Evening star., 1924-07-28
HELPLESS WOMAN
SAVES CHILDREN
Matron, Invalid, Gives Warn.
ing as Fire Sweeps
Bruen Home.

Four children and an invalid
woman were rescued shortly before
noon today from the Bruen Home, at
1886 Eleventh street, an institution
for the training of homeless chill
dren, when fire of undetermined
origin swept through the structure
and virtually wrecked it.
That serious loss of life did not
occur during the fire, which enveloped
the entire rear wing a few minutes
after it was discovered, is believed
all of the children living at the home
were either playing or attending a
Bible class at a. nearby church
The woman rescued is Mrs. E. K.
Fleck, a matron. Mrs F1eck was in
her room in a wheel chair, powerless
to move, when smoke seeped into her
apartment Forgetting her own dan
ger. she quickly called to attendants
to take care Of four little children
with sore feet, who were in an up
stairs room.
Almost simultaneously the clang of
an approaching fire engine was heard
Ignores Own Safety.
The first company to reach the
scene placed ladders to front win
dowS, and fremen hurried into the
building, then filled with smoke, and
carried the four children to safety.
Not until then. however. would Mrs.
F1eck permit the reScuers to lift her
ing fumes to the home Of neighbor.
The fire started in a latticed room
beneath a group of sleeping porches
in the rear Of the house. The build
ing is of frame construction, and
almost before members of a repair
crew Of the Chesapeake and Potomac
Telephone Company, who were the
first to see the blaze, could turn in
an alarm the flames had enveloped
the porches from the ground floor to
the roof.
No One Injured.
Forty-seven children, ranging in
age from to IA years, would have
been at their lunch had the fire oc-
Cured an hour later. AS it was Is
were playing in the yard. some were
in their room and the others were
around the corner attending the Bible
class. AS a result, no one was in
jured and the only ill effects of the
fire has been temporarily to deprive
them of their home.
The back part of the house and the
top floor were gutted by the fire. and
the remainder was thoroughly soaked
with water Neighbors, who rushed
to the rescue of the little ones they
thought were inside, Immediately
volunteered to give the homeless
This until arrangement can be
made for their care while the Bruen
Home is being rebuilt.
Mrs Fleck, cared for at the home
of Mrs: H. Bocovselski, 1910 Otis
place, issued an ardent appeal for
stitutions to accept one or more of
the children until definite arrange
ments for their care can be made.
1t will be impossible for the neigh
bors to house so many permanently.
Depends on Public Aid.
The Bruen Home is an institution
without endowment. A few OF its
little inmates pay for their board
while there. The others are cared
for free.
AS a result, it must depend almost
entirely upon private contributions
for it's support, and it will be some
time before a new structure can be
built or the remnants of the old one
repaired.
The outstanding heroine of the fire
is Miss 1rma Ruden, Is years old.
an inmate OF the home. Attracted
by the cries of those who first saw
the blaze, she ran to the rear of the
house. took one look at the mount
ing flames. snatched up small
garden hose and several minutes be-
fore engine companies arrived on the
scene was battling the fire all by
herself. When the f1remen arrived
however. she surrendered the hose
and began giving her attention to
the smaller children, who were cry
ing in their fright.
SAYS LAW BROKEN.