The Washington herald., 1916-04-24
Thousands See PLANES.

Police estimated that between .oco
and 5000 persons watched the D,or-,s.
OF the blaze. PennsyIvania avenue.
thirteenth street and Z street we're
oiocked by the crowds for several blocks
All street car traffic on PonnsvIvsDi,
avenue was halted until the fire vas
under control.
When discovered. the fire was hurst
ing from the fourth floor Windows ~,
The building on the Pennsylvspia ave-
nue. side. By the time the first FIRE an
psratus arrived, within three or r,,,,r
minutes, the flames had swept nm ,r..
sIairWays and elevator shaft and were
roaring through the upper floors.
The fire licked through the upp.r win
doWs and caught the roof within rfr.o,
minutes after rs discovery. and q f-D-
minutes later the roof and yyboIe ,,,,-
part OF the building were sblsze.
The flames shot high IN the air. and
could be seen from all sections Of ,ro
city bringing 10 the scene thoussr5. NJ
persons In street cars. automobiles. car
riases and ssoot.
Eight persons, # is stated. wer. in IN.
building when the fire was disoov.rs5
Two were clerks, two were vstebro.n
three were telegraphers and the otb.r
was negro fireman. Que wstebn,s,
discovered the blaze within a few min
utes after having inspected the or,o. ~
Vice President J. NJ. cuIp, on the fop-th
hoor. He han to the third floor .,5
raising window shouted ''F1re"
passer-oy notified Pstrolrnsn E D,u,,
Of the First precinct, who turned IN N.
first alarm.
Fifteen streams Of water r.-. ,,,,-,s
on the burning structure. 1v. r-,-, -,
roofs OF houses in the rear, thru, o-,-,
the new building Of the railway -
pany on the west. three from fb, IT,
teenth street side, and thre. fro,, a..
tront' exclusive Of the water tower with
three lines Of hose playing through the
one nozzle. i0
AZ n;+0 O'Clock the FIRST hremen were
able to enter the building and sbo-,I,.
after Il o'clock Chief waEner sr,o,,-,,,l,
the blaze was under control. Water Ne.
played on the smoking structure all night
however. to prevent an outbreak ~ A.,
from the smoking embers in the pD,,-
floors
Before the firemen could be sent in
to the building, the front Of the bui,5irs.
and the Thirteenth street side ve,. a.
tackled with lines OF horse directed bv
men on scaling ladders.
Helmet Saves Fireman.
Pipeman J. c. Sydnor OF No Il o,.,..
company was on one OF the ladder, 4,
front Of the building when niece q,
the cornice fell, striking him on the head
and throwing him part way down the lad
der. He was taken TO the Emerrenv I4os-
pital, where he was treated by DR. u
Mcdonald He suffered decorations on
the back OF his head and was weak frou,
shock. Later he returned 10 the FIRE
but was sent to HIS home. Only the heavy
fire helmet he wore at the time pre-
vented his being instantly killed.
Another accident was narrowly sv.-,e5
shortly after midnight when the 75-toot
water tower crashed TO the ground. A
warning cry sent the crowd scattering
in all directions, and the l,SOO-pound mass
of steel struck the pavement, missing a
dozen or more persons by a few feet
The nozzle twisted loose and for several
minutes poured a stream across the ave
nue., drenching firemen, police, and spec
tstors.
First Seen at 1ot4s.
The fire first was seen as the hands
on the big clock in the tower Of the
building pointed to 1913
w. J. Msddigsn. of the Washington
Gas Light Company. reached the seen.
when the fire was shOWing through only
one window. He RAJ into the building
and down TO the basement, where he
found the gas connection and shut OF
the flow TO prevent an explosion.
Two clerks at work on the fourth roer
smelled smoke and ran into a corridor.
They saw the flames and fearing TO risk
a trip down the stairway climbedeSut Of a
window and descended a ere oseap, On
The Thirteenth street aida D..