The Washington times., 1913-12-09
Ciang. IIans, CIane.

. SAoa4e. NidiiS- NaldIE
Honk. Honk. Honk. G-r-r-r, G-r-r-r!
C-T-r-r,
'Whoop-ee. Here's the firemen. The
towns saved
a couple of motor-driven chemical
lire-eXtinguishins engines rounded into
the little village of Derwood. Md. at
Sac last night, unlimbered their ap-
paratus, and prepared to save the ham,
let from the destruction that seemed
imminent.
For three hours the people of the viii
ESe-men, women, and children-had
been Clrrying water in buckets, tubs
milk cans, every available utensil, pass
ing it up ladders to men on the roofs
% the houses, and fighting with every
resource of nerve and muscle to save
tfe little community from being wiped
N the map.
81 Everybody was exhausted. Women
had tainted in the lines that were pass
ing buckets, and men had repeatedly
had their clothing frozen stirf in the
ifty-mile wind at 10 degrees below the
freezing po.nt. The tide of battle had
swung, now one way, now the other;
but the flying brands from the ruin in
the Inill' had fired almost every build
ing IN the place, some Of them several
times. Z
Then the firemen came If ever a
bunch of husky young men in wool
hred khaki clothes and hard-boiIed he'll
nets. had looked like redeem ng angels,
tiose boys of No. "A engine house did
the transformation trick last night
Easy, confident, fresh for the job, they
inspired everybody else with the GER
When they cranked up their huge mot
ors for the trip back TO Washington,
lGst before daylight, the victory was
theirs. -. ...
Village Has Wild Night.
1t was about as wild night as any
peaceful Maryland village ever expert
enced. AT 4:3O in the afternoon, il was
discovered that the flour mill owned
oy Joseph E. Muilinix was on fire.-A
not box in the machinery on the fourth
floor Of the tall structure had started
T. MI. Mullfnix, who had purchased
the mill only a few months ago, and
largely rebuilt and refitted it, was in
The lower part of the tai structure
when the fire started, and before any
body suspected the trouble. the struc-
lure was too hot for habitafion. The
alarm hpread, and in an incredib V
snort time the people of Derwood were
lined I'D TO fight for their homes
a terrific gale was blowing from the
northwest, and the mill was at the |
northwest edge of the village: the fly
ing brands were carried as far as a |
quarter mile. -
when the alarm was given, the women !
turned out and formed an important /
part of the resculng corps. Crews were |
put at every well in the town. carrying |
water with which to save buildings !
when brands shou d light on them. Very |
soon, people flocked in from the neigh
boThood, and Joined the fighters. Little /
boys and-girls took their places at the /
pumps and in the lines that We're hur-I
rying buckets of water to danger points.
Gale Carries Sparks.
The big wooden structure of the Null |
link mill was -gutted and fell in; with !
the final crash il sent showers of brands
on the winds in every direction. Then II
it became apparent that the worst dan iI
ger had only begun. The loose burn
ing material was swept before the gale.
and II seemed that only an interposition
of Providence could save the town II
But the wind rose higher with every |,
minute. II
At o'clock somebody bethought i
him of the possibility that Washington i
might be willing to help. a telephone n
call was hurried to the District build Il
ing, and transmitted 10 Commissioner
Siddons, in charge of the public safety Il
nstrumentalities. When he learned of u
the conditions he waited for nothing II
The two fastest motor eXtinguishers II
III the District are on their way from
Georgia avenue" came the announce
menI just four minutes after the ap- II
peal for help had been sent over the Il
wires. And before the desperate viii
layers knew what was doing, the big
red and gold and polished brass ma II
chimes had fairly hurled themselves
upon the scene. If those machines
mis- til
Washington and Derwood. a matter of A
a dozen miles, il was because the dogs
and chickens were more considerate of
the sensibilities of motorists than they II
commonly are.
Firemen Take Command.
It's a marvel how little handful OF
men who know just what they need to
know and do, and how 10 do it, can
rescue a multitude from a panic From
desperation and hysteria, the Derwood
people turned to hopefulness and con-
fidenCe. They would take orders from
man in a he met and obey, too.
A quick round of the village was made
Dy Lieutenant Gaight, in command, II
only to discover that there was not
a single well from which d suction ap-
paratus could draw water. They had
been pumped SO low that the column
could not be reached.
Then recourse was had to manning
1he wells and hauling the water up in
or drawing il out with hand
The firemen got out their little
pressure pumps that work by hand,
stationed guards at the various places
where there was most danger of flames
bursting forth from the flying embers, |
and started to smother the flames at
the mill.
Women Serve Lunth.
From time TO time ii was necessary
20 hurry away 10 rescue menaced
parn or residence. Once the aames
broke on; III a field of corn shocks clear
beyond the village and came near TAX
ire the buildings on the big dairy farm
Of w. W. Mobley. One house after arr
other vas fired during the long hours
OF the struggle; but with the exception
II one small barn. not piece of prop
erfy was lost after the mill caved in.
Relieved from the immediate necessity
Tor their services. the women OF De-
" oOd went 10 the big home of Mrs L.
:. Walters, on the edge Of the village
z rthest from immediate danger, brewed
Il barre or two of coffee, turned out
baskets Of sandwiches, and fed the mul
ttUde. The men worked in relays, one
-Gng going for refreshments while an
ether kept at work. whenever the wind
H Uuld sLbside for a few minutes.
But the wind was obdurate. Till far
LAST midnight IL bleW with terrific force |