Evening star., 1922-02-09
WATCH BLAZE
ON TREASURY ROOF.
Damage in Sensational Fire
Only $1,000 kerosene Ex-
! pIosion Cause.

Destruction Of the Treasury build
ing was threatened yesterday after
sion of kerosene tank. broke out on
the roof of the structure and quickly
spread to a blueprint laboratory,
where it was checked after half an
downtown companies. The blueprint
laboratory. which was located in the
center of the roof, was DESTROYED.
The damage was placed at s7.000
by Fire Chief George Watson-$5.0Oo
to the building and $4,000 to equip
ment, which was water soaked.
James A. Wetmore, supervising ar
chiteet of the Treasury. who is max
ing an investigation of the fire to.
less than $4,000.
The fire started about :35 o'clock.
when a rubber hose carrying kerosene
from a ten-galion container to burner.
which was heating tar to be spread
the kerosene barrel exploded when
the flame shot up the hose and
reached the fuel container. The blaze
spread Immediately to second OIL
barrel and another explosion resulted:
The blueprint laboratory then
r. -. 6. md the flames spread to
other sections of the roof, igniting
- ..iOrm.
Thousands Watch Blaze.
Dense smoke pierced by high flames
thrown up when the blaze reached
supply of tar and tar paper hanpered
the work of the f1remen and attracted
thousands Of persons who crowded
every point OF vantage in the vicinity
of the Treasury building. 1t is esti-
mated that 10000 persons dotted
Pennsylvania avenue. 18th street and
East Executive avenue. and watched
the firemen. with hose upon their
backs, make the daring climb to the
roof Roofs of nearby hotels and Of
flee buildings also were filled with
spectators. Many Treasury employees
who left the building in an orderly
manner after the alarm was sounded
Joined the spectators while the dre-
men were about their work.
Immediately after the outbreak OF
the fire six squads of marines, po-
lice reserves. headquarters detectives
and secret service men formed cor
don about the building to guard the
treasure stored in the freproof vaults
on lower floors.
Enormous Riches In Building.
According to Treasury officials there
were S900.000,900 in government Sc
curitieS of all kinds, more than $780,
O00.O in gold and silver coin and mil
lions of bullion securely deposited In
the vaults at the time of the fire.
The presence of mind of the drafts
men in the blue print room saved all
the valuable blue prints in the lab
oratory. according to Supervising
Architect Wetmore., who paid these
men high tribute for their work. The
six clerks in the blue print ROOM
which is located directly above the
supervising architects office. saved
ali the important plans before they
left. At the time of the fire the
craftsmen were working on plans for
the disabled soldiers hospitals. The
Nr cause
only a days delay in the work OF the
craftsmen.
Secretary Remains Mt Post.
Secretary of Treasury Mellon did
not leave his office. where he was in
conference during the fire. After as.
certaining the extent of the fire and
giving orders for the dismissal of all
ence with other officials of the de-
partment The Secretary's office 10
located on the second floor in the
center of the south wing. The blaze
was confined to the center section 81
the roof.
President Harding. wearing heavy
coat to protect himself from chilly
wind, viewed the blaze from the roof
of the Write House, where he stood
s.uera1 minutes.
The efficiency of the telephone ope-
IaloI. w., severely tested during the
FIRE Hundreds of calls burdened the
wires for more than an hour as anx-
ious relatives and friends inquired
for the safety of the Treasury en-
ployes.
No one was injured. although c. r.
Chester, a representative of Bos-
ton contractor who was making al
terations on the top floor of the
Treasury, suffered a slight burn in
helping to extinguish the blaze. Sew
eral fremen suffered from the dense
smoke, but none was seriously af-
fected.
Watson Directs Battle.
Fire Chief Watson, who saw the
fire from his office in the District
building. reached the Treasury just
as the first piece of fire apparatus
was put into play. He went directly
to the roof, where he directed the bat
tie against the flames.
Three alarms were sounded, bring
ing out ten engine companies, six
trucks. a deputy chief and two bat
talon Chiefs. Fifteen minutes after
the third alarm. had been turned in
twelve lines of hose were playing
heavy streams of water on the flames
Water seeped down into the drafting