The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1913-05-19
GAS OVERCOMES
TWENTY F|REMEN
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

pany. This cellar was used for a store
room for 5000 records of the Geological
Survey, most of which were either burned
or so smoked and saturated with water
that they will be of no more use.
Guy Mitchell, secretary to George Otis
Smith, director of the survey. estimated
the governments loss at $4,000. while
Fire Marshal p. W. Nicholson puts the
loss and damage to the American Ex-
press Company. the. Becker Leather
Goods Company's stock, the stock OF the
japanese Bazaar a. not less than $500
and possibly $4,000. The building ID
owned by the willard estate and was
insured.
The fire was discovered about 3:45
o'clock by John Watson. a Waterman
In Geological Survey. Alarm box. No.
1885, in the building was pulled.
As soon as Fire Chief Frank Wagner
reached the scene he had a second, and
then a third alarm turned in. calling
out ten engine companies. four ladders.
the water tower, and four fuel wagons.
During the past twenty years fire has
visited the same building FIVE times. each
time originating. II 10 believed. from
spontaneous combustion.
Capt Beers. of Truck Company 4. fell
in a man-hole in front OF the building.
Several hremen pulled him out. Although
badly bruised, Capt. Beers returned to
his men.
Fearing that valuable books in the
library of the Geological Survey would
be damaged. John Irwin Latimer. the
assistant librarian. attempted to 20 into
the building. but fearing that he would
be overcome. fremen grabbed him. but
on second attempt he got by the fire.
men, and after getting upstairs, came
near being suffocated.
Two heavy safes of the American Ex-
press Company fell through to the base
ment, but the money locked In them
was not damaged.
The damage to the stock of goods of
the Becker Leather Goods Company and
the Japanese Bazaar resulted from smoke
and water. The fire did not spread to
either of the stores.
At the Emergency Hospital II was
necessary to use the pulmotor on some of
the firemen. At first 1t looked as though
at least seven of the men would die. but
heroic work by Drs. II. s. Lewis, George
]. Boyce, Benjamin Newhouse. Arthur
M. Zinhan. and r. r. Rafter pulled them
through. Wives. parents, sisters. broth
ers, and sweethearts of the men went to
the hospital, many of whom waited until
midnight, leaving only when assured
their all would live.
Blaze Stubborn One.
Fire Chief Wagner said that the fire
was one of the worst in the history of
the department to fight. The street
gas, as the fremen called the sickening
smoke that curled up from the cellar,
made 1t almost impossible for the fire
men to get up close to the blaze. Fiji
teen streams Of water were poured
through the street gratings. through win
dows, in the front and rear of the build
ing, and through holes cut in the floor
ing Of the American Express Company
Offices.
George Otis Smith, director of the Geo-
logical Survey, was not in the city last
night. 1t was but a year or so ago that
Mr. Smith in a report to Congress said
that the building WIS nothing more or
less than fire trap. Fire Chief Wagner
is of the same opinion. Had the fire
got back to the elevator shaft" said the
chief, I'VE would have a long. nasty fight
The blaze would no doubt swept the row
Of buildings on F Street and spread to
Pennsylvania Avenue had 1t reached the
other floors and climbed to the roof"
1t was not until 7:3o o'clock when the
fremen were told they could go home.
More than half Of the men who were not
overcome were made sick and were
treated at the headquarters during the
night or the score of men overcome al
most every man from Engine Company
No. q was included.
Engine Company No. 2 and Truck Com
pany No. 3 were left to guard the build
ing all night.
At Il:30 o'clock fire again broke out
in the cellar of the building. and En-
CINE Company. No. ., was called. One
stream OF water was all that was neces-
sary to put out the blaze.