Evening star., 1914-04-24
Western Building Damage Is
Estimated to Be Between
/. $3.50, 900 and $500, 900.
OFFICIALS MAKE PLANS
FOR TEMPORARY QUARTERS
Principals Of Other High Schools
Consult With Superintendent.
Pupils Lose Books.

The Western High School building, on
the square bounded by Reservoir and r
and 35th and Beth streets northwest, was
so badly damaged by fire this morning
that it will be impossible for it to be put
in condition, for occupancy before the
close of the present school year.
| A great majority of the $50 pupils
knew nothing of the fire until they
reached the vicinity of the building this
morning and saw the ruins. The fire
started about 1:30 o'clock. The third
floor and roof were destroyed, much dam
age was done on the second and first
floors by water. and the blaze ate its
way to the basement at the north end of
the building
| The metal roof of the building and por-
| tico was twisted into all sorts of shapes
| by. the intense heat, and some of the
| the structure were similarly affected. Wa
ter did much damage on the lower floors
| and in the basement. All the outer walls
| were left standing
| building, and several of her corps of
about two dozen teachers reached the
| vicinity of the building in time to sug-
gest to firemen and policemen where the
| more valuable school records were, and
| it was partly due to such assistance, it
is stated. that most OF the papers were
| saved. These were put on the ground
! near the school building and later re-
moved to the Fillmore building
| Probable Origin of Blaze.
1t is generally belived that the fire
started in the chemical laboratory, but
| where it really started probably will
never be determined. Mrs. Katie Elem
! iken of $3.50 T street, widow of a police
man, discovered the fire from a window
of her home. At first. she stated, she saw
a fiickering light in the building, but in
a few minutes she realized that the struc-
ture was burning.
Leaning from her window, Mrs. Fleni-
ken shouted fire at the top of her
voice, and the shrill sound at that time
of the morning was heard several
Some one telephoned No engine com
pany that there was fire in the school
building, and the firemen responded.
| A message was sent to No. truck
| company stating that No. engine had
gone to the fire. and a fireman on duty
| as watchman at the truck house went
to the upper window and looked in the
| direction of the school building He
| saw the blaze and smoke and Quickly
dormitory.
Send in an ALARM" the man OH watch
| shouted as the company prepared to get
out Of quarters.
Big Force Assemblies.
| The alarm was sounded exactly three
minutes after the first call was sent to
No. s engine company. and three addi-
| tional alarms brought additional COM
panies to the scene. eight engines and
four truck companies being on hand after
the last alarm had been sounded. Trou-
| BILE experienced in getting good supply
Of water, it is stated. proved a serious
| handicap to the firemen.
| Police Sergt. Hess Of the seventh pre-
cinct was in front Of No. 5 engine COM
Ipany's quarters when the company start
ed to answer. the telephone call. He rode
| to the fire on the engine and assisted In
getting a hose line from the nearest plug
to the building. There was no watchman
CONTINUED on Twelfth Page.)