Evening star., 1928-04-14
D. A. R. DELEGATES
RESCUED IN FIRE
Firemen Garry Hotel Guests
Down Ladders-TWo Men
Overcome by Smoke.

More than a score of women, dele
gates to the Daughters of the Amer
ican Revolution convention, were res
cued early this morning in a tWo-alarm
fire at the Kern Hotel, 1912 G street,
firemen carrying most of those rescued
down ladders. The fire was discovered
at o'clock.
All of the delegates were taken safely
from the hotel, which was crowded to
capacity, but James Jeffries. 54 years
old, colored porter. was badly burned,
and Robert Downs. 35 years old. 1920
G. street, was found overcome by smoke
in the basement, to which the fire was
confined. Both were taken to Emer-
gency Hospital.
All of the 80 guests at the hotel are
d. A. r. delegates. most of them from
Boston and New York. Mrs. Edith K.
Kern. proprietresS, was aroused by the
dense smoke. She awakened the porter,
who CROPPED his way to the basement,
only TO be found by firemen lying face
down in a pool Of water. burned about
the arms and overcome By smoke.
Awakens Guests.
Mrs. Kerns ran through the building.
awakening her guests As she at
tempted to warn the sleeping women
on the second floor she was dazed by
the smoke and was rescued by two fire.
men.
Guests on the first floor ran from
the doors clad In night attire. They
took refuge in garage In the rear
while the hotel annex and homes across
the street cared for other refugees.
Responding to the first alarm, turned
in by Charles Higham. for 25 years
chief OF the Middletown IN. " Vo.uu-
teer Fire Department. a guest at the
Kern Annex, 1913 G street, firemen
found women leaning from the upper
windows OF the hotel. attempting TO es-
cape the choking smoke.
The Gig extension ladder was raised to
the fourth-story coping and other lad
derS were placed against the second and
third story window ledgeS. Ascending
the ladder. which Swayed diZxily from
its precariolls perch ol a soft terrace,
Sergt. L. l, West of No. Engine Ccm-
pany crept along the fourth-story cop
ing and carried down Mrs. Audley K.
Leon. 38 years old. 81 WadSworth ter
race, New YORK. Mrs. S, Duffield Swan.
1923 SedgewIck avenue, New York, was
rescued in similar manner by Pvt.
I. j. Beers of No. Engine Company.
driver for Chief Darlington.
Two Are Rescued.
Mrs. j. E. Van Enburg, delegate from
General Nathaniel Woodruff Chapter.
New York, and her roommate, Miss
Carrie B. Woodford, also of New York,
we're carried from their fourth-Story
room by two firemen characterized by
Mrs. Van Emburg as very charming
and capable men"
Lieut.. l. W. LuSty of No Engine
Company carried two women down the
ladder from the second floor, but. IN
common with most of the rescuerS. was
too busy 10 obtain their names AT
least eight delegates, besides those men
toned. were carried safely down the
ladders, while other were guided
through the murky halls.
Men from No Truck Company car
ried on rescue work from the rear win
dows, while No. , Engine Company and
No. 3 Truck Company operated from
the front, Sergt. T. ID. Lyons and Pvts,
F.. j. Balik and O. +, O'Brien of No.
Engine Company and Sergt, West and
Pvt. w. X Bouthal Of No. Engine
Company participated in the rescue OF
the unconscious men in the basement.
Downs, 1t developed. was an unau-
thorized visitor in the basement, His
presence in the house was not known
until he was found by flremen.
Damage Set at $500.
The damage was confined 10 the base
ment. Firemen estimated II at $500,
The fire. they stated. was caused prob
ablv by defective wiring. The basement
is used chiefly as a Storerooln. The
front windows are barred preventing
the escape Of the two men who were
cropping towards them when overcome
by smoke. Battalion Chief Il, W.
Weaver turned in second alarm. Chief
George S. Watson responded 20 this
alarm and took charge OF operations,
Guests did not suffer the loss Of any
of their belongings, save for one woman
who threw her coat, containing her
pockethook. from the window, The
smoke did not greatly damage the build
ing and several of the delegates stated
that they planned 10 reoceupy their
rooms.
Most of the delegates, some Of them
grandmothers and veterans OF many
u A II conventions, were surprisingly
placid In the face of the excitement,
One delegate stated that the only I'M
convenience she suffered was having 10
dress in car in the garage, Another
said that she was getting used to fires
ON her trips tu Continental Congresses.
since she was Mt the Willard Hotel SeV~
eral years ago when it caught fire dur
Ing the ID A, II, meeting.
firemen Praised.
All et them praised the work Of the
tiremen, and Higham was especially
warm in his praise, stating that the
fireiighterS arrived almost instantly" "
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