The Washington herald., 1922-04-24


hasa suite on the eighth Goo.
Il always get up around or Q
O'clock" the Senator said. "wben
] learned of the fire I took a bath
and dressed and went out to see il
there was anything ! could do. ]
could only help carry luggage and
calm excited guests.
The Senator seemed 10 enjoy the
situation despite excitement of
others. He walked through the
dripping corridors summonins
guests to Come on out, the waters
fine"
a humorous incident occurred
when one guest on the ninth floor,
a prominent attorney from Los An
geles, hastily dressed and left his
room without his removable teeth.
Despite badly enunciated protests
police refused to allow him to re-
turn for this vital part of his
anatomic equipment.
Another man, representative II a
prominent manufacturing concern
in the East, appeared in the lobby
fully clothed except 70. his shoes.
He wore a derby. wading about
the lobby he expressed in no uncer-
tain language his opinion of the
policeman who refused to allow him
10 rescue his footwear from his
flooded room.
While few children We're sem.
several sleepy-eyed poodles and lap
animals were in evidence. Peacock
alley was the temporary rendezvous
clutched tightly in the arms OF
their excited guardians. mostly
ladies.
One OF the unperturbed guests in
the Willard while the fire ragged was
George Cook, representative OF the
Chicago packers. whose room was
on the eighth floor. Warned Of the
fire. Cook arose leisurely. dressed
shaved himself and descended to the
first floor.
There were many others on tho
upper floors who look the Incident
Several took their regular
'''nr-'nE plunge before leaving their
rooms.
One great reason for the lack of
panic that marked the flight OF the
upper-fioor guests was the manner
i'm which employees warned them of
the fire.
Please don't get excited" the en-
ploye would tell the guest after D.,
had knocked. There is a fire on
the tenth floor. but there is no caus.
for alarm However. the manage
ment thinks II best that you should
leave your room until the fire is
gotten under control"
A heavy sleeper on the seventh
floor had to bs awakened three times
before he finally was routed an,
started toward the FIRST floor.
Brig. Gen. Charles F. Sawyer was
determined to rescue all his belong
ings. Among the articles carried
from his suite to safety were
domino and checker boards.
Frank Hall, a captain in the army
during the world war. remembered
all his military Affiliations as he
aided in the rescue work. He stag
gered down six flights Of stairs un-
der the heavy weight of Brig. Gen.
Sawyer's persona! effects. Then he
located the national commander of
the American Legion. Hanford Mac
Nider. and proffered his services.
Many were the suitcases belonging
to delegates to the II. 4. r. that he
brought from various rooms to the
lobby.
A quiet session in the back room
OF the National Press Club was
broken up by the news of the fire.
The members dashed over to The
willard and helped TO arouse the
guests. aiding them to carry luggage
to safety. One of the women whom
the scribes assisted remarked that
the press should be congratulated
on its representatives, adding:
We'll. you oughS to help anyway.
the fire happened after the Gridiron
Club dinner"
Vice President Calvin Coolidge
was one of the first guests to be-
come aware of the fire. He hap-
pened to be up at the time the first
engine arrived. Arousing Mrs.
Coolidge he quickly dressed and de-
termined the extent of the blaze
Mrs. Coolidge went to the home Of
Mr.. CoolidGe's secretary. while the
Vice President remained at the
suite on the third floor.
Gee. weren't we lucky we didn't
move up to the ninth floor like we
wanted to-" giggled one young lady
as she aided her parents in packing
their trunks on the fifth floor.
High officials OF the Police De-
partment and city government were
on hand early. Fire Chief Watson
answered the first alarm. Commits
sioner James F. Oyster. in charge
Of police and fire departments. ar
rived early. Mai. and Superintend-
ent Daniel Sullivan and Assistant
Pratt were on hand
Inspector Clifford L. Grant. chief OF
and his force. Including
Detectives Kelley. Scrivener. Brad
ley, o'Brien. Thompson. Embrey,
Livingstone and Ali
good were among those who super
vised the guarding Of rooms.
Ono woman sent her husband and
two volunteer workers back into
the flooded eighth floor to recover
her precious black bag" when
they found the bag the husband
was curious as to valnables therein
and examined its contents. He
found $3.50, a vanity case, and two
letters.
Two OF the guests-a pretty girl
about IL years old. and her grand