Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-05
THREE LOSE'LWES
WHEN TRAPPED BY
FIRE At QUANT|CO
Lieut.. Holderby, Daughter, d,
and Miss Eleanor Griffin
of D. C. Burn to Death.
,LATTER'S ELDER SISTER
is SERIOUSLY INJURED
Charred Bodies Removed From
Ruins-Board of Investigation
Called to Fix Cause.

Special Dispatch to Inc star
QUANTICO. Va, February D.
Three are dead and one is In nos
pitaI as a. result of a fire discovered
about 5 o'clock this morning in quar-
ters Blob, a two.story apartment OF
the Marine Corps barracks here.
The dead are:
First Lieut.. A. r. Holderby of the
Marine Corps and his 4-year-old
daughter. Clotilde, and Miss Eleanor
Griffin, 81, of Chevy Chase, d. ca all
burned to death.
Miss Caroline Griffin, %, was seri-
ously burned.
Ije11t Holderby's wife and 7-year-
old daughter escaped.
The Misses Griffin were house
guests of the Holderbys, and All OF
the victims had been to dance at
the officers club last night.
Blaze Fought i'm Masks.
The fire, of undetermined origin
burst from the second floor OF the
building shortly after o'clock, ana
was discovered simultaneously by a
sentinel in the street nearby ana an
officer looking from his window
n few minutes the post fire depart
ment reached the scene. Gas masks
were used against the dense smoke
and heat, and the entrance was
broken in.
Three of the victims were carried
out unconscious by the f1remen.
A board of investigation was I'M
mediafely appointed by the comman-
dant. Gen. E. K. Cole, consisting of
Col. r. c. Burkeley, Lieut.. Col. n. +.
Vulte, Mai. f. B. Garrett and Capt.
NJ. H. Silverthorne.
An inquest board also was appoint
ed, consisting of Capt. r. q. Heiner
of the Medical Corps. Navy; Lieut..
Col. r. M. Clinton, u. S. NJ. c., and
Lieut.. Col. ]. II. Harris. Medical
Corps, Navy.
Gen. Cole, upon being aroused BY
the fire alarm, looked from his win
dow, several squares from the scene,
saw the blazes which leaped a mo-
ment later high into the air and was
followed by cloud of black smoke.
Rushing to the scene he was in time
to see the firemen bring out the VIC
TINS, after several futile attempts had
been made to break through the heat
and smoke. He directed valiant fight
against the flames, which were ex-
tinguished in less than ten minutes.
But for the efficiency of the post fire.
men, Gen. Cole said. nearby buildings
would have been destroyed.
There was every evidence that the
victims We're trapped in their apart
ments and found it impossible to
escape Miss Caroline Griffin Is be-
lieved to have made her way down
stairs seeking help to arouse others
of the household, who probably had
been overcome by the smoke.
CharTed Bodies Removed.
The charred bodies of Lieut. Hold
erby, his daughter and Miss Eleanor
Griffin, were taken TO a mortuary
after vain efforts to revive them,
while the unconscious form of Miss
Caroline Griffin was removed to the
Naval Hospital. 1t was reported her
chances of recovery would depend
upon developments of her condition
within the next two or three days.
Throngs that gathered about the
scenes of the fire, including civilians
and enlisted men, were in fever
of excitement. Occupants of the first
floor and nearby neighbors of the
Holderbys in frenzy were Offering
assistance to the nurses. doctors.
police and Marine Corps officers who
: arrived.
There were many displays of hero
ism, especially when the flames were
at their height.
Conjecture as to the cause of the
fire is limited by the lack of knowl-
edge of the interior situation. IT is
believed to have smoldered through
out the night, starting probably in the
absence of the party at the dance and
bursting out following their retire
ment.
Suffocation from the smoke and
fumes may have preceded the ravage
of flames, which burned with great
fury, while the fire department of the
post and civilians battered against the
doors and hurled streams of water
against the building.
Born i'm Richmond.
Lieut. Holderby was born at Rich
mond Va, June %, 1895, was appoint
ed second lieutenant in the Marine
Corps Reserve in July, 1917, and the
appointment was made permanent In
October of that year. He served in
1 the World War and with the Marine
establishment in Haiti.
Gen Cole said the investigation
would be thorough, but the extent
could not be told until further progress
has been made. Before the breakfast
hour the members of the board hal
gathered and began the questioning
of persons who witnessed the hre 81
had talked to witnesses.
Mrs. Holderby and daughter were
in a condition near collapse at the
home of neighbors.
PARENTS GO TO QUANTIC0.