Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-10-14

turned their streams of hose Immediately
to the mass of burning wood and heavy
| masonry in the pit below the destroyed
wall
Enormous clouds of dust arising from
the debris made 1t impossible to see
what had happened for a minute, but the
streams of water quieted that In short
time. The rescuers rushed in from all
sides, armed with axes and hooks and
hose.
They saw men pinned under beams
and partially buried. with arms and
legs alone showing in the mass. Capt.
Brown, buried beneath great mass of
the wall. had been instantly killed.
Michael Downs was terribly hurt. Men
saw he was in an extreme predicament,
and went to his assistance quickly. He
mass of wood and bricks had been
cleared away from his bleeding body
the man himself was carried by several
firemen to the street. AmbulanceS had
been sent for in a hurry as soon as
the walls fell, and Downs was hurried
away to Emergency Hospital. where 1T
was found his back had been broken
and that he suffered with almost COM
plete paralysis. At noon today the sur
geons said he had a fighting chance for
life
Hospital ambulances. surgeons and
policemen were brought into play In
hurry. as the other men were all in
jured some more and some only slight
". OF the entire crew on the roof,
Private j. j. Gates is the only one who
didn't have to have hospital treatment,
although he did suffer a cut hand. His
escape was of the miraculous kind, as
tons of brick fell all around him, and
scarcely anything touched him.
Returned to the Conflict.
Capt Reynolds had his injuries dressed
at the Emergency Hospital. returning to
the scene of the fire and resuming his
work Capt O'Connor and Lieut.. Coulter
were also taken to the Emergency Hos
pital. DR.. Harry Lewis, who had charge
Of the ambulance and directed the ham
ding of the men, seeing to the treatment
of their injuries.
The remaining victims We're taken to
their homes without being given hospital
treatment Commissioner Rudolph, Chief
Wagner and Chief Clerk Watson of the
fire department visited the hospital this
morning and saw Downs. and later they
called at the house of the family Of Capt.
Brown to express their sympathy.
Coroner hewitt was at the hospital early
in the morning to view the body of Capt.
Brown and to determine II an inquest
should be held. His first information Of
the affair was that Capt. Brown and the
other injured men were precipitated to
the ground by the breaking of a ladder.
Had such been the case, he stated, he
would have ordered an inquest without
any hesitation. Later he said that no
inquest would be held as he believed the
accident was unavoidable.
Funeral of Capt. Brown.
Funeral services over the body of Capt.
Brown will be held from ST. Dominic 8
Catholic Church, 9th and f streets south
west, Tuesday morning at O'Clock.
Keane Council. Knights of Columbus, OF
which he was a member, will have charge
of the arrangements.
Capt. Brown was a native of Lynn,
Mass. He was married seventeen years
ago to Miss Catherine Elizabeth F1em-
ming of Southwest Washington. She and
six children, Minnie. sixteen years of
age: Timothy. fifteen; Charlie, thirteen !:
William. eleven: Robert. seven. and
James and John Brown. are residents of
Lynn.
Record in Department.
Capt. Brown was appointed private
in the fire department August I, 1892.
He was made lieutenant in July, 1897.
and promoted to captain in July. 1902
He has been connected with the Fire
fighter, No. engine company. No. 10
engine company. No 3 chemical engine
company, No. 10 engine company and
No. engine company. For the past two
years he had been at No. engine COM
pany.
Robert W. Dutton. deputy recorder of
deeds, who was the executive head of the
fire department for two years, speaking
today Of the death of Capt. Brown, said j:
THE death Of Capt. Brown came as a
most painful shock to me, who proudly
numbered him among my friends. lie
was man In every respect, honest and
sincere. and an intelligent, energetic fire.
man-one who will be truly missed. both
In the department and in the community.
and one who was ready at any moment
to sacrifice his life. as he did. in the
line of duty. My friend at all times, his
death Is q great personal sorrow to me"