Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-03-05
MenaCing Flames at 9th and
F Streets QueIIed After Bit
ter 3-Hour Fight.
TWO BUILDINGS Quilted:
OCCUPANTS ARE SAVED
Fire Starting in Drug Store,
Spreads to Tailoring Shop.
Fought From Inside Bank.

Serious injury to n fireman and
damage estimated as high as S9oO,OoO
vas caused by A spectacular dve-alarm
fire on Z street early this morning.
Two buildings were Quilted and serious
damage was done TO another before
the flames were brought under con-
troll h virtually the entire fire fight
ing force of the city.
Starting in LigSett's drug store. at
904 F. street. about 4:30 o'clock. the
fire quickly spread to the building at
906. occupied by the Mertz & Mertz
tailoring establishment. and had made
rapid Roadway before the first alarm
was given by the Waterman on tho
block. The heaviest damage resulted
to these buildings. the rear portions
of which were entirely burned. hut
serious fire and water damage also
was done to the adjoining structure
at 90S. occupied by the Columbia OPP
teal Co. and q shoe shining parlor.
Fireman Hit by BrIcz,
Fireman ~. L. King of 924 InEra-
ham street received possible fracture
of the skull when he was struck on
the head by a falling brick while fight
ing the fire in the rear of the build
inGs. He was removed TO EmergencN
Hospital where an X-ray will be
taken to determine his injuries.
Occupants of the dwelling quarters
in the upper floors of the three-story
structures had thrilling escapes. Be
fore the firemen arrived, the father,
mother and five children. ranging in
age from 3 months to II years. of
Greek family named Baylorzisck, were
assisted from the smoke filled third
floor of the building at 908 by Police
man Paul r. Ambrose of the first
precinct.
r. A. Coe. living on the top floor Mt
900. made his way out of the building
While the entire rear was ablaze and
an elderly man named MCElfret in
the same building also had a narrow
escape.
For an hour the blaze offered stub.
born resistance To the efforts Of the
firemen TO check its spread In order
to fight the blaze effectively. firemer
broke into the building of the Wash
inCton Loan and Trust Co, after
running ladders up the Ninth street
side of the structure, and directed
hose through its west windows onto
the E.1zing rear of the F street build.
from the front of the buildings
Directing their fight from these two
angles, the blaze Enally was brought
under control. although il was after
O'Clock before it was completely
eXtinCuished.
Bank Owns Buildings.
All of the damaged property was
owned by the Washington Loan and
Trust Co. and it was said to have
been the bank s plan TO raze the
buildings next Fall for the erection
of a large office building
The origin of the fire has not been
determined. although it is believed to-
have started in the basement of the
drug store.
Deputy Chief Sullivan arrived AT the
scene on the second alarm and i'm
mediatelv ordered additional appa.
ratus called out. All hut eight engine
Compa MES in the suburban districts
were summoned on the last alarm.
Fortunately. the disruption of street
car traffic. with the r and Ninth street
tracks blocked. occurred at an hour
that caused a minimum of incon-
venience to the public. The cars were
permitted TO run through Ninth street
shortly after S o'clock. While + street
routed over G. street.
Police Reserves Out.
More than 80 police reserves were
called out from various precincts 10
handle the crowds that pressed in
to get glimpse of the blaze. Super
intendent of Police Hesse was early
on the scene to direct his men and
Commiss ioner Frederick \. Fenning
also vert to the scene. To protect
himself against the biting cold. which
covered the fire apparatus with a
fringe of ice and made virtually all
of the adjacent street a skating pond.
Commissioner fleming donned -
fireman's heavy oVercoat. F1remen
and policemen had several heavy falls
on the slippery streets.
Damage caused by the fire was
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