Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-01-17


auto tag numbers to police.
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roaring Of which could be heard block
away. The crowds left the Woolworth
fire and ran TO the new one. Jamming
the streets in great masses. Supt:
Hesse took charge of a squadron OF
more than 40 policemen, detailed to
hold the crowds back.
The fire, which rapidly grew to four
alarm dimensions, threatened Whole
sale row" and required nearly two
hours of hard fighting before the flames
were confined TO the building In which
they started.
While the streets were damned with
fire apparatus over an area OF nine
blocks above and below Pennsylvania
avenue fighting the two fires third
fire broke out in the Washington Paper
Store. at the corner of Tenth street and
New York avenue.
Here Charles Jackson. colored tenant
living in all upper floor OF the building,
was partly overcome by smoke and was
rescued by firemen. who quickly had
the blaze under control.
When this alarm sounded Fire Chief
Watson. who had personally directed
the firemen at the Woolworth store.
issued orders TO all firemen on the day
watch and those OF duty to report at
once.
Another Blaze Reported.
With fire sirens screaming In the
downtown sections and clouds of smoke
forming haze which settled like a
fog over the streets. drawing crowds OF
spectators In constantly increasing
numbers. the excitement was greatly
intensified when Chief Watson was noti-
fed that a larger blaze than any Of
| the three previous ones had broken out
at First and II streets. in the Pillsbury
Coal and Feed Store. and was threaten
ing q nearby apartment house.
Despite the fact that the alarm was
quickly turned In. the fire had nearly
a Commute start before apparatus
could be sent TO the scene, and prac-
ieally the entire central portion of the
block-ccep. three story building from
basement to roof Was a roaring inferno
before the first engines arrived.
These were mostly from towns In
Virginia and Maryland which had re-
sponded 10 the first calls The fire wss
threatening and most spectacular. and
scores OF men. women and children,
some partly clad. rushed out into the
streets from the adjoining apartment
house and joined the thousands OF
spectators. Police we're busy keeping
them Oh the sidewalks
With apparatus arriving slowly and
the fire gaining every moment In pro-
portions. many civilians joined the fire.
mems ranks and lent a helping hand
| In hauling hose lines and hosting lad
ders.
Members OF the Brentwood Fire De-
partment and No. Z Engine Company
took apparatus into narrow alley and
fought the fire from that vantage
point Two horses In the stable in
the rear OF the feed store were burned.
In a nearby building, at 20 II street.
J. II. Vetter, a paraiytic confined to his
bed, began screaming for help and was
carried out by firemen,
Junk Yard Forms Barrier.
A large junk yard. where scrap iron
and metal. and several score OF wrecked
automobiles were piled. adjoi:ed the
feed store In the rear OF the Northeast
Auto Exchange, and made an almost
impossible barrier TO flremen who at
tempted 10 reach the burning building
from that side.
The Piiisbury warehouse also adjoins
the Union Station vaduct and yard
Office buildings. Hundreds OF apecta-
tors crowded 10 the yiaduct rail. and
passengers aboard outgoing trains stood
on the platforms and peercd through
the windows.
The flames seemed to defy control,
eating into the stored feed and fiarlng
up though coal gas and heavy black
smoke. and for time II was feared
Efs nm
could not be saved
Additional Out OF town equipment be-
gan arriving from Hyattsyille. Berwyn.
Mount Rainier. Brentwood. Riverdale,
Cottage City. Brightwood and Silver
Spring. Md. and from Clarendon.
Cherrydale and Alexandria. Va.
Large portable searchlights were
erected nj the base OF the viaduct and
stfeamG OF water were poured into the
| burning structure from the roofs pi
| all adjacent buildings. Several firemen
narrowly escaped injury when part OF
the side brick wall Of the structure
crumbled, carrying this root with II and
sending up blast Of flames and sparks
that fell like rain OF fife into the
| street
| One fireman was overcome on thu
roof OF d nearby building by the sud.
| ufH NWNlb VI UlslIE hHlDhG winch IDl-
| lowed the crumbllng Ia ~ the wall and
waA carried down ladder 70 wait.
| Ing ambulance.
| II was several hours before the firt
Was said 10 bs under control despite the
many companies which, responding tc
renewed alarms fought valiantiy &
| check Ihe spread of the flames.
Suspicious Stranger ssea.
| A brakeman In the Union Station
yards reported " thr night car tore
man that he had seen d c0ioTed man
run out Of u rear door 0f tho hnrnina
building just few minutes before tbs
Diaze started Iie said that he wal
looking IN every direction and acting
very siispiaiously. and that he bf1ks
into u run and disappeared In the dark
ness of an alley.
Charles Fl0eekief, part owner ans
manager vi the FiIlsbnry business, sail
today hia stock losses would ba betWeel
ga. 900 and $4,000. Novel l., hntwall
another part owner. said this building
damage could not he estimated.
THIS first moor OF tiae Mcdowell graii