The Washington herald., 1922-02-09
FIRE
AND EXPLOSION
IMPERl $500
Valuable Records Burned
And Damage Placed
At $4,000.
Continued from Page One.

Continued from Page One.
was blown from place through high
pressure. The iiseonnection per-.
mitted flames from the torch to
spread to the asphalt tank under
which II was being used. ignitins
the tar. The flames soon spread to
the gallon tank which exploded.
erdangering the lives of three
workers In the small frame strue-
ture used as workhouse for the
construction gang on the roof.
Try to Save Docsneats.
As the men dashed from the
flames. the blaze quickly spread to
the photostst tower. separated from
the Spurth floor at this juncture by
struts
When the blaze reached the draft
Ing and duplicating rooms in the
tower. an alarm In the room was
sounded. warning the guard offices.
Captain OF the Watch Charles J.
Hargis called city fire companies
from a fire alarm box in his ONCE.
All employees in the tower turned
their attention to saving architec-
ural plans in the ONCE. but were
forced quickly TO leave the rooms.
Many OF the plans, according to
James A. wetmore. supervising ar
chitect Of the Treasury Department.
were destroyed by fire or water.
Secretary Of the Treasury Mellon
last night. however, authorized the
statement that none of the draw
inGs or other material relating to
soldier hospital construction had
been destroyed or damaged in the
fre.
Foreman Is Injured.
Louis A. Simon was in charge Of
the force OF fifty men working In
the tower rooms.
william Y. Brady. superintendent
OF construction for raising OF the
fourth floor roof. on which of 200
wrkmen were employed at the time.
directed his men in lighting the
blaze Three Treasury Department
emergency hoses were brought into
play.
G. r. Chester. foreman Of con-
structors. who was in the frame
structure when the blaze broke out.
was burned on the arm but aided
In lighting the blaze.
Clothing left in the workhouse by
workmen was lost entirely.
A tin sheeting between the tenn
porary frame roof and the main
structure of the building aided hre-
men in conhning the blaze to the
roof with the exception of the
~ H.
building. Fire Chief Watson re-
ported. Had the blaze gained lit
tie more hesdway 1t is possible the
flames might have spread to the
lower hoors. chief Watson said.
Hose section Bursts.
CHIEF Watson directed the work
Of the twelve engine companies and
six truck companies from the roof.
He was accompanied by Deputy
Chief 4. J. Sullivan. ]. J. Hanlon.
fourth battalion. chief. and Charles
A. Kreamer. second battalion chief
He expressed satisfaction with the
work Of the men.
A section OF one OF the hoses on
the East Executive avenue side Of
the building burst in three places
a half-hour after the blaze started.
1t was promptly repaired. Shortly
after sparks from engine No set
fire to the life net lying nearby
ready for use. burning a consider
able hole before ii was discovered.
Gain Control Over Fires.
BY 40 o'clock firemen had gained
complete control of the blaze anc
were centering their attentions on
the two burning oil kegs and
asphalt vessel
Chief Clerk W. G. PIstt had sum-
moned a squad Of 108 Treasury De-
psrtment workmen to the scene by
this time and the men were aiding
in rescue work on the fourth floor
in the construction division at
tempting to salvage the drafts and
architectural plans for government
buildings. Few original plans were
in the rooms OF the burned tower
or the drafting room directly be-
meath where water played havoc.
according to the supervising srchf-
tect. J. A. wetmore.
Workmen were detailed to other
rooms on the fourth floor beneath
the wrecked roof for salvage work.
Tsrpaulins were ordered by Chie-
Clerk Platt and these were placed
in the fourth and third-hoor rooms
where water was seepins through.