The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1921-01-03
NEUMANOARED
BLAZING DEATH
Heroic Fireman's Conduct in
Drawing Furnace to Save
Woman Is Citation.
FIRE AT EVERETT HOTEL
Smashed Way to Sixth Floor
While Suffering Agony
From Burns.

shortly after i O'CLOCK on tne az
ternoon of November % Private
| Neuman and other members of Truck
Company No. 3 reached the Everett
Hotel, on II street northwest, near
Eighteenth, in response to an alarm.
AS he leaped to the ground Private
Neuman saw a group of men and
women standing near the entrance
to the holstery from which heavy,
dense clouds of thick smoke were
issuing, and inquired as to whether
or not anyone was in the building.
He was Informed that & woman was
on the sixth floor.
DASHES THROUGH FLAMES.
Without a moments hesitation he
plunged into the wall OF smoke and
had not taken many steps before he
vac confronted by sheet OF roaring
flames which barred access to the
steps leading to the upper floors. I'm
daunted and unmindful OF his own
safety he dashed through the flaming
barrier. reached the steps and fought
his way through the binding. suf-
broke down half a dozen doors on
this floor. repeated the performance
on the third, fourth, fifth and sixth
floors and finally came upon the I'M
conscious form OF Nine. de Guzman on
bed in the smoke-filled room on the
sixth floor.
All but suffocated from the noxious,
heavy. SCOT smoke. choking and
almost blinded, suffering agony from
he he
dashed through the sheet of flame.
Private Nepman picked up the un-
conscious form and CROPPED his way
to window. Holding Nine. de Guz-
man on his right arm, he used his
left fist as a battering ram and broke
the glass of the window until he had
made an opening large enough to
thrust the rescued woman out into
the air. -
Although unconscious, Nine. de
Guznnah Struggled franticallyr and
battled desperately with the cour-
ageous fireman and made his task
the more difficult. Although weak
ened by the strain through which he
had just passed. Private Neuman
maintained his grip on the hyster-
zeal woman, swayed back and forth
in and out of the window to prevent
her from freeing herself and falling
brother firemen to run ladder up to
| the window. A large crowd was as
sembled outside the hotel and burst
forth into spontaneous cheers and sal
vos of applause in recognition Of his
| heroism.
TORTUOUs STRAIN PROLONGED.
| In the meantime the members OF
| his company succeeded in getting
! ladder near the window, experiencing
much difficulty and delay in doing so
because of the interference of the
branches of trees, thus.prolonging the
strain to which the smoke-surroundcd
rescuer was subjected.
| The ladder was finally placed
against the window. and Private Neu-
man safely handed the unconscious
form down to Private John Burke, of
Truck Company No. 2, who carried
Nine. de Guzman to the paveme mt,
where she Immediately was placed in
| a waiting ambulance and taken to the
| Emergency Hospital.
| The freladdies then gave Thought
| to Private Neuman, who was unable
to leave the sixth floor room without
assistance. Two comrades helped him
down the steps and he was sent to the
Emergency Hospital to be treated for
burns about the face, numerous cuts
L
the lungs due to inhaling smoke.
Acting Battalion Chief A. H. VOL
/ ter. who witnessed the rescue. hiGhly
commended Private Neuman for "ex-
traordinary seal, ingenuity and couY>
age Mt great personal risk, and the
com m ndatio was heartily coneurreA
in by Chief Watson. who was also On
the scene and saw the rescue.
RESCUED WOMAN's STORY.
Madame de Guzman's story OF the
lrescue adds dramatic touches to the
narrative and shows her gratitude
and Private Neuman's modcsty.
II owe my life to Private Frank
lNeumau." said Maname de Guzman
today. "He rescued me amid the most
horrible, black, hot, binding smoke
and carried me out TO the window I'M
conscious, at the risk of his own life.
MAY 1 ask for him recognition Of
his undaunted courage, and a reward
for his bravery and manliness, which
should serve as encouragement for
all to develop strength, manliness and
the type of man the world needs?
when / smelled the smoke on tho
sixth floor I inquired as to the cause
of It and was told by occupants OF sd-
Joining apartments that the janitor
was fixing the furnace. In a few
moments the small elevator came to
the sixth floor and the cry OF fire
was sounded. Several persons ran
into the elevator. 1 asked the opera.
tor to wait until i could get a wrap,
knowing would have to go to tho
street in the rain. After I got my
wrap and returned to the elevator
door I found the car had descended.
rang the bell frsntically. but 1t never
came up again.
LApsED INTO UNCONsCIOUsNEss.
ON the meantime the ovcrpowering
and suffocating smoke enveloped me
in It's heavy, black, sitting grip and
I staggered about my room. / seized
a towel. wet IL and bound II about my
face. grew weaker and weaker and
sank upon my bed. Downstairs I
could hear the footballs OF some one,
and hoped l would be found and res
cued That was the last I remember.
lasped into unconeciousness. I have