The Washington herald., 1922-04-24

cOHtinHed from Paes oSs.
and women, many carrying their
clothing and valuables In sheets
and pillow cases, gathered In
groups, or hurried about making
inquiries about friends and rsla-
tives.
Throughout the greater part OF
the morning the "aliey," usually
a place which the curious visit In
the hope OF being rewarded by q
glimpse of some nationally or in
ternatiUnally known person was
the scene Of women arranging their
hurriedly donned clothing or at
tempting TO arrange their half
completed coiffures, and men ad-
justing their hurriediy donned
clothing.
II was here. ir the famous al
ley" on a sunday morninsa usually
quiet time in the hotel. that
mammoth trunks were bumped
down the marble stairways into
the midst Of the assembled refu-
gees.
Outside Of the hotel was a throng
of the routed guests. Many stood
by. watching the efforts Of the
fremen to check the flames before
they could creep to the floors be-
meath, while others. carrying hast
lily packed baggage, rushed toward
nearby hotels. or were conveyed
in taXicabs to the homes OF friends
The exodus from the sleeping
rooms was orderly in most cases.
although few OF the guests were
panic-stricken when first aroused by
hotel attendants and those who vol
EAs
work. Although most Of the men and
women donned their clothing in haste.
buttoning and hooking as they went
some men were reported to have
iaken their morning plunges and
shaves before leaving the rooms.
Elevator Service stopped.
Traffic on the stairways was heavy,
for short time after the arriva
OF the firemen the elevator service
was stopped because 1t was feared
that some OF the flaming debris
which was falling through the shafts,
would result in serious injury to the
occupants Of the cars.
Volunteers assisted women and
men whom.they found on the stair
ways struggling under larger bur-
dens than they could carry.
Vice President Coolidge was in ey-
idence. but he stood by smoking
cigar and joking with newspaper
while he waited for Mrs. Coolidge
to complete her toilet.
Bandmaster Sousa and Senator
William Z. Calder. Of New York. ac-
companied by members Of his fam
lily. were also among those who made
an orderly exit
Meanwhile. the fre ragged over
head. consuming the elaborate in
terror of the bathrooms and the cost
ly decorations which had been hung
for the settings of the Gridiron ban
quet-haEs. curtains. cedar trees
and other materials all serving as
food for the flames.
Water STREAMS Downstairs.
Torrents Of water rushed down
the stairways. and plaster from the
ceilings of some Of the rooms In
floors below began to drip water
and in several cases fall in small
pieces.
BY s o'clock. practically all OF the
guests had been escorted from the
upper floors. and most of them were
seated about tables in the dining
room eating breakfast. while over
head the fremen were still fighting
the flames and squads of policemen.
under the direction of Mai. Daniel
Sullivan. stood guard over the va
Gated rooms and the baggage in the
ALLEY" and lobby.
More than 100 rooms in the hotel
could not be occupied last night,
being drenched by the food of
water which was thrown into the
bathrooms. according to oficiais of
the hotel last night. Nearly 200
guests who were forced to fee have
taken rooms in other hotels.
Under Control before o O'Clock.
Shortly before . o'clock the FIRE
was under control. The havoc
caused by the flames gave the up
pc. floor of the building. considered
one of the most elaborate in this
country. a Knickerbocker-iiks ap-
pearance. with plaster, steel wire.
and huge piles of wreckage over
the smooth dancing floors.
All of the decorative interior bad d
fallen prey to the flames. leaving