Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-15
SAVES INDIAN TRIBE PRIVATE DOWNS DIES
Thomas Riggs, E. Shows Second Victim OF Washington
Hcroism in the North Tobacco Company Fire.
CHECKS SMALL POX SPREAD CRUSHED BY FALLING WALL
Death Occurs Twelve Hours After
Natives of Alaska Village. That OF His Chief
DESERTED COMPANIONS ASr KITES TUESDAY MORNING
Funerals Domin Church.,
Boundary Survey ~ N- Ap"''-Niie"'en
for His Course -'eoi'
Second Victim of WASHINGTON
Tobacco Company Fire.
CRUSHED BY FALLING WALL
Death Occurs Twelve Hours After
That of His Chief. q.
LAST RITES TUESDAY MORNING
Funerals From st. Dominic's Church,
One Hour Apart-Firemen
as Escort.

The fatality list in the Washington To-
hacco Company fire OF yesterday morning
was increased to two by the death OF
Michael A. Downs a fireman Of No
engine company. He survived Capt. Tim
othy j. Brown. his chief. by about twelve
hours. passing away at 4:30 o'clock yes.
terday afternoon. Both received their
mortal injuries when crushed under the
falling walls of the burning building at
61S Pennsylvania avenue
Flags over all the fire houses in Wash
ington are at half-mast, by direction OF
Fire Chief Wagner. The funerals of both
victims will be held from ST. Dominic's
Church. 9th and T. streets. Tuesday morn
ing, an hour apart, the services for Capt.
Brown at o'clock and for Fireman
Downs at 10 O'Clock Seventy or more
firemen will be detailed as escorts to
their dead comrades.
His Back Broken.
A broken back made Fireman Downs
death certain. His wife, Mrs. Mamie
Downs. was constantly at his bedside dur
ing the long hours of suffering that pre-
ceded death. Conscious almost to the
last. he kept up his courage. discussing
the accident. and telling how he was
caught under the avalanche of tumbling
bricks. thrown down by the sudden ex-
plosion of gases in the five-story struc-
ture. His legs and chest were terribly
scalded by burning timbers coming In
contact with his wet clothing during the
time he was held fast by debris A
man remained at the hospital with Mrs.
Downs. The couple had no children.
They resided at 627 1 street southwest.
DIR. Harry 8. Lewis. resident physician,
l. A<.rf1
no effect upon the injured fireman. His
suffering was intense. Shortly after noon
he realized the end was near and re-
ceived the rites of the Catholic Church.
having left him about fifteen minutes
before he breathed his last.
Certificate of Accidental Death.
Coroner Nevitt gave a certificate Of
accidental death. as he had in the case
of Capt. Brown. Undertaken p. A. Tai
tavuli took the body from the hospital
TO prepare it for burial.
Chief Wagner favored the holding OF
the two funerals at the same hour He
had already settled upon a detail to at
tend Capt. Browns funeral. The second
funeral at another hour the same morn
ing will make it necessary to divide the
detail
Six captains are to be assigned by Chief
Wagner TO act as pallbearers for Capt.
Brown. Mrs Brown. who was too ter
Iibly distressed yesterday to see Com
missioner Rudolph and Chief Wagner.
sent word to the chief I'm the afternoon
that she wanted all the pallbearers Sc
lected from the fire department.
Chief Wagner will issue general order
today announcing the two deaths and at
the same time make detail from each
company of the department.
Capt. Brown had served the depart
ment about twenty years. Private Downs
a fireman 4
He served aboard the fireboat and with
No. IA engine company before he was
sent to No. company in South WASH
ineton. He was native Of this city
Condition of the Injured.
Capt. John Darlington of No. engine
company. acting deputy battalion chief
at the fire yesterday morning. and who
was among those injured. collapsed after
reaching his home yesterday. A physi-
clan was summoned to attend him.
Capt. Thomas OConnor of No. 1 engine
company had the bones of his hand
broken i'm the collapse of the wall.
Lieut.. William A. Coulter of No. 3 en-
sine company is laid up at home as the
result Of his injuries.
Capt George II. Reynolds of No. 3 en-
gine company, Lieut.. G. w. A. Dixon OF
No. l engine company and Private j. J.
Gates of No. :; engine company were able
to return to duty.
Discussing the question or proNiding
pension for the widow and children OF
Capt. Brown. a member OF the depart
ment said last night he thought the Com
missioners will probably fiX the amount
at about SO for the entire family.
Pension Fund Limited.
That will not mean that the family will
get that amount, however" he added.
because the failure of Congress To pass
the pension bill at the last session OF that
body and provide funds for the payment
of pensions, has resulted in the failure
of the pensioners to get the sums al
lotted them.
Some adequate provision should be
made for the family OF man whose life
is so quickly crushed out while In tn
performance of his duty said anothe
member of the depa rtment. "A widom
and six children are left to struggle aion
without his assistance. This one cas-
alone should appeal TO members % Con
gress to take favorable action upon tile
pension measure
The death Of Capt. Brown will mean tie
promotion of several members OF the de
partment. Chief Wagner will Officially
notify the Commissioners of the death OF
Capt Brown and will suggest that his
wife be pensoned.