Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-01-21
rs Forced to Flee in Night
Clothes as Blaze Sweeps
Sixth Street House.
VICTIMS DRESS CATCHES
AS SHE PEERS INTO SHAFT
Twelve Trapped by Flames in
Fourteenth Street Home Yester-
day Saved by Firemen.

One woman was burned fatally and
more than 25 other persons made their
way to safety in night clothing when
fire broke out in the Glendower apart
ment house, 81 Sixth street northeast,
early this morning, and gained such
headway that four alarms were sound
ed. bringing large part of the ap-
paratus of the city, before it was put
under control.
Failure Of the fire alarm system In
the building, occupants declared, de-
layed spreading the alarm and caused
many to narrowly escape being trapped
by the smoke.
Miss Carrie Goodman, "a, of apart
ment 1O3, the Glendower, died in
Casualty Hospital from burns suffered
when she opened the dumbwaiter shaft
IN which the blaze is believed to have
originated.
Clothing Catches Fire.
Miss Goodman fell to the floor with
her clothing afire and her mother, Mrs.
Dora Goodman, and sister, Miss Ada
Goodman, wrapped her in blankets to
extinguish the flames.
F. A. WeisSmiller, fireman of No. q
Engine Company, carried the woman
to Third Battalion Chief E. Howard's
automobile and sped to Casualty Hos
pltal. He then returned to help fight the
fire.
The fire was the second in "a hours
IN Wnlch f1remen were forced to rescue
persons. Early Sunday morning IL oc-
cupants of 922 Fourteenth street were
assisted to safety after the flames lad
eaten through the wooden stairway
leading to the upper floors of the build
ing.
William Clemmer and p. T. Moss.
residents of the Sixth street apartment,
smelled smoke shortly after A o'clock
this morning. They endeayored to
arouse other occupants OF the structure.
but the automatic alarm system failed
TO work. Clemmer cut his hand on the
glass In attempting to sound one of
the alarms. and received first aid at
tne nome OF neighbor later.
Rouse Tenants.
The men quickly located some Of the
nre In the basement and endeavored
10 nght 1t with extinguishers, but these.
100, failed to work They then rushed
through the building. knocking on doors
ana arousing occupants of the various
apartments.
Meanwhile. an alarm had been
sounded from the street box at sixth
and A streets northeast at 4:4I. Sue
cesslVe alarms were turned in then
every lew minutes until the fourth
alarm was sounded at SOL.
FIRE Chief George S. Watson respond
ea on the second alarm and directed
the WORK OF the firemen. The blaze was
connned 10 the dumbwaiter shaft. II
hremen broke through the roof after
sealing the front of the building bv an
extension ladder. The water tower and
rescue squad were among the pieces of
apparatus called to the scene. Fifteen
minutes after the last alarm was sound
ca the blaze was under control.
Police Reserves Summoned.
Police reserves from precincts 8 and
lO. ana all the extra men from No
were summoned to help control a
crowd OF spectators that quickly gath
cred In spite of the early hour. Mai.
EDWIN T. HesSe, superintendent of DO
nee, who lives few blocks away. and
Police Inspectors Headley. Stoil and
Harrison were also on hand.
The flre was reported officially as OF
undetermined origin. HEADQUARTERS
Detective William MesSer, who oues-
toned Charles H. Wells, colored, jani-
tor at the apartment, learned that,
though there is rule against throwing
refuse or trash down the dumb waiter,
inf1ammable material sometimes is found
III the shaft in the morning.
Some one called the fire board at
4:3l, and after reporting a fire at 81
Sixth street northeast, Immediately
hung up. The telephone operator help
ed secure verihcation of this report,
and few companies were on their
way before the first alarm came in.
Residents who escaped from the burn
ing building found shelter at the homes
of neighbors. Shortly after daylight
many waded through the corridors to
their apartments. which were flooded.
Damage UneStimated.
The Glendower is owned by David
Notes, furniture dealer, living at 1925
Ordway street. No official estimate Of
the damage has been given.
The fire extinguishers in the build
ing bore tags showing they were last
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