Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-07-25
FATALLY BURNS ONE
Serious Fire at 1847 9th
Street Last Night.
MISS OWENS is THE VICTIM
Mrs. Mabel Coppersmith Seriously
Burned Also.
SOME THRILLING REsCr ES
Husband Saves Wife and Infant
and Rushes Back to Aid
Others.
SOME THRILLING REsCr Es

Miss Mabel Owens. stenographet.
thirty-ive years of age. and Mrs. Ma
bel Coppersmith. fifty years of age,
were removed to the Freedmen's Hospi-
tai last night in a serious condition.
suffering from burns which they re-
ceived in Mrs. Coppersmith's home, dS47
9th street northwest. Four other per-
sons in the house escaped injury.
It was stated at the hospital at an
early hour this morning that Miss
Owens condition is serious. as she was
burned all over the body. Mrs Copper
smith was only burned about the head
and arms and is expected to recover
The origin OF the flames Is unknown.
They started In tile bedroom OF Miss
Owens in the rear of the second floor.
They spread rapidly and after burning
out the contents of this room went into
a narrow hallway and down the back
stairs. They spread to an adjoining
room occupied by Mrs. Coppersmith
her nightgown. She ran ont of her room
into the hall and thence into Mrs. Cop
persmiths room.
Women Penned In.
The elder woman had not retired, and
was dressed in her street clothes. The
flames spread SO rapidly that the two
back stairs or out of the front way was
impossible When they started for tue
front stairs their clothing caught fire. and
before they reached the head OF the stairs
both were overcome by the smoke and
fumes and fell to the floor.
Officers Geier and Garrett of the
eigth precinct rushed into the house
about that time and carried the two
women through the flames and down the
stairs The patrol wagon arrived shortly
aftcrward and they were removed to
the hospital.
Saves His Wife and Child.
The fire was discovered by Mr.. f. I.
Crum. who, with his wife. occupied the
entire lower floor of the house. The
couple, with their infant child. had re-
tired. Mr.. Crum was awakened by
smelling the smoke. He arose from his
bed and upon looking out Of the window
saw the flames coming from the second
story rear window. With his wife he
hastily donned scant clothing and took
the infant to house next door.
After ascertaining that his wife and
child We're safe. Mr.. Crum ran back into
the house and made an effort to go up-
stairs to assist the other occupants of
the house, but the flames had reached
the stairway and he was unable to do
so. A citizen was passing the house
about the time Mr.. Crum discovered
the HTe ana ran To Sln dHu SlIcClo
and turned in an alarm from box 20.
to which engine companies Z. . and L.
and truck company 4 responded.
Thrilling Ladder Rescue.
Mrs. Elizabeth Gascoigne and her
daughter. Miss Grace Gascoigne. occu-
pied the front secOnd-story room. They
were awakened by the smoke and the
screams OF the two women. Thes
dressed and were sitting on the front
window sill when the truck company
reached the scene. 4 ladder was placed
to the front of the building. and almost
before it had been placed solid against
the house Private Easley of No. y en-
gine company was running up 1t. He
caught Mrs Gascoigne around the waist
and carried her safely to the ground
In the meantime another ladder had
been placed against the house and Lieut.
Steele of the same company rescued the
daughter in a like manner.
After the flames had burned down the
back stairway they spread to the kitchen
where considerable damage was done. The
prompt arrival OF the fire department,
however. kept the flames from reaching
the front of the house.
They had burned through the ceiling