Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-21
HAS NO PHONES
Big Exchange Destroyed by
Disastrous Fire.
LOSS
French Hello Girls Flee in Terror
From Flames.
TWO BIG BLAZES ARE FOUGHT
Large Department Store, Magasin 6e
la Vile de st. Denis, Also
Destroyed.
TWO BIG BLAZES ARE FOUGHT

PARIS. September 3l.-Yesterday VIII
be remembered by the Paris fire brigade.
as il had to combat two OF the greatest
CONGREGATIONS IN recent years-one in tho
morning at the department store known
as the Magasin de Ia Vile de st. Denis.
the other IN the evening at the central
telephone station
In each case the destruction was COM
plete. All that the tiremen could do was
TO prevent the flames from spreading 10
neighboring buildings.
The fire at the telephone station oc-
Cured at O'Clock. For weeks past
workers have been employed installing
the new central multiple battery. which
was expected to do much to relieve the
congestion Of the Paris telephone service.
In view of the urgency of the work tho
men were on duty Sunday. They just
ceased work and were at a wine counter
at the corner of La Rue Coz Heron when
a messenger rushed In 10 announce that
fire had broken out in the cellars OF tho
exchange building.
Operators Flee in Terror.
The men hurried back, to be met by
clouds of smoke from the lower part OF
the structure At the same time a flash
of flame on the second floor showed that
a short circuit had occurred. driving the
panic-stricken operators from their in
struments. shriekng in terror.
Girls rushed into the street, many or
them still wearing their telephone caps
with receivers over their ears. AS 1t was
Sunday there was reduced staff On
duty, numbering about two hundred.
All the employs were able to escape
without difficulty.
AS there is a large fire brigade station
in La Rue Jean Jacques Rosseau, a few
doors off, the brigade was on the scene
of the fire in a few minutes. The fire
mems task was no easy one. as burning
India rubber and gutta percha from a
thousand cables sent out clouds of suffo-
eating smoke which the torches OF the
firemen could not penetrate.
Half dozen men wearing smoke he'll
NETS CROPPED about the cellars in vain
attempt to locate the fire, while their
comrades attempted to attack the flames
on the second floor. This was matter OF
no little difficulty, as the smoke made
the staircases impossible, while MASSIVE
iron gates weighing several tons. barred
the entry to La Rue Gutenberg, between
the telephone building and the general
post office. These gates are rarely opened
and last night the key could not be-
found.
Lack of Water.
A score of firemen. aided by hundred
or SO spectators. put their shoulders
against the gates, while man with
crowbar pred the lock open. There was
a loud crash and amid the cheers of the
crowd the firemen passed through Half
a dozen fire ladders were then run into
the Rue Gutenberg and the firemen clam
bered to the second floor, which by this
time was burning fiercely from end to
end. AT first the supply of water was
insufficient and the lack OF pressure nam
dicapped the brigade.
Suddenly a powerful Panhard limousine
came racing up the Rue du Louvre. its
tooter sounding continuously. 1t tore
across the intricate network of hose.
pulled up opposite the general post office,
which is next to the telephone office. and
NJ Lepne, project of police, CARRIED in
leather. jumped out followed by the Colo
mel commanding the Paris firemen.
NJ. Lepine dashed through the smoke,
fire and water and passed through the
Rue Gutenberg into the Rue Jean
Jacques Rousseau. The colonel at once
took over command. 1t soon became
manifest, however. that the building was
doomed. From the cellar to the third
floor it was one huge braZier. A success
sion of loud crashes announced that the
ceiling of the third floor was giving away,
and an instant later the flames shot into
the fourth floor.
Whole Building Collapses.
simultaneously the whole of the Rue du
Louvre was lighted up by a series Of
bright flashes. followed by succession
of reports as the casks of petroleum and
the carboys of sulphuric acid exploded.
The side on the Rue du Louvre COL