Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-13
WALTER REED FIRE
FATAL TO SOLDIER
Two Psychopathic Wards
Raced in Blaze Started
by Cigarette.

score of temporary structures of
Walter Reed Hospital were threat
ened with destruction yesterday when
$4,000 fire razed two psychopathic
wards and resulted in the burning to
death of Sergt. Alzin Messenger, a
patient under mental observation
who is believed to have started the
nre by throwing a lighted cigarette
on the floor.
The body of Sergt Messenger was
recovered charred from the ruins late
IN the afternoon. Identification was
established by an elimination process
whereby all except him were accounted
Tor in a series of roll calls. His
records are being looked up today so
that the location of his relatives may
be found to notify them. The body is
now at the Walter Reed Hospital
morgue.
Report Praises Attendants.
board Of inquiry submitted a re-
port to Col. Glennon. commandment of
the hospital, today. 1t cited for meri-
torlous service during emergency
several OF the attendants. who aided
in the transfer of the mentally unbal-
anced patients from the wards to
safety. The damage was placed at a
dgure approximating $25 600
When the fire started, shortly be-
fore II o'clock. thirty-nine patients
were in wards % and a., where they
were held for further observation. A
few Of them, Col. Webb, executive Of
hcer. said today, showed traces of
pronounced insanity, but final judg-
ment had not been made. At the cry
Of fire" the almost instantaneous ig-
milton Of the beaver-bOard partitions
and frame work and the accompany
ing clouds Of thick black smoke.
chaos broke out in the wards.
At this time several attendants,
whose names will not be made public
until the report of the board of in
Quiry is given out. went directly
through the smoke clouds and brought
out patient after patient. Several en-
listed men aboutAt the grounds rushed
to the aid OF the attendants and bat
tered their way through the screened
porches to bring out the spatients.
The result was that thirty-eight of
the thirty mine inmates were brought
to safety, while Messenger, who was
supposed to have started the fire, was
huddled in an out-of-the-way corner
of q rear porch, where he was burned
to death.
10oo in Temporary Buildings.
More than 1000 Of the patients at
the hospital are quartered in the tenn
porary war buildings. erected when
the influx OF wounded men at the hos
pita1 caused an overflow in the per-
manene wards. Plans have already
been drawn up and final authorization
from Congress and the War Depart
ment is all that is awaited for the
construction of suitable permanent
buildings to replace the temporary
structures.
The two wards which were vir-
tually burned to the ground were
between three other wards in a group
Of five structures.
/; Three alarms brought out appa-
ratus Of the District fire department,
and the fire was under control an
hour after their arrival.
The board of inquiry's report. it is
said, will show that the fire started
in the east section of ward AZ. Mes
senger had been permitted to smoke
in a special room set aside for this
purpose. where the psychopathic
patients are kept under watch by at
tendants. but, according to evidence
discovered in the investigation of the
board, he probably had smuggled the
cigarette into the ward concealed in
his hand. Maj Webb declared that
no action against any of the per-
sonnet for negligence was planned,
since this was apparently an I'M
avoidable occurrence. Even more
stringent measures regarding smok-
ing. however, are planned for the
future.