Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-11-23

tuition and the Metropolitan police were an
active in rescuing the weaker patients. who
had to be taken up bodily and brought through
the smoke and flames to q place Of safety.
Some were carried to the City Hall, some to
the school house On Judiciary Square e hos
pital for some time past, some to the former
quarters Of Grifhn's Battery, some to old Trim
ity Church, On Fifth street. and many to PM
vate residences In the neighborhood. It b be-
neVed BY the officers Of the institution that al
the patients were rescued with the exception
of one, an aged woman named Mrs. HuSsey,
who was sent to the infirmary some time sinca
By the commissioner Of public buildings She
cannot be found, and it Is supposed she has
persisted in the flames
1.-The alarm at no time became general
through the city and many persons living with
in two or three squares knew nothing OF the
fire until this morning. One hour and mare
after the fire was discovered q Single-alarm
bell was rung, and 1t was at least an hour after
that before any IRE engines arrived. BY that
time the addition and the eastern portion OF
the main building were enveloped IN flames.
The fire now made considerable Roadway; and
at O'Clock this morning nothing remained
Of the Washington Infrmary but O mass of
hlackened walls and smoking timbers with the
exception only Of the west wing. which ID COM
paratiEely uninjured. The walls Of the addi-
ton have nearly all fallen and the front wall
Of the east wing is cracked 80 badly that It
win have to be taken down.
"Dr; White, the principal, lost all his per-
sonal effects and 1t is stated that the books
and paperS of the institution have been de-
stroyed The assistant surgeons Drs. Cooley
and Pooley) also lost nearly an their clothing.
as did the steward CAdr. HID, ward master
Odr. Davis) and other officers.
SSTNHE first fire must have burned some time
before it was discovered. Soon after the
sister superior gave the alarm Q soldier was
sent into the room where the flames had burst
out with two buckets Of water, but, the d0or,
being closed on him and the smoke SlIffocating
he lost his presence Of mind and did not apply
the water judiciousIy, whereby the progress Of
the IRE might have been temporarily checked
For some reason the water which IL convened
through the building in pipes was not used.
'The citizens were active in affording relief
TO the inmates Of the institution, and hot coffee
and other restoratives were at once on hand
The ladies have been unremitting in their
efforts to secure the welfare and comfort of
the patients and no lack of bed clothing and
other necessarieS has been suffered to exist
1.-THE council chamber of the CITY Hall con-
tains some 20 or 80 Of the patients and many
more are in the rooms on the ground floor Of
the west wing Of the City Hall A host Of kind
hearted ladies were present rendering their
services this morning and the officers OF the
building have shown great kindness. The mayor
offered to do whatever might be necessary IN
the way Of relief
Judiciary Square presents . sad plight this
morning, with the smoking ruins Of the build
ing and the broken furniture scattered over the
lot Most Of the furniture was destroyed by
Ere, rs the energies Of everybody were directed
almost exclusively to securing the safety Of the
patients.
"The want Of an efacient IRE department was
fully demonstrated last night, and We have to
acknowledge the humiliating fact that the fire
woald not have been nearly so destructive II
there had been q sufficient supply OF hose to
bring water to the burning building
"As we go to press, the patients from The
City Han church, etc, are being conveyed IN
anabulances TO the ether army hospitals in tlaas
Viclrifw" :.