Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-12-26
Blaze Routs Occupants of
the Kensington, at 2501
Fourteenth Street.
VICTIM is SUEFOCATED
IN SEARCH FOR CHILDREN
Friend and Two Firemen Injured.
Retired Jurist, SO, Led From
Burning Building.

what ITleIOS SdlC was a heroic eLOFg
10 spread the alarm when fire swept
through the Kensington Apartments,
25O1 Fourteenth street.
Three men were injured, two Of
them fremen. They are Guy II.
Keeton OF 2700 Q street, who was res
cued in an unconscious state from the
apartment in which Kelly was suffo-
Gated; Sergt. J. r. Best OF No. . En-
gine Company, who received a sprained
back. and Pvt. Carroll Hull OF No. 81
Engine Company. who was overcome
by smoke. The fire occurred az 4:5o
o'clock this morning.
Kelly escaped from the apartment
once, but lost his life when he re-
turned to make sure that every one
He was found dead in his apartment
on the fifth floor by members Of the
rescue squad Of No. II Engine Com
pany. He had a cash on the fore
head. presumably from a fall. but It is
believed death was due 10 sufocation.
He also was severely burned.
Companion Rescued.
Both Kelly and Keeton were takei
to Garfield Hospital by police from No.
10 precinct. Keeton soon recaperated,
however and was removed from the
hospital by his father.
Sergt. Best had been detailed 20 the
engine company from No. Truck
Company. He was among the first
firemen to attack the fire. he fen
while mounting a ladder and was
taken to Emergency Hospital by Res
cue Squad No. .. His condition is not
regarded serious.
Fireman Hull was overcome BY
smoke on one OF the upper floors He
was carried next door, and. after
oxygen had been administered by the
rescue squad, was revived. He was
taken later to Emergency Hospital.
Origin Is Unknown
OF undetermined origin, the Gre ap-
pearssfo have started sa1newhefe in n
shaft accommodating counterwesghes
for the apartment elevator. The
flames shot Gp the height Of the I've
story building. doing their worst
damage on the top floor. TO which
most OF the IRE was confined. The
fourth floor also was burned and the
other three flooded by the firsmsn
COEuU3NIEE tEe names.
The second floor might also have
been swept by flames had II not been
for the work OF q fireman. Clement
Murphy. who resided on tha, focr.
Called hy Mrs. Annie NJ. Mc.Allisger,
who discovered the ~re breaking cut
from the elevator shaft. Murphy
notified the Fire Department by Iels-
phone, and then Seizing q IRE ex-
tinguisher. succeeded in forcing rhs
ire back into the shaft.
Five alarms were sounded and police
reserves were rushed 10 the scene. 10
assist the command from No. 5. Cold
added 10 the difficulties OF the fsrerer,
Water troxe TO the trees nearby and
formed ice on the pavenaencs.
Kelly. who was Killed. resided IL tAs
apartment ct +. w. Rartiey and. with
BARLEY. had rushed ahco: helping
spread the alarm.
Part way down the stairway. On his
way out. he called:
Are the children oatc''
Returns % Fire.
Rsrtley said he assured him that
the children were safe. bas Nelly rssSA-
si back upstairs.
Later he was found dead in the rccTa
where the children had slept
In this room also was mute evidence
of the pan which the t,vW cast over the
Christmas festivities ct the day ee-
fore. throughout the apartment house.
4 new Christmas doll. belonging ~
ore % the BARLEY chll1ren. was found
half burned. sitting In IT'S little wicker
chair. while the Christmas tree. wAscA
had cast its cheer throughout the
holiday. Was sinSed BY the are ard
3renche3 With wate<.
ke~tcn, who WAS overcome ~
SsncNe. had esen spending the holiday
and last night with his friend. Kelly.
BARLEY said.
Members ~ the reScae squad WHO
found Kelly ami keeyon were T. -
WaterfieN. J, - Matters. (. X. k.'ksenn.
II X. fcrne. l. L. Clements and G.
+. Ntre. The dead and iaIsrS<a nsaa
were taken IT, the hospital eS F<eltSxs-
men Leonard Sager. GsosSe IlssinxEC9
ana ii, -, Rennsr " M 10 rrecsncs.
Within Rsaty Burned.
kelsSNs eS>iy. according to nr, E. X.
SMITH ~ the hospital. WAS hagnei
eadN ea the aras. face. segs sAas saa
left hes,
district Commissioner Proctor Z.
INuSAertN. In Charge er fla and px,-
hINe. Was rn the SS'eas sSrlS 70 survey.
the wcr& of his departments az tha
gsre> MAJ, Edwin ~ &eSSe, lnspeetx,.,
l. J, Ssoll and inSpS>stvNs \. J, Head,
hey cf the iNAltce Department weg~
among ENssee officials SgrsSlnx sarsS.
Capt, II, T., pSayle ~ NJ, ) Was la <s,an,
n<end ~ th1 pSA1c~ ~ Ass pg~Stacs,
laasaSS MAS eSsonatei BY FIRE ne,
pSarsment officials tc<eaN as AAa4s
StS.eeR to tho nuilSisns AND $s,Aee sa
the contents, The pVayNerty Is e~ ael
nv Samuel II itarriSsls. wsSssA a1~msS
here age t>Aaiu i NenSa.
Fss@ aatoiaiax apartment, the 1.eAAs.
sassea. Mas SsanasSSd silSetSy ey water
Man. 81. EssArss>
AmeeS the many ressSnS Who had
narrSw escapes t&pa tAs FaaaRaS Mas
Judge Charles =, kass<ty. resaS<t. fSSg~
merry et the MuntvtssAl IeaTt. whe ~
sS wears nM he hives tA an agNArS>
meM "a the s~c<slsd fss<r wttA MYs>
Aanie N, MeAMtster aisd Mrs. Clara
H. ketstSN Whsn tAs are NEyNsv cat.
all three were fast aSAeesN MEs> Ac~
Altisgsr waA awakened by NAAAA&
Opening the tNNer sG the alNagtAasne.
Sha saw taaaes ShSNestax Up the ete-
VatNr shaft, She immediately awSk,
enea Mys, ENelsssr ayAd Judge R0NStN>
lulxe Rus>ly ee&aa ~ AaVss, eut tAs
ftrs gained heaawaS - TapsalS Eat
Nrs kNasstwe tAEew \ MAJ over Asx
shoulders aaa peAASA asN into the eNaT>