Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-09-13
+ JTIvE1IER n

scene with his men the Beckett homo was
a mass of flames, which had started in
the kitchen. Mrs. Beckett was impTisoE-
ed in Il high secOnd-story room. It was
a frame structure and burned like pulp.
Nicholson drew ladder to the second
story window and found Mrs. Beckett
overcome by the heat and smoke When
Nicholson entered the room he was slight
~ burned. but he brought Mrs. Beckett
out in his arms and with the aid of RI
Yates Davis and Watt carried her to the
ground. Nicholson was commended high
ly for his brave act by his superior Off
GERS and subsequently he was promoted
TO higher rank. Nicholson displayed rare
courage again when May %, 1902. he
saved from destruction the magnificent
Armstrong Manual Training School just
after il was completed. There was an ax-
plosion Of chemicals in the laboratory.
The lower part of the structure was filled
with poisonous fumes from the burning
chemicals the heardest sort of a ire 80
fight. Nicholson led his men into the
place and at the risk of their lives and
by the hardest sort OF work prevented the
destruction of a valuable piece OF gov
eminent property.
A Nicholson Rescue.
Nicholson's rescue of TWO helpless chill
dren from a burning structure ut nth
and * streets northwest March -. 1SSS.
also stands out on the records as d brave
ones at home and fire broke out during
their absence When Nicholson and his
men from TRUCK ID reached the scene
the fire had gained such Roadway that
one could enter the Railways The chill
dren Were penned in and overcome By
the smoke. Nicholson ran up a ladder,
climbed through the rooms and brought
the little ones out in his arms and w.tl
the aid of some of his men the children
were taken TO the ground safely. fI'H
inst Ia
is eXemplifed by the feat Of Private @Er
r. Padgett. WHO Unaided saved the kffs
of two aged women from 4 hotel tiFt TtS
the use of "A thirty-foot extension LADDER.
which was he'd in the air by Il feluW
fireman. The rescued were Mrs. Maj
faret Tulty and Mrs. Virginia EmertfI.N.
who Were taken out Of the second Hohr
of a hotel on lower Pennsylvania avenue
which was in flames May j., 1904. Pfs
other guests of the place had eScarrdE
some of them in their night clothes. 'Tlss
two women were cut off from all avenue
of escape. 1t was Padgett's opportu.liYy
and he seized il. He bravely ran III i
ladder to the front rooms of the ho.eE
To reach the windows the ladder hwae
hoisted on the shoulders of a sta1wart
fireman, and down this shaking suppSr'
Padgett carried the women. speaking OF
this rescue 10 the Commissioners, Chief
Belt said: a.
The rescue was indeed one wortHnG f
recognition. for when the persons We're
taken from the building il was enveloptd
in flames No doubt had il not been Tor
the prompt action of Padgett the women
would have perished."
Commissioner West regards PadEett as
one of the bravest men i'll the department
This opinion was expressed by the Conn
missioner after Padgett protected the life
of Mrs. L. l. II. Edwards. who WAS at
tackled by thug in her home on Georgia
avenue southeast the night OF May 81,
1903 PadSett lives across the street from
the Edwards home. During her hus-
bands absence a thug attacked Mrs. Ed
wards in her home and her cries were
heard by Padgett. who. aroused from
his sleep rushed out of his house just in
time to knock the intruder senSeleSs.
Padgett led the man to the police station.