Evening star., 1913-05-19
Fifth lire in Eight Years.

''The FIRE ya asterday was the fifth which
has occurred An some part OF the survey
in the last eie hit years. Following each
hre Congress n as been urged to provide
money with which TO erect a new, mod
ern and fireprocf building for the sur
vey, but not uL til the last session of
Congress was the act passed authorizing
the appropriation of money for this pur-
pose. II would be possible for the pres
ent Congress to provide the money which
would permit the work to be started at
once. AS long as we are In this building
which has repeatedly been condemned as
Gre trap. nothing can be-done to guard
against these fires.
Yesterdays fire originated in the base
ment under the office of the American
Express Company. in rooms occupied by
the geological survey. Although the
blaze was not big one, and the flames
were confined closely to the part OF the
basement where they originated, the fire
proved 10 be an unusually stubborn one.
Firemen Succunb-to Gas.
During the progress of the fire Chief
Wagner and thirteen members of the fire
department were overcome by gas es-
Gaping from burned-on gas connection
In the basement. and were rushed 70
Emergency Hospital for treatment. The
wards of the hospital were full when the
Hrst or the hremen reached the institu-
ton. but DR.. Harry Lewis superintend-
ent. hurriedly provided emergency beds
IN the corridors. and soon had his corps
OF physicians operating two pulmotors
come and taken TO the Emergency Hos
pital were:
Frank ]. Wagner. chief>of the depart
rnent.
No. % engine company:
capt J. J Hanlon, thirty-nine years
old. of 1s45 Florida avenue northwest.
Private +. Farrell. twenty-nine
a. at
Private T. r Lyons, thirty-one. OF
1lS5 4th street northeast
Private ]. w. Covington, forty-three
OF 1892 r street southeast
Private William Ashe. thirty-four. OF
1910 1st street northwest.
Private W. W., !, Askyns. twenty-five, OF
No. Z engine company:
Capt Ernest Howard. forty-three
OF 327 X street northeast
Private c. c.. Mckay, thirty-six. OF
763 Morton street northwest
No 9 engine company:
Capt w. F. Lanahan. forty-six. OF 612
q street southwest.
No / engine company:
Private p. R Steinman. thirty-four, OF
as r street northwest.
Private J. A. Smith. twentY-eight O1
1883 Sd street northwest
No. Z engine company:
Lieut. George w smith, thirty-tWo
OF % 8 street northwest
No 13 engine company: 90 80,
f1eorro Meels. twenty-five. 224 1911
street southwest: not serious
Collapsed After Reaching Home.
Probably tho most seriously disabled
fireman vaswII1am A ISchwerdtfeger oi
No. @ engine company. He became ii
last night about 10 O'Clock after he had
: gone TO his home at 1000 Virginia avenue
: southeast An ambulance was summon.
ed and he was hurried to Casualty Hos
pftal. He was In convuls1ons and physi.
: clans feared he would not recover but
this morning his condition showed a
marked Improvement and hope Of his re-
covery n entertained.
Charles y. Beers. captain Of No truck
company. fen In mAnhole on the side
walk. He was rescued before the "a,
could affect him.
Miss NJ. J. D1clman. clerk In tho geo
logical survey. was a. work In an ono,
on the firth floor OF tho building whel
4. the f1ro started She knew nothing o
= the exciting scenes that were being en-
acted on the lower floor until after sh
had been assisted down the hre escape b.
4 c. g. Ryan. a printer who heard her ap
peals for help and responded.
E j. E. Lattmer. librarian OF the geologi
cal survey entered the building to lool
after the government property. Chic
Wagner sent frenlen to see to his safet,
and ne was found on the stairs partly
overcome by gas. He quickly revived
5 when taken to the street.
Hserd Mufasd Explosion.
John Watson watchnan In tha huild