Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-12-25
WHITE HOUSE FIRE
SIXTH IN HISTORY
Flight of President Madison
Before British in 1914
Recalled by Blaze.

Once since its erection 1877 years ago
the White House was practically de-
Stroyed by flames, once 1t was seriously
menaced and three times heretofore
small fires have been discovered, which
were confined to small areas and easily
eXtinguiShed.
When the British, under Gen. Ross,
entered Washington about dusk on the
evening of August "a, 1914. after de-
feating the American forces in the
battle of Bladensburg, a detachment
Of British soldiers was sent at once to
set fire to the Capitol and the White
House
President Madison and his famous
wife, Dolly Madison, had left. Mrs.
Madison had been busy all day sending
away valuables in carriages. Some Of
the most valuable State papers were
saved, but not all of them. She did
not leave until the British had nearly
arrived.
Saw Soldiers With Torches.
M. Serurier, French Minister to the
United States, wrote to his government
that about IL o'clock that night he
saw British soldiers entering the Presi-
dents Mansion with torches.
The French Minister sent letter by
messenger to the commander of the
DaAOA0.A AoACCS, dShHiS IudI guard DC
placed around the Octagon House,
Eighteenth street and New York ave.
nue., where he was then living.
MY messenger" he wrote to Tally
rand, the foreign minister of France,
found Ross in the White House, where
| he was collecting in the drawing room
| (blue room) all the furniture and pre-
pairing to set it on fire.
The flames destroyed nearly all the
l Int of h. hail
| sent a guard to prevent damage to the
house Of the French Minister. 1t was
after the Presidents house was rebuilt
that 1t was first painted white.
Navy Burned Own Yard.
! That same night the Secretary Of
the Navy himself caused the Navy Yard
to be burned. The bridges across the
Eastern Branch had already been de-
Stroyed by the American forces.
The next day the British burned the
Treasury and War Office, the arsenal at
Greenleaf Point, now the site of the
Washington Barracks and the War Col
lege. Several private dwellings were
also burned, but the citizens generally
were surprised at the care Of the British
to save private dwellings
Gen. Ross said afterward that he did
not like to burn the White House and
other public buildings, but was ordered
to do so in retaliation for the burning
by the American forces earlier in the
War of 1912 of the public buildings of
the seat of government of Lower Can
ada. now known as Toronto but then
as Newark. One hundred and fifty pri-
vate homes were burned by the Ameri-
cans on that occasion.
Another Blaze In 1866.
| During the administration of Presi-
dent johnson in 1866 the White House
was seriously menaced by fire that
destroyed the conservatory on the west
terrace. The conservatory was rebuilt
and remained until it was removed in
1902 to make room for the executive
Offices which were damaged in last
nights blaze.
During the administration Of Presi-
dent Coolidge small fire occurred In
the kitchen. 1t was quickly put out and
caused very little damage.
Twice during the Wilson administra-
ton small blazes confined to single
rooms, were extinguished in few min
uteS.
Until last night the White House has
never been seriously menaced with de-
struction by flames since the conserva-
tory burned in 1856.