The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1925-10-12
Al P(a ICE
RESERVES
SENT TO
SCENE
Prisoners Held ii Cells By
Guards Blaze Spreads to
Room Holding Records

& r. s
Fire Of unknown origin, which
broke out in . lavatory on the
fourth floor, used BY orderlies and
other employees for sleeping quar-
tiers, served to give officials an
uncomfortable hour shortly after
1850 o'clock this morning 1T the
District jan.
The flames were conf ined ID tie
fourth floor By prompt work of
the firemen and bucket brigade,
formed by the employees, before
the fire engines arrived. The vol
unteers we're headed BY John
Campbell, captain Of the watch.
under supervision Of Superin-
tendent w. A. Peake.
Fenning On the Scene
AZ soon as the first fire apparatus
arrived second alarm was turned
in. briging additional fire engines.
With the turning in Of the second
alarm, all available police reserves
throughout the city were driven in
speeding automobiles to the scene
of the fire.
Among the first arrivals was
Commissioner Frederick Al. Fen
ming, who has direct supervision
over the fire department. who was
accompanied by other District gov
eminent officials.
Intense excitement prevailed
among the 400 prisoners, among
them being some OF the city's most
notorious criminals.
Immediately upon the outbreak
Of the fire, Superintendent Peake
ordered all Of the large iron gates
around the jail closed and locked.
The fire spread from the lavatorr
to adjoining rooms, where Jail
records were stored.
Although it was brought under
control in q short time after the
arrival of the first apparatus, the
entire wing of the building was
thoroughly flooded by water which
was poured into the fourth floor.
The fire was discovered by boys
playing baseball in the open SPACE !
to the south Of the jail at Mines
teenth and B streets southeast.
Following the second. general
alarm. and her twelve fire engines
were soon pouring tons of water on
the roof and inside the building
Besides damage to the interior and
roof amounting to about $1,000. Jail
records up to six months ago were
burned.
w. L. Barnard. superintendent Of
the District penal institutions. was
at the scene shortly after the alarm
sounded.
According to Captain John Camp
bell, there was no attempt at a jail
break, the prisoners being in an
other wing Of the building and en-
tirely out of danger.
The District Jail now contains
about 155 prisoners who have been
indicted by the grand jury for
various serious offenses. ranging
downward from first degree murder.
These prisoners are all awaiting
trial. The other prisoners in the
Jail are those who have been con-
victed in the two branches Of Po-
lice Court for various minor Of
lenses.
Among the prisoners held there
TO await trial for murder in the
first degree are Wan Ziang Sun.
Chinese, indicted in 1919 for
oassy here: Charles HI. Baker, Chss-
er Batson, Louis Arthur Bouick,
Nary Burke, William M. Ellis, Will
lam Ferguson. Benzie jackson.
William A. Lumpkins and Bernard
7ansome.
Shavus Brewn and Clifton Young
ire held for trial on charges OF
econd degree murder.
Other cases Of more serious
nature, in which prisoners are
leld in the Jail under indictment,
include those of Arthur johnson,
lomicide; John Middleton. murder;
ames r.. O'Connof. murder and
obhery; Vernon Storey, murder
nd robbery; Percy Allen. man
laughter, and johanna Gingeli.
nurder.
There are numerous prisoners
inder ipdictmsDt for roBperY. house.