Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-04-20
EARLY FIRE IN LOCAL HOTEL
THE VENDOME THREATENED
WITH DESTRUCTION.
Policemen Discover Blaze in One Of
the Rooms and Sound Alarm
Loss, $3.50.

Fire threatened the destruction of the
Hotel Vendome, corner Pennsylvania ave-
nue. and Sd street northwest this morning,
shortly before o'clock. The proprietor Of
the hotel and the clerk, who was on duty
in the office at the time the fire occurred,
express gratitude to Sergt Plemmons and
Policeman Newkirk for their good work in
saving the building from destruction.
IF it had not been for the policemen"
said the proprietor Of the hotel after the
blaze had been extinguished, II believe the
building would have suffered great damage.
1t was due to their cool heads and effective
work that serious fire was prevented"
Sergt. Plemmons and Policeman Newkirk
were walking west on Pennsylvania avenue
when they saw the blaze in room on the
Sd street side of the building. The SER
geant went to box Is and turned in an
alarm, while Policeman Newkirk ran to the
hotel and aroused those inside by cry of
fire. Mr.. D. G. Adams, the clerk, Thought
the officer was Joking when he heard him
call. but was quickly assured there was
really fire in progress. Two fire extin-
guishers were procured from neighboring
building by the policemen, and the officers
worked faithfully upon the blaze until the
arrival of the fire department.
Officer Rings Gong.
Policeman Newkirk, in addition to play
gong in the hotel to give notice to the
hundred or more guests Fearing the gong
would not have the desired effect he went
through the hall on the floor where the fire
was burning and broke open several doors,
not waiting to answer any inquiries. Men,
women and children rushed from the rooms
to learn the cause of the excitement. Those
who occupied rooms on the second floor,
near where the fire was burning, went to
other apartments and dressed but those in
other parts of the building were not per-
mitted to don their wearing apparel.
Several companies of the fire department
responded to the alarm and the firemen
were soon at work Policeman NEWARK
was found by the firemen near the elevator
shaft, and it was due to his effective work,
it is believed, that the blaze did not reach
the shaft; otherwise the f1remen would
have experienced considerable trouble in
saving the upper part of the building. The
fire burned through the ceiling of the room
in which the fire started. and some little
damage was done to the carpet and walls
in the hall. The firemen did the most of
their work with hand extinguishers.
Blaze Quickly Extinguished.
1t required but a few minutes work to
extinguish the blaze. The guests We're able
to return to their rooms in a short while
1t is supposed the fire was caused by a
lighted cigarette left in the room. 1t
was stated at the hotel that about mid
night a young man registered there F.
A. Tschiffely, Jr., of Baltimore, and was
assigned to room 6. About O'Clock, the
clerk said, he sent to the Office for pack
age of cigarettes. He left the hotel about
five minutes before the fire was discovered
it is supposed, to catch the 300 Baltimore
and Ohio train for home
The damage to the building and contents
is estimated at about $500, and the loss
is covered by insurance. Christian Heurich
owns the building.