Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-30
COOK FOUND BURNED
TO DEATH IN KITCHEN
Two Firemen Overcome in At
tempt at Rescue-Fire in
Days Saloon.

Jeremiah Clark, colored who resided
at $40 Freeman alley, was burned to
death yesterday afternoon in the kitchen
on the second floor at Michael Days
saloon. 1910 9TH street northwest, where
he was employed as cook. William A.
Schwerdtferger of No. 6 engine company
and B. F. Denham of No. engine COM
pany were overcome by smoke and had
to be rescued from the building They
were taken to the Homeopathic Hospital.
They were not in a dangerous condition
and their friends were assured that they
would not have to remain in the hospital
very long.
The cook was alone in the kitchen,
which was in the rear on the second
floor He experienced some trouble with
the gasoline stove and the fluid was per-
mitted to run from the tank connected
with the stove. Thinking he gould ex-
tinguish the blaze without much trou-
BILE, Clark proceeded to throw water upon
the stove and blaze, not realizing that
the water would cause the blazing fluid
to spread.
Water Causes Flames to Spread.
AS soon as he threw a bucket of water
on the blaze he was surprised to find the
fluid spreading over the entire room.
He called down the shaft of the dumb
waiter that there was a blaze In the
kitchen, but before help reached him the
blaze had ignited his clothing and the
fumes had affected him to such an extent
that he was unable to get out of the
room.
There was great excitement in the
house for a few minutes Persons in the
building were ready to render assistance,
but 1t was utterly impossible for them
to enter the room in which the fire start
ed. Clark's means and cries could be
plainly heard. The sounding of an alarm
turned in from box 212 called out several
companies of the fire department and the
police reserves from the second precinct.
and the members of the two protective
branches of the government labored
hard to save life and property.
Firemen Found Overcome.
The intense heat melted the gaspipe
connections and caused the gas to escape
from the pipes. making it extremely diff
cult for the firemen to enter the upper
part of the building to search for the
colored man and to fight the flames. But
Denham and Schwerdtferger assembled
the stairway to see what they could do
Their long absence alarmed the other
fremen. One of the superior officers of
the department entered the building to
make an examination and he was sur
prised to find the two firemen overcome
by the smoke and gas. One of the fire
men had fallen to the floor. while the
other was found resting against win
dow Neither was able to speak when
rescued from the building. and the police
hurried them to the Homeopathic Hos
t,>f@a t1,ni, uyoo
were soon revived and pronounced out
of danger.
The charred body of Clark was found
in a seated position on a chair.
When the flames had finally been ex-
tinguished an examination was made of
the premises, and 1t was estimated that
the damage to the building and stock
! amounted to nearly $1,000. The police
done to the building. while about 500
was caused to the personal effects of
the saloonkeeper.
Fire on 18th Street.
Fire broke out in the tailoring estab-
| lishment of Bernard HUT. 1881 18th
street northwest, shortly after 3 o'clock
Yesterday afternoon, the blaze spreading
| to house 1772 T street, occupied by
Caroline Noll. and also causing excite
ment in Chinese laundry. The smoke
became SO dense in the laundry that the
Chinaman had to seek fresh air outside
of his establishment.
Firemen reported that the fire was
caused by the explosion of gasoline
iron, but the police reported that they
were unable to ascertain its origin. The
| fire reached the second floor of the 18th
street building and caused damage to the
| building estimated at $1,000, while that
| to the contents amounted to about $500.
/ 4 ur9 estimated nv the n0ltCp that
| the damage to the house occupied by
| Mrs. Noll will reach about $500. There
| was no damage done to the laundry
other than that caused by the smoke.