The Washington times., 1910-02-12
Walter S. Ufford Descends
Safely From Roof in
$4,000 Blaze.
CATHEDRAL HEIGHTS
HOTEL DESTROYED
Many Narrow Escapes Among
Thirty Guests IN Early Morn
ing ConHagration.

. Several fatilitieS were narrowly
+ avened this morning at a fire which
destroyed Woodley Inn, a fashion
able small hotel at Cathedral
Heights near the National Cathedral
School at Mt. St. Alban.
That the thirty or more guests
all well known in Washington. es-
capped, IS due to the promptness
with which the alarm for fire was
turned in.
/ Owing to the high wind blowing
at the time, the blaze spread with
rapidity and none of the guests had
time to save any personal belong
ngs. They were content to flee in
sCant attire.
CLOTHES DESTROYED.
/ While the flames swept through
the building and the flying sharks
waited through the air bv the
strong wind, threatened other dwell
ings in the neighborhood. the guests
stood around IN shivering grouns
powerless to save even their ward
robes.
The fact that the fire broke ont
about 3:30 o'clock, and was not dis
covered until 1t had gained such
headway that the water supply had
ndC iittle eject in chtckiug n i'm
periled the lives Of the guests.
Many Narrow Escapes.
IN the hurry to escape from the b-rn-
ing hotel there were several narro,e
escapes.
Secretary Walter =. J-so-5 Of +s-
District Associated Charities. who o.
cupied a room in that part Of the build
ins known as The Tower had
thrilling experience. He escaped r-5...
his life because he remained cool
Aroused from a sound sleep by cr-ez
OF Fire he found his exit by tie
stairway cut OF Climbing to the RON
Of the tower. four stories from the
ground. he called for assistance. In
/ the excitement no ladder could bs
found Meantime the IRE had crept
dangerously near his position on the
roof It seemed as 4 his only escape
from death lay in jumping
Slide for His Life.
With the roof abIaze and while the
excited guests on the ground shouted
/ encouragement, Mr. Uford seized the
sheets and blankets from his bed. He
tore them into strips. and tying them
. together 10 form a rope. he slid. han.
over hand, 10 the ground
Other guests to narrowly eScane were
J. :. Garland, assistant superintendent
OF the District Water Department Oz-
car GareEsseG- a Washington musician
and Mrs Leach, widow Of Colonel
? Leach, T. = A, who died suddenly
. few months ago
Mr. Garland when aroused BY the
shouts Of excited guests. woke Mrs
Garland and their two children. and
they escaped by cIamberinE from the
high porch outside their bedrooms to
the ground. clad only IN such clothing
as happened TO be near at hand
When the roll was called and Il was
found that there were no fatalities. the
guests were taken into nearby houses
and made comfortable
Fire IN Laundry
T. was about $50 O'Clock that Mrs.
Margaret F. NundaE the widow Of an
army officer, vho conducted the hotel.
was awakened ny a frightened servant
Going hurriedIy 10 the laundry. in the
/ rear of the bn.Idiug. from which dense
( smoke was issuing. Mrs AIunday saw at
a glance that the inn was in danger.
Rushing TO her apartment she dressed
hastily and then aroused the guests.
Mrs dunday -~nSined cool giving first
thought to he lives IN danger before
attempting 20 save any Of her belong
ings.
The fire had been burning for fully
twenty minutes before Mrs MUnday's
telephone message 10 The IRE engine
company at Tenl-yJOwn. nearly mile
away. brought ai-- Meantime the fire
had spread through the entire building
and the two stree ms OF water were in
effective A second call brought an en-
gine company from Georgetown. cut the
long distance and the stun climb Up the
Wisconsin avenue nil caused delay.
making the service Of this company Of
For a time il was feared that other
buildings within a radius Of several
hundred yards might catch FIRE because
the strong wind blowing al the time
carried showers or sparks 20 neighpor-
ing roofs II happened however. that
the sleet and snow which had fallen
earlier In the night prevented this
VaIuables Lost
An Investigation after the fire had
been put out showed not only a total
loss Of the building, but the loss or its
furnishings, consisting of silver, val
liable Turkish rugs, paintings and ART
objects. as well as the jeweIrv ana
cIethiuC OF the guests. one guest loSs
chest OF old family silver, and an