Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-02-16
Truckman Newman Responds
to Alarm at His Own House.
FAMILY'STHRILLING ESCAPE
Early Morning Blaze Drives Occu-
pants Out Over Roofs.
GIRL GUIDES OTHERS SAFELY
Miss Cora Cross Awakens Sleepers
as Flames Gain Headway
at 716 7th Street.

Responding in the line of duty to al
early morning call, Fireman Frank New
| man. accompanying No. ) truck company
OF which he is a member, found himself
burned out of house and home, and hi:
wife and her cousin and aunt. clad only
in night robes, principals in thrilling es
capes by way of the roof.
Newman helped his comrades in sub
DUNG the flames. which had burned from
the cellar through the house at 716 It'll
street, destroying the upper floor and its
contents. and consuming part of the roof
Newman's quarters were on that floor
and little was saved.
When the firemen reached the scene
shortly after 4:2O o'clock the flames
seemed certain to destroy the entire build
ing. \ second alarm put thirteen fire
companies at work. 1t was long while
before the fire was extinguished, after
doing fully $4,000 damage.
While Fireman Newmans family had
already escaped from the top floor when
lie reached the ground, other occupants
of the building had found their way tc
the street cut off by flames and smoke
in the Railways. John A. Village, re-
tired fireman, and his wife were brought
down the ladder by members of the truck
touipdIS. NO one was luTl
Girl Proves a Heroine.
The escape over the roof was engineered
by Miss Cora Cross, "a cousin of Fireman
Newman's wife, and the heroine of the
occasion. Aroused by the smell Of smoke
she awaked her cousin, Mrs. Blanche
Newman; her aunt, Mrs. Katie Rollins
and William Knowles, all living on the
top floor. The blaze had already cut Off
escape by the stairway. Under her guild
ance the four white-robed figures climbed
out the bathroom window onto the roof
of the adjoining building and thence to
the street.
In their hurry not even clothing was
saved by the quartet. All We're provided
with shelter and raiment by neighbors.
Firemen were unable to determine the
origin of the fire. A number of dead rats
In the cellar suggests that they may have
started the blaze gnawing at matches.
Spontaneous combustion is another the
ory.
The fire originated in the cellar under
the drug store of John r. Major The
blaze reached the top of the building
through the dumb waiter shaft before
occupants of the house knew there was
anything wrong. The principal fire dam
age was on the top floor. Part of the
roof in the rear was destroyed. The
flames went through the shaft without
igniting much of the lower floors. Most
of the damage to the drug store stock
was caused by smoke and water. Mr..
Major was unable to estimate his loss,
but his stock is insured
Michael G. Mccormick of 1929 Biltmore
street owns the building. He carries in
surance enough to pay for the damage
Occupants of the upper floors carried nc
insurance.
Colored Man Discovers Fire.
A colored man on his way to Center
market discovered the fire. He had the
alarm turned in from box 169. When the
tremen reached the scene it appeared as
though the building was doomed Tc
save it if possible ana to prevent the
spread of the flames to other buildings
the second alarm was sounded by Capt
Darlington. acting battalion chief
William Knowles. employed as compost
tor on a morning paper, had been home
but a short while, but was already sound
asleep. Not until awakened by Miss Cross
did he know the building was afire.
Miss Cross forced open the door lead
ing from the roof into the Joy house.
entering. she descended TO the living
apartment OF Mr.. and Mrs. JOY and
their child.
Smoke Invades Adjoining House
The Joys made the fugitives welcome
and were arranging for their comfort
when clouds of dense smoke poured into
the room through the door broken open
by Miss Cross in getting into the Joy
house. So sitting was the smoke that
the joys and their guests sought safety
in the next building.
Mr.. and Mrs. Willige, when aroused.
found 1t impossible to leave the building
by way OF the front door. Once a fire.
man. Mr.. W;llise suggested that aid
advised waiting instead of jumping from
the window. In short while the truck
company reached the scene and rescued
the couple.
Bruce Wright. janitor of the building
who was sleeping the second floor
found it easy to lower himself from his
window to the ground. He was awak-
ened by a woman's screams from one OF
the upper floors
Miss Cross, Mrs. Newman and Mrs
Rollins returned to the smoldering build
ing after daybreak. to see if they could
save anything from the wreck They wore
borrowed wearing apparel
Miss Cross saved her iewelry Little
other property of value was left uncon.
sumed. Picking up her suit case, some
scorched garments and a pair of shoes
Miss Cross went out the bathroom win.
dow singing My Wife's gone to the
country" and remarking it was no use
to cry.
But" she added, Its next to death tc
be burned out and left almost penniless -