The Washington herald., 1909-11-07

Peter Fersinger. a welI-knOwn builder
Of Washington, his invalid wife. and sew
en- children were driven from their home
at 1 n street northwest last night by
flames which Quilted the house burned an
automobile shed, and an automobile in a
rear yard, and nearly destroyed a stable.
resulting IN damage estimated at $1,000
partly covered by insurance.
The blaze originated in the automobile
shed, which IS between the stable and
the house. Chauffeur Levy. engaged by
Ferslnger TO care for an automobile pur-
chased two weeks ago. was repairing a
break in the machine shortly after
o'clock. A spark ignited the gasoline
which leaked from the tank, and Levy
had difficulty in escaping from the shed
alive
He shouted the alarm and tried 20 ex-
tinguish the blaze Fersinger ran from
the house to the yard and aided the
chauffeur in trying 10 stop the progress
Of the flames. which were spreading rap
idly. fed by the oil in the tank The
builder saw the blaze would soon be be
yond checking. and sent his son Joseph
sixteen years old. 10 sound an alarm
Aid Mother TO safety.
Fersinger shouted TO his daughters %
leave the house at once Mrs Mary L.
Rice. the eldest daughter Caroline, &C.
celia. and Otue Fersinger assisted the
invalid mother from the house and across
the street 70 the home Of a friend, while
Fersinger was leading horse from the
stable 20 a spot Of safety in rear alley
Joseph Ferslnger returned In a few
minutes and told his father he had
sounded an alarm. but when firemen did
not appear. the father sent the boy 70
the fire box second time. Joseph, who
has been lame since birth. made the trip
from the house TO box 6i6 thee times.
II was learned later that the boy did
not understand the mechanism Of the
box.
When the flames had nearly destroyed
the automobile and the shed in which II
was sheltered and had leaped to the
rear windows in the house. the alarm
was sounded. summOnirE Truck Company
/ No. 4. Engine Companies 70. 6, and Z. and
Battalion Chief Kelliher 10 the scene
/ When Iruch no eN ulE NtsN AA'ttA 40
house at New Jersey avenue and N
streets. Capt. Beers saw the flames leap
ing high above the Fersinger home. Fire
! man Charles W. Rice. who is Fersinger' $
son-in-law. was on the truck He was
/ buttoning his coat when the captain
called out. IT'S your home, Charlie
Rushes Into Building
When the truck reached the scene Rice
was the first 10 leave the apparatus. Fear
ing his wife and some member of the
Ferslnger family might be in the burn
ing structure. he pulled his helmet over
his ewes and entered the building, search
ing through every floor al the risk OF
his life.
Chief Keuiher learned the fireman was
in the house. and knowing every one had
left it before the fire gained headway, fol-
lowed, Rice into the smoke and flames The
chief found Rice on the third floor. try
ing 20 reach q front window. lie as
sisted the fireman 20 the window, and
the men began breaking glass with then
hare hands. Cut and bleeding they leane1
out. and IN few seconds were revived
Ladders had been raised by the hremen
under orders from Beers and Kelliher
and Rice descended in safety 10 the street
They STAYED until the fire was under
control. and were then removed 20 TIT
Homeopathic Hospital. Each receive,
painful injuries.