The Washington times., 1914-02-16
Fire Looked Bad In Rear.


Al don't recall any.
Fire Looked Bad In Rear.
Gill testified he had no idea how long
Te was there before the crash came or
1ow long it was before the discovery
hat men were buried beneath the de-
0ris.
Q-What was the condition as to the
number of hose lines in front of the
uuilding?
A.-There was a good many.
Q.-Could you tell one hose line from
mother?
A.-There was no way I could tell
mat.
Private Linton 7: West was the next
yftness West said that he runs" with
I;attalion Chief Proctor. In answer to
,1Iestjons of Corporation Counsel Syn.e
ne said he and Chief Proctor responded
II the first alarm Proctor, he said,
irst went to the front where condi-
lions did not appear dangerous and
then went to the rear.
Q-How did the fire look from the
rear.
At looked bad.
Q-How long was it after your ar
rival before the floors fell in:
A.-Maybe an hour and half or an
hour and three-quarters.
The witnes then told of Capt W. r.
l.anahan running into the alley Lana
nan, he said, talked with Chief P1 octor.
Proctor testified it WAS Lanoh who
.irst told him of the accident to the
men OF No. 81.
Lieut. G.. W. A. Dixon, who was In
Command of No. IA engine company on
the night of the fire and is now as
.igned to No. Is engine company, was
then called. No. IL was the first TO
arrive
Dixon said he started to enter the
front door of the building, and had pro-
"eeded about eighteen feet when he
nv S,lI-
Ivan, and told to take the hose to the
second floor and work from the ladders
Odd you know when No. s got
there?
A-No.
Q.-How long were you there before
the crash came?
Al can't say
Q.-How long was it before You knew
he men of No. were buried in the
building?
Al can't say.
The witness stated that Privates
Long and Holmes weer with him when
ne started TO take the line at the front
.'oor.
Cross-examined by Attorney O'Don-
shue Lieutenant Dixon said he started
In the front door without waiting for
orders.
Q.-That is the usual practice and
ristom for the first company to arrive?
Ayes.
In answer to a question by Capt
Mark Brooke. Lieutenant Dixon said he
I'D not notice any other line of hose
when he started in the front door of
he building. Later. he said. he was
'rdered TO the third floor where there
was plenty Of ire to fight
on crOss-eNamination by Attorney
fDonoghue Lieutenant Dixon said he
"ad been fighting fire under Deputy
hef sullivan fourteen years.
= What i your opinion of Deputy
Chief sullivan as a fire fighter?
A.-There is none better.
= Did you ever know him to be in
'f1cI"ut i'll the discharge of his duties?
No.
Th" next witness was William NJ.
,,a>u. chauffeur to Chief Sullivan, who
'-d Of delivering the chief on the fire
..lpInd. He Was immediate tely instructed.
said. to put in second alarm. On
Is return ne said he heard Deputy
rief Sullivan order Battalion Chief
rector TO raise ladders to the roof of
= nm : store.
Acts As Aid To Chief.
-, .csliuncd 10y Corporation Counsel
: me he said that his duties were to
..l As an aid TO Chief Sullivan, and to
...Uyer Messages.
Q.-Did you carry any messages 20 the
H.a of No. 6?
N-No. sir.
Did you carry any messages to
..y one else concerning No 6?
A.-No.
Q.-H0w long after you got there
~'re you ordered {" 20 npon the roof
n5 the Family shoe Store?
Al cant say, exactly. 1t may nave
.,,..,, A half-hour, and. maybe more.
o-Wcre you and Chief sullivan up
ere when the floors went IN?
Ayes.
J-VYhat remarks were made?
H.-hll | said was There she goes.
Q-What did YOU oo%
A-NutLing. Stayed right there.
Q-How long after was II before
GU knew Of the men being OF no.
ing in the building?
IL can't say accurately. 1t may
rvc been an hour.
p-When did you find out?
t-Chief Sullivan sent me with a
sag. +, Chief Wagner to ask If he
..rIld send No home. ] went around
o the front Of the building to find
.'nief Wagner. ! couldn't locate him
~, ! went to the rear and found him
lr rh.. alley.
c.rtIuuing. Nash testified:
"WheI. gave him Chief Sullivan
,4essage hc said, Don't pother m"
tout No. now. I'm worried about
'ae meu in tlat builGinG. Then he pGl
,i- hand To- his mouth and said, lien"
Hello We could hear the men in The
Juilding roaming. went back and told
"hlcf Sullivan. He said, That's toe
rad.' / heard him say to .aPialh iat Sat
.Imrton. No. is caught in the build
Told Fire Marshal
The witness told Of meeting FIRE
Marshal Nicholson and Deputy Mar
thal Seib at the foot of 4 ladder at tht
Family Shoe Store on his way back e
Deputy Chief Sullivan He told them
ne said. thai the men of No. wer,
,.auiht in the building aud that he had
earned the news from Chief wagner.
On cross ss-exarination Nash testified
that when the men of No. were order
Cd into the building everything looked
safe. When Sullivan seEt the message
% Chief Wagner asking that No. b'
sent home, he did so. the witness testi'
ned. because II was believed tie fire
vas practically under control
Private o. Z. Holmes was then called
Ills testimony was practically the sans
as that of Lieutenant Dixon's.
Marshall B. Long. private of No. j
..rI3inA ,Aa the next NifuA&A Clia