Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-04-04
FIRE AT UNIVERSITY
Blaze at George Washington
Medical School
CAUSES A LOSS OF $500
Roof Badly Damaged-Department,
by Good Work, Quickly Ex-
tinguishes Flames.

Fire in the building occupied by the
medical school of George Washington
University. 1925 H street northwest. about
1870 o'clock this morning, caused about
$500 damage. The fire started in the
clinical laboratory, on the top floor,
spread to the big room used as the bac-
THEOLOGICAL laboratory. and also burned
through the roof. Several companies of
the fire department responded, but only
three Of them went into service, Deputy
Chief Sullivan directing the work in a
manner which resulted not only in slight
injury to the building by fire, but which
also prevented serious water damage.
Rain had made the streets slippery, and
the horses Of No truck and No en-
CINE company's hose wagon slipped near
the White House and fell. The accidents
caused only slight delay in reaching the
fire..
While the roof Of the big structure is
badly damaged and the skylights broken,
the damage will not interrupt the work
of the school. Only few inexpensive in
struments were ruined and they were
promptly replaced from the stockroom.
DR.. William Cline Borden. dean of the
university, reached the building while the
flremen were at work. He went through
made careful examination.
Students Arrive on Scene.
DR.. Borden found the fire had done
much less damage than he had anticipat-
ed. The students were surprised at the
condition Of affairs when they reached
the building. They were informed by
DR.. Borden that the damage would not
,atr IL
would merely mean the transfer Of their
work from one room to another. The
dean said he was unable to give an esti-
mate Of the amount Of damage done by
the fire, but he was certain 1t would not
be great.
1t is believed that The fire was caused
by glass tubes containing chemical solu-
ton becoming overheated and igniting
the cotton in the ends of them. The
blaze had gained considerable Roadway
Deputy Chief Sullivan reached the scene
he saw the flames leaping across the al
ley to the east of the building, the side
farthest from the hospital. Hospital pa
tients who knew of the fire were assured
that they were in no danger, and there
was no excitement.
Animals in Danger.
During the fire fear was entertained for
a few white mice and three rabbits in a
small room directly over the one in which
the fire started, but the door to the room
was closed and when the smoke had clear
ed away 1t was found that the animals
had not been harmed. From the small
room used as a clinical laboratory the
fire reached the Office of Dr. Russell,
where a microscope and other instru-
ments were damaged or destroyed, and
soon spread to the big room in the rear.
Members Of No. engine company, the
first company to reach the fire. we're sent
to the top floor Of the structure Nos. 2
and 3 truck companies assisting In getting
their hose line in position. Deputy Chief
Sullivan used his men to the best pos
sible advantage and in few minutes he
was satisfied he would be able to check
the fire without delay and without Hood
ing the building unnecessarily.
In less than one hour his men had the
last spark extinguished and were at work
clearing away the debris and sweeping
out what water there was on the floors.