Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-05-03
FIRE AGAIN RACES
ON. TREASURY ROOF
Spectacular Blaze in Early
Morning Destroys New
Superstructure.

! Fire on the roof of the Treasury
Department, similar to the one that
occurred the afternoon of February
8. was discovered at AS o'clock this
mated at $4,000. 1t is reasonably
certain the. fire had been burning
some time before it was discovered,
! according to Chief George S. Watson
OF the fire department. So bright was
the blaze that it attracted attention
Of persons living many miles distant.
PRESIDENT and Mrs. Harding were
among the numerous persons who left
their beds and watched from their
windows the work of the firemen in
their efforts to save Uncle Sans big
building from ruin
soon after the fire was discovered a
dull rumbling explosion was heard
several minor explosions followed,
put none was close enough to get hurt.
Poilcemen Mumper and Clay of the
nTst precinct were first to send in an
alarm, followed three minutes later
oy II. Z. Johnston, an outside watch
man at the Treasury.
I AS Soon as Deputy Chief Philip w.
Nlcholoson got in sight of the build
ing and saw the blaze he sent in
third alarm, which summoned addi-
tlonal fire companies and Chief Wat
son. The chief sent in a fifth alarm
| ing.
- IL cApcIleHCeu I1uCH
dragging the heavy hose lines from
the street to the roof, their work be-
ing made even more difficult by the
thick clouds of black smoke coming
from the burning oil and timber
Chief Watson said the Roadway
gained by the fire made it impossible
control.
Fire Marshal Seib today made an
tthhspection Of the ruins. He reported
.nat me origin Of the fire probably
was the same as that of the previous
hre, an overheated Bunsen burner
USED Tor the purpose of melting tar
10 pc used on the roof.
IL was said by workmen that there
] rad 6een no burner left lighted, but
lhe n1e marshal thinks they prob
ABLY are mistaken, one of them prob
amy having been left lighted by mis-
take. Melting of the rubber hose
connection liberated oil in the tank
ana the huld lgnited. resulting in the
The flames finally reached the roof
proper and burned the framework
beneath the tin. making it necessary
for fremen to tear away part of the
TN. IL was fully two hours befor
troll, due to the Roadway that was
gained before 1t was discovered.
IL was necessary for the f1reInen to
use immense quantities Of water in
tnelr eHortS to save the building and
the water found it's way to the base
ment. doing a considerable amount of
damage. Secret Service Agent Muir
ply was on duty in the building dur
| ing the fire, being in charge Of those
| on guard.
Firemen were unable to prevent the
destruction of the superstructure on
the roof of the building. a structure
they saved at previous fire, and
with it went blueprints and machines
for making them. and also an ice
plant used in connection with the
work. Fire Marshal Seib suggested
the removal of the superstructure aft
err the first fire occurred. deeming it
a menace to the building. His sug-
Sestion was not adopted, however.
The work of the Treasury Depart
ment proceeded this morning begin
ming at O'Clock, without interrupt
ton. although 1t appeared at first that
operations in the drafting division of
the supervising architects office and
the general accounting Office might
be hindered. Water seeped through
the roof into the general accounting
office, but not to sufficient extent to
hold IN the work of the office
| Shortly after the fire attracted so
much attention. fifty marines, re-
| cruited from number here on leave
| from Quantico. Va, appeared on the
scene and formed a Gordon about the
| building. Assistant Secretary of
| Treasury Clifford was an early arrival
and he remained on duty in charge
| OF persons engaged in the work of
protecting the building.