Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-06-09
FIRE DRILL WAS WET
Government Printing Office
Workers Drenched.
HOSE PLAYED ON THEM
Amateur Firefghters Train Streams
on Exits, and Outcoming Employ
es Are Forced Into Rain.

Fire"
The word was passed around among
amateur firefghters of the government,
printing office Tuesday afternoon. The
fire brigade is said to consist of about
a dozen laborers.
Really there was no fire about the big
printing office, save in the engine room
furnaces and under the smelling pots.
Some one high in authority at the
printery had read newspaper account
of disastrous confiagration in the west
The story of the blaze put the notion In
his head to resurrect a general order
of several years standing which pro-
vides for fire drill at intervals.
Nearly Closing Time.
II was near to the hour for closing
down the works. 4:S0 O'Clock, when the
edict went forth that the fire brigade
was to assemble quickly and from the
new building attack an imaginary con-
f1agratiOn in the old structure across the
alley, which separates the new from the
old.
Upon the receipt of the order from the
front office the amateur firemen got busy
without delay. There was a dragging
forth of hose and other apparatus for
fighting 1.-The red demon. \ tall man,
who seemed to be in supreme command
of the fireInen, gave the orders in cool,
confident tones.
Innumerable hose lines were connected
with fire plugs in the new building.
NOZZles were aimed at the venerable
structure across Jackson alley. AS the
streams of water began to play and the
spray was rising in clouds, like the mist
from Niagara Falls, the printers, book
binders, woman folders and other work.
ers began to file out of the buildings.
Streams Played on Exits.
There is an order that the exit of the
Workmen and workwomen must be
through the side doors along the alley
and G street. Consequently. as the head
of the line of workers reached the doors
on the alley and witnessed the deluge of
water crashing against the walls of the
old building and flying back in foaming
masses, they tried to force their way
back into the new structure.
Hundreds of toilers behind, not aware
of the conditions in front, pressed for
ward and forced the front rank out into
the alley and into the torrents of flying
water. Then ensued scene of excite
ment.
More than 100 employees, drenched to
the skin and looking like drowning rats,
yelled and fled precipitately from the
mercilesS streams. the wet ones were
naturally indignant at being thrown
overheard in such ruthless manner,
as compositor expressed it. and hurried
home to shed their wet garments.
Paper Is Damaged.
In the summing up of the fire drill it
was noted that about $1OO worth of paper
was so badly damaged by water that it
cannot be used for printing purposes;
approximately 100 employees were drenched
with water, and twelve or such like anna
teur firefghters had some experience and
considerable fun.
Some OF those who were wet down
Tuesday afternoon used language more
vigorous tnan polite today in discussing
the matter. ihey expressed the hope
that the Stillings ire drill order may be
rescinded by Public Printer Donneliy, or
its unpleasant features and possibilities
eliminated