Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-14
ONE DEAD, 10 HURT
IN 100000 BLAZE
At RUDOLPH & WEST
Acting Deputy Chief Dies
From Injuries Sustained
When Ladder Breaks.
THREE OTHER FIREMEN
FIGURE IN 3O-FOOT FALL
Police Encounter Difficulty With
Crowd as Fire Destroys
Hardware Store.

The most disastrous fire here in re-
cent years swept through the Rudolph
& West hardware store at 1922 New
York avenue late yesterday, eliminating
in the death of one fireman and the
injuring of 10 others, while 10 were
overcome by smoke. A civilian also was
injured. Three of those hurt were in
a serious condition today.
After an investigation today, G. J.
Achstetter, acting fire marshal eX-
pressed the opinion that a careleSsly
tossed cigarette caused the trouble.
The Rudolph loss was placed
by the company at 100000 in round
figures; AchStetter thought it would
be less. Adjoining business houses
also suffered.
Countless spectators, stunned by the
suddenness of the tragedy, looked on
as a towering eXters sion ladder snapped
in two, hurting four firemen to the
concrete sidewalk below. The ladder
rearing more han 80 feet into the
air, collapsed while its toppermost rung
rested in a Slnoked-fllled third-story
window.
1t was with great difficulty that po-
lice reserves restrained the crowd
which surged forward a moment after
the ladder fell. The injured were quick
ly lifted into Stretchers by their I'M
daunted companions and sent away
to hospitals. Included among those
catapulted through the air was
weather-beaten veteran, Acting Deputy
Fire Chief P. R. Davis. He died several
hours later in Emergency Hospital. The
others seriously hurt were Capt Davis
comrades-J. E. Richter, Ernest v.
Fowler and Sergt. Linton T. West.
Fire Chief George S. Watson, who
launched an investigation both into the
collapse of the ladder and the cause of
the fire, said this morning he believed
that, blinded by smoke, too many men
got centered in one place on the ladder.
Blaze Visible for Miles.
The spectacular blaze in the five-
story brick structure was visible at its
peak for miles in every direction. The
structure for q time resembled giant
torch as flames shot more than 30
feet into the sky. Later as the work
of the firemen began TO have a telling
effect huge pillows Of smoke curled
upward. The heat was intense for
a block in every direction, scorChing
buildings nearby and driving the crowds
back.
Several score policemen were required
to hold in check a crowd estimated at
more than $4,000 persons attracted by
the fire.
The throngs milled about for more
than block in every direction. sew
eral hundred of the more enterprising
found perches on the roofs of neighbor-
ing buildings, while others crowded the
windows of Office buildings. New York
avenue from Thirteenth to Fourteenth
streets was piled foot deep with hose.
Traffic was paralyZed. Street cars on
Fourteenth street were at a StandstM
some 80 minutes until hose protectors
were raised overhead. Even then prog
ress was impeded to marked degree.
Nicholson Saves "SmOke Casters"
Deputy Chief Philip w. Nicholson
was credited with preventing additional
injuries by ordering more than dozen
'snoke eaters" from the third floor
shortly before the roof caved in. sweep
ing everything in its path. Tons OF
debris were thrown onto the moor.
where the firemen had been carrying
on their hand-to-hand battle with the
flames.
The alarm was turned in at $50
pm. by Sidney Colvin, IT years old. OF
"a East Capitol street, telegraph mes
senger. After seeing smoke pour from
800
at Thirteenth and H streets. He cut
his right hand in smashing the box
window, later receiving treatment at
George Washington University Hos
pital.
Soon after the first apparatus ar
rived the flames began to spread
through the building. AS the entire
block was threatened, general alarm
was sounded. About 80 minutes after
firemen arrived the blaze seemed to be
under control. A few minutes later il
appeared out of hand again and was
not definitely conquered until O'Clock
Firemen played streams of water on
the blaze from the front and rear OF
the building. Tons of water also were
splashed on adjoining buildings to pre-
vent the fire from spreading. The up
per stories were reached by the hose
tower. The black smoke was so dense
at times that firemen had difficulty In
seeing where to direct the streams.
Prevent Collapse of Walls.
AS flames shot from the upper win
dows, menacing neighboring structures
| the walls of the Rudolph g. West Build.
| ing, expanded by the heat. threatened
| to collapse. Firemen directed the
streams cautiously in an effort to ex-
| tinguish the fire before the heat pro-
duced this result Although they sue.
ceeded in this purpose, the building was
reduced to a she'll
| A series of muffled explosions shook
! the building soon after f1remen reached
the scene. Officials were unable to
explain these blasts, as they said the
bulk of the stores paint supply was
stored in the basement, while the flames
conferred in the upper stories. They
added the heavy smoke was probably
due to the burning of large supplies OF
rope located on the fifth floor
Patrons and employees of numerous
business houses in the vicinity were
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