The Washington herald., 1911-03-11

started to jump from the windows, anC
were prevented just in time by firemer
and policemen, who were compelled t
carry several hySterical persons from
the fire escapes. Luther Mcmillan, liv,
ing on the second floor, was i'll in bed
suffering from heart disease. 1t was with
the greatest difficulty that he was as.
sisted to safety by his wife.
Showed Presence of Mind.
The presence of mind of Braxton, who
after he turned in the alarm. rushed
into the building, with a policeman, i:
believed to have saved several OF the
inmates of the apartment from serious
injury by smoke. Thrusting a handker-
chief to his face, Braxton reached the
third floor. by way Of the stairway, in
time to meet Mrs. Mcmillan, his mother
in-law, and Mrs. r. S. Davis starting
down the stairway to the street. AL
though in fear the roof, which was blaz-
ing above him, would crash in at any
time, BraXtOn, before cropping his way
down The stairs warned all on thai
floor OF the danger from smoke, advis-
ing them to make their exit by way
OF the fire escapes.
The rescue of nearly $4,000 worth OF
diamonds and other jewelry by the fire.
men was one of the features Of an ex-
citing two hours fight. Most OF the valu-
ables belonged to Mr.. and Mrs. Mcmillan
whose apartments are on the third floor
Battalion Chief Sullivan, while the fire
was fierCeSt made his way into the Nc
MILAN apartment and carried to safety a
$50 diamond solitaire which Mr.. Nc
MILAN had left on his bureau. Later
under the personal direction Of Chief
Wagner, valuable diamond locket was
rescued from the same apartment.
Because of the character OF the adjoin-
ing buildings. the magnificent work of the
firemen is given credit for the compara-
tive inConsequenCe OF the blaze. Adjon-
ing on the east Is the Hippodrome Thea
ter. which. had the flames not been con-
fined to one building. would probably
have become ignited.
The drug store of Greig 6 Greig was
damaged several hundred dollars by
water. The Simon cigar store immcdi-
ately adjoining. was also badly dam
aged by water that seeped through the
floors. 1t is not known what insurance
was on this property.
Without n cent of insurance, the Mount
Vernon fruit store was deiuged with
water. The proprietor. Caesar ZirerjarnO
was almost frantic as he saw his goods
being ruined. realizing they would be a
total loss. He could not estimate the
amount the fire will cost him.
Cause OF the Blaze.
It is thought the blaze started from
some Combustible stuff in the basement.
and getting a good headway. burned
fercely up the dumb-waiter to the roof.
The shaft was lined with metal in COM
pliance with the fire regulations. and but
for this fact the whole building would
have been blazing before the companies
could have arrived on the scene.
Several occupants of the house said they
had smellcd smoke as early as 10 o'clock,
but had paid little attention to it,
J. K. HOllidge, the janitor, denied that
there was any trash in the basement,
saying that only last evening he had
a barrel of papers. No other
explanation was given for the origin of
the fire by Chief Wagner.
The Frederick apartments are owned
by the real estate firm of Stone & Fair
fax. 1t is understood the amount OF
damage to the building is fully covered
by insurance.
The lunchroOm owned by 4. Z. Felzer
was only slightly damaged by water. 1t
was the mecca for thinly-clad men and
women. who had rushed pell-melI from
the building. Mr.. Felzer had left several
hundred dollars worth of jewelry in his
apartment when the blaze was dis
covered. and could not go back for it.
The jewelry was saved. it is understood.