Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-27
FIRE DAMAGES old
MASONIC TEMPLE
Supt. KoIb Overcome by
Smoke-Throng Watches
Spectacular Blaze.
FLAMES KEPT TO CELLAR

Fire started shortly before 1 o'clock
this afternoon in the old Masonic
Temple, northwest corner of 9Th and
F streets northwest. By the time the
first engine companies were on the
scene vast volume of smoke was Is
suing from the building, some of it
coming out of the third and fourth
floor windows, although the blaze
started in the cellar. There were two
alarms.
Superintendent Overcome.
Edward Kolb. superintendent Of the
building, was reported missing. CHIEF
Wagner was told that he mad been
seen to ascend a ladder to a window
on the second floor. Chief Wagner
went in seach Of him and found him
on the second floor, but he was only
slightly affected by the smoke. CHIEF
Wagner brought him out of the build
ing and ordered him to stay out The
fire was confined to the basement and
the only damage to the upper stories
was by smoke.
Blaze Spectacular.
The fire was an extremely spectacu-
lar one. The vast quantity of smoke
seemed to make up for any lack of
squirting flames, and almost immedi-
ately this smoke. which poured from
every window in the old building,
caused to gather one of the biggest
crowds the city has seen for a long
time-workers in nearby offices, clerks
in stores, street passers. shoppers and
all the passengers on the street cars,
which were at once tied up.
So thick was the smoke that 1t filled
nearby stores and compelled them to
close their doors. It filled the Co
lumbia National Bank and the Equit-
able Building Association quarters
situated next door on f street
Shortly after Chief Wagner arrived
at the scene he gave it as his opinion
that the fire was mostly in the cell
lar. Ladders we're run up to win
dows on various levels, however. in
oDder to fight the fire from above.
and this provided spectacular features
for the immense crowd of spectators.
Firms in Building.
Strayers Business College occupies
the top floor, and several dozen man
and woman pupils had to leave at once
by the rear fire escape, as the smoke
poured into the schoolroons in volumes.
Glasses were not as large as usual, due
to the Christmas holidays.
Several stores occupy the ground
floor of the premises. These were
closed at once. The stores are the Sol
Herzog Company. Inc. mems clothing,
The Sport Mart, the Clafiin Optical
Company and the Dolly Madison
Candy Company. All were consider
ably damaged by smoke. At 80 the
fire was reported under control.
Chief Has Narrow Escape.
Failure Of the Potomac Electric Power
Company's inspector to turn off the
electric current in the old temple came
near causing the death Of Chief Wagner
Chief Wagner attempted to gain ac-
cess to the cellar of the building through
a manhole in front Of the main entrance
to the building on F street. He dropped
into a nest of wires, the splitting and
flashing Of the electricity warning him
of his danger just in time for him to
extricate himself. His clothes were
scorched, but he was uninjured.
The buildings gas supply was cut off
promptly.
Fire Marshal Nicholson estimated the
damage to building and contents Of the
various stores would not exceed $4,000
1t is believed the blaze started at the
foot of the elevator from spontaneous
combustion in a pile of rubbish.