Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1918-01-14

Washington, Jan. 14.-While firemer
and soldiers battled in the face of ex
ploding munitions which at times shook
the vicinity, flames gutted the giant
quartermaster's corps building at the
Washington barracks here today. 1t wa.
the fourth of series Of mysterious
fires to break out in the building dur,
ing the last ten days and the loss may
reach 100000.
An immediate investigation was or,
dered by Secretary of War Baker, who
personally went TO the scene and re-
manned until the flames were extin-
guished about noon.
Although Lieutenant Colonel j. II.
Earle, in charge of the post, stated no
one is suspected of firing the structure
"a three story brick building covering
"a solid block-the guard was doubled
about the grounds as soon as the flames
were discovered and no one allowed to
enter or leave. No arrests have been
made thus far.
Soldiers from the post insisted the
blaze must have been incendiary.
Today the first flames were noted at
about O'Clock, on the second floor,
where mattresses and wood shavings
were piled. This had no sooner been ex-
tinguished than second fire broke out
in an adjoining section.
Informed of the blaze Secretary of
War Baker left for the scene shortly
after ten o. 'clock and found the flames
still eating away at the building. Short
ly before orders were given for the re-
moVal of the much-threatened small
arms. munitions.
Marines quartered in the barracks
nearby carried out the work.
Thousands of dollars worth of rifle
cartridges, belts, bayonets, ammunition
shoes, hats, blankets and clothing and
commissary supplies of all kinds were
stored in the great building and much
had been destroyed at 10:40 when the !
fires were still raging.
Some stores were successfully remov
I'd from the building. When the blaze
grew too hot for safety of the men
engaged in this work they were ordered
)ut, but a score or more ran back into
,he building twice. When the officers
i'll getting the men out several
we're found to be slightly hurt.
Soldiers who have been stationed at
he barracks for months said the be-
ieved the fire was incendiary. They |
Jay several men were at work when the
llaze was first seen and that the fire (
ipread very rapidly. The first indica-
ion of the blaze was when smoke was
ieen rolling up from the roof of the (
building at 9 O'Clock. The arsenal fire
darn was the first sounded and later
hree alarms were turned in for the /
ity departments.
Forty-five minutes later several minor
explosions were heard, declared to be
iome small arms munitions which had |
,een touched off by the heat. At 1850 |
clock a terrific explosion shook all
he buildings in the vicinity. 1t was re-
,orted to be large quantity of ammuni- |
ion, which had been stored in bulk.
When the small arms ammunition be-
,an to explode, police reserves were
allied in to help drive the crowd back I
rom the barracks entrance to prevent |
INJURIES from flying missiles.
No one was allowed to enter or leave |
he grounds.
Soldiers and police reported scattered |
Incidents showing that many daring acts
we're performed by the men in fighting /
he flames.
Sergeant White, company z, engineers
orps, was trapped by fire after enter
ng the building to find some important
,apers. He leaped from a second story
window and was slightly hurt. Private
(. Below dragged Sergeant White to
afety from precarious position under
hreatened walls where he had fallen
md was lying temporarily stunned.
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