Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-13

the west Of the building were then on FIRE in
the root. The hydraulion supplied with
water from the hydrant on Fifteenth street and
conveyed 1t to the engine through the hose
Another branch Nof hose was attached to the
engine. and carried to the head of .he stair
way in the second story, and the two pipes Of
the engine continued to play upon this point, In
order to preserve the passage and stairs for the
persons employed in removing the books pa
perS. ETC.; thinks their exertions retarded the
flames about the stairway, and contributed to
the preservation Of books and papers, but made
no impression upon the roof.
The supply Of water was not sufficient for
the engine to be worked with the greatest
effect. Had there been . suf6cient supply the
eastern part Of the building at least the two
lower stories, might have been saved; as 1t
was, they could only throw the water to the
caves Of the roof and could make no impression
upon the flre. The hose not being sufdcient to
reach the creek, attempted to attach to 1t the
hose Of the Georgetown engine, but found the
screws would not ut.
There we're, he thinks four engines on the
ground; the already alluded to, one from
the west end Of the city, and one from George
town; as TO the fourth he Is not certain; the
three engines arrived in the order mentioned;
that from the west Of the city, half an hour
after the first, and that from GEORGETOWN some
what later; thinks he saw the second engine
employed about the west end of the building;
the west Of the building; the pipe was carried
into the window Of Mr. McLane's western room
and communicated with that side Of the build
ing; knows OF but two points from which water
could be obtained. in addition to the pump In
the south yard, which gave out; the hydrant osl
Fifteenth street and between the Treasury and
State Departments and o pump near the
corner of F and Fourteenth streets
The engine brought by witness used the
water from the hydrant At the State Depart
ment, which was not sufncient supply for it.
and then gave 1t up to another engine hoping
TO draw q better supply Of water from the
creek by means Of hose as before stated"
SUBSEQUENTLY,, Richard White and his
brother, Harry White were suspected Of
having set fire to the building for the purpose
Of destroying certain papers on 1aIe Ia the
Treasury Department. The former was tried
. four times and finally acquitted because Of the
statute OF limitation. The case was prosecuted
BY j. II. Key son Of Francis Scott Key author
OF The star-Spangled Banner" and defended
BY r. J. Brent. The frst trial took place in
December. 1885, and . local newspaper carried
the following reference to the case:
Trial Of Richard H White for arson in set
ting fre to the Treasury Department In wash
ington City, on the 3Oth Of March, 1898.
The prisoner pleaded not guilty. He is Q
well looking man. between 36 and 20 years Of
age with an intelligent eountenanee His hair
is very dark, almost black, and rather curly
He has whiskers and dark eyebrows. His COM
plexion Is rather pale He was genteeliy
dressed in bottle green frock coat and .
fashionable black velvet waistcoat and black
stock His wife and wife's mother sat by his
side. The prisoners wife Is q hand
some woman, and said to be very intelligent.
1.-THE district attorney opened the case and
said 1t would be proved that the prisoner who
was man OF education had made use OF chem
ical preparations for the firing of the building
and tts contents. It would be proved that he
took house in this city, and brought on his
furniture and other goods from New York,
some time before the burning Of the Treasury
Department"
Harry white was convicted Of the crime Of
arson on January 10. 1887. and q new trial was
asked for but denied and the prisoner SEN
fenced 10 10 years imprisonment, but whether
he actually served his sentence In doubtful