The Washington herald., 1918-01-15
BARRACKS FIRE
BELIEVED SET
BY CIGARETTE
Private, Held, Had Stump
in His Pocket When
Arrested.

Sparks from a cigarette in the hand
of Private Vicenzo Ferro, 20 years old,
are thought by local police investiga-
tors to have caused the $4,000 fire
which destroyed food, provisions and
clothing in a warehouse of the quar-
department of the WASH
ington Barracks yesterday afternoon.
Ferro Is under arrest.
Circufnstantial evidence. according
to local police who went over the
ground before the military intelligence
bureau took the rein for an investiga-
ton, points to Ferro as being the
originator of the blaze, which caused
gines on the scene until nearly 6
o'clock last night.
INo Smoking" violated.
According to the police, Ferro had
asked information about smoking in
the building before the blaze, and
was informed that he could not smoke
within the walls by the sergeant in
charge of his detail. He is said to
have walked away, mumbling.
Howard S. Beane and Ferro were
working on the second floor, storing
damaged bedding and materials which
were thrown out of the building dur
ing a small fire last week. Ferro left
Beane and went to the south end of
the building, where the fire originated.
according to the police, and returned
on the coming of Frederick Wood
ward. private Of the Quartermaster's
Corps, detailed as clerk, to supervise
the storing.
stairs ten minutes before the fire was
discovered by a detachment Of engi-
neers returning from the drill field.
Police are of the opinion that Ferro
went to the south end of the build
ing to take his coveted smoke, heard
the clerk on the stairs, "choked" the
cigarette, letting the red tip fall
upon a pile of 500 pieces of mosquito
netting. which readily caught up and
started the blaze. The half-burned
cigarette was found in his pocket,
police say. -
So quickly did the fire gain head
way that a non-commissioned Of
ficer. who was drawing supplies for
his company at the south end of the
building on the first floor where the
commissary Is located, on his arrival
II NhC oNCllC VI IhG DldLc at inc IOp
of the stairs declared that cit ate
down the corridor twenty-five feet"
before he could take two steps"
The draft and wind made the fame
roaring blaze in short order.
Scattered about the second floor,
where the fire originated. were articles
awaiting condemnation by an officer
of the Inspector Generals Depart
Chna1 IL
ing were piled loosely about.
Packing Cases In Path.
In the middle of the floor running
parallel with the walls of the build
ing from north to south was a wall
of packing cases piled to the CELL
ing. In these packing cases were
$4,000 worth of regulation hats and
seven carloads of winter clothing
and uniforms which had arrived
during the past week. All these
were ruined by fire and water.
Outside of the buildings is an ice
covered mass of hats, leggings. uni
forms and bedding.
The military intelligence bureau
ordered an investigation last night
and the situation is entirely in its
hohNS. L ne lOCdl pOilCe are taxing
no part in the work, but standing
ready If called for.
The explosions heard by South
Washington shortly after the fire
started were the result of the
flames reaching some small arm
ammunition stored at the south end
of the building. This was the first
spot to which the firemen directed
their attention checking the fire
here and cutting it of before any
further damage could be done.
Explain Arrest of Two.
1t was stated that the two men
arrested. who were reported to have
been connected with the fire, were
two delinquents being turned over
to military authorities for falling
to answer questionnaires within the
prescribed limit.
Police, officers and all in author
ity are unanimous in their opinion
that the fire was not started by any
German sympathizer. Ferro is an
italian. Lieut.. Col Earl, post COM
mander, said last night that Ferro
would probably be charged with
disobedience of orders.
n