The Washington times., 1918-09-24
Marine BRAVED :.
FIRE At WILLARD

Vice President Marshal, Senators,
Congressman, three telephone girls,
iVe canaries, and others played
prominent parts in IRE panic in the
New willard Hotel about o'clock
this morning. The interior of the
palm room was damaged by flames
which threatened to sweep through
Peacock Alley.
The nre is believed to have been
started by o cigarette carelessly
thrown near curtains In the palm
room. The loss Is estimated 1t about
81, 900.
, The only casualty was the death Of
q canary, a sweet-voiced songster
who trflled with four others of his
kind in cages suspended from the
ceiling Of the palm room he was
suffocated. The other four canaries
were saved.
The hero Of the IRE was a United
States marine whose Identity has not
been learned. The marine was on
guard at the door OF the suite occu-'
pied by Prince Axel OF Norway. who
Is in Washington on a diplomatic
mission. The Prince was on the
Presidents yacht, Maynower. and did
not know OF the IRE until several
hours later, but his absence did not
cause the marine to relax his vigil
lance,
Saves Princes PaperA.
The marine was the first to smell
the smoke He ran to an engineer,
who was repairing an elevator. and
told him to sound the alarm. The
marine then broke into Prince Axel's
suite and took out all OF the princes
papers and other effects of value. He
then aided women guests to descend
to the lower floors to escape the
smoke which was filling the upper
Railways.
Three telephone girls, Mrs. Mabel
Wells, Miss Marie Smith, and Miss
Margaret Mathison stayed at their
switchboards and notified guests of
the fire until the smoke filled the
switchboard room and they were COM
PEELED to leave. Mrs. Wells tainted
after leaving her switchboard She
was removed to Emergency Hospital
and this morning returned to her
home at 6s Q street northwest
Attempts to Leap.
Panic prevailed for a time among
guests. Several women tainted One
attempted to jump from a smoke
IllleO room lnEce oOONC eAS
street. but was prevented.
]. L. Simpson. salesman for Chi
cago meat packing concern, slept I'M
disturbed and was much surprised
when told that he had been in the
room directly above the blaze.
ct went through four Zeppelin raids
in London, and / became so used TO
them that 1 slept through the noise
and excitement OF the last two" de-
clared Simpson. That's the reason,
I guess. why I didn't wake up last
night"
Vice President Marshall made his
appearance in the hall clad in bright
red bathrobe, which he declared was
at least twenty years old. He was
smoking q cigar and seemed little
clustered.
Baby Wakes Him De.
IF It hadn't been for Mrs. Marshall
and our two-year-olU baby I would
have been asleep yet" declared the
Vice President. Mrs. Marshall had !
been restless and she heard the noise, |
but thought the hre was IN another |
building. Finally the smoke began to |
pour IN over the transom and she |
awakened me and We made our
escape
II wish had q gas mask with me-"
continued tho Vice President, as he
and coughed in the smoke.
Senator Boise Penrose aided in
the women until IL was safe
for them TO return to their apart
montA,
TT II probable that the fire was
by q cigarette carelessly
thrown into the drapories in the palm
-oon." said Manager Hight today. /
Since tho hotel Is of concrete cor
'truotion II was comparatively easy
10 eonffne the flames to n small area.
The damage IL about 81 900, I believe.