becker in the
basement they attempted to carry her
out of the building but found that she
was dead and only carried her to the area
way. Mr.. Pitner stated that when he
took hold of the body the flesh slipped
from the bones of her arm.
Mr.. Becker's Whereabouts Unknown
Mr.. Becker was stated to be the sec
retary of the Frazee Laundry Company
but in the directory he is recorded as the
secretary of the National Permanent AS
sociation. 1t was learned also that until
a fortnight ago he was connected with
the Lafayette Turkish baths, having
charge of the establishment during the
daytime. He had not been located at a
late hour this morning. The couple have
five children.
Considerable mystery attaches to Mr..
Becker's absence from home, for the
reason that none of those who knew
him was able even TO state where he
was accustomed to pass the time when
not employed at his vocation.