Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-01-04

MT. Hall LeSClIleQ CnaC Wnlle ne was
reading paper he smellcd smoke and
saw 1t coming from under a fence
which separates the large storage room
for old documents which adjoins the
artists studio. This is really not a
part Of the old library space formerly
occupied by the Library of Congress,
but was finished in 1902, when the old
library space was reconstructed.
Tries to Put Out Fire.
Mr. Hall said that Mr.. Moberly had
fallen asleep and that as soon as he
himself saw the smoke he ran for the
fire extinguisher and tried to put out
the fire. When he found that he could
not put it out he called to the operator
of small elevator that runs from a
side corridor between Statuary Hall
and the rotunda and told him to turn
in a fire alarm.
Mr.. Hall, with the assistance of sew
eral employees who hurried in, aroused
Mr.. Moberly and took him down two
flights to the office of Minority Leader
Garner, where, after resting and being
attended by the naval physician to
the House, Mr.. Moberly was taken to
his home. He was not seriously in
jured by inhaling smoke and was at
the Capitol before $3.50 o'clock this
morning in conference with Mr.. Lynn.
After conference with Capt. Gnash
of the Capitol police force Mr.. Lynn
said that AL of the information that
has come to me after talking with all
parties involved has not convinced me
as to the origin of last nights fire. It
may have been caused either by
spontaneous combustion or by some
body smoking. No reports have con-
WINGED me that it was caused by
smoking"
Mr.. Lynn said that he had talked
with Mr.. Moberly and that Mr.. Moberly
said he had not been smoking. He
said also that Mr.. Hall said that neither
he nor Mr.. Moberly had been smoking.
Unable to Fix Cause.
Asked directly as to who he believed
had started the fire. Mr.. Lynn replied:
That We have not been able to deter
mine. Possibly it was through spon-
taneouS combustion"
He explained, when questioned re-
garding oily rags used by the painter,
that tub was kept in the room into
which the rags were thrown and that
they were supposed to be wet at the end
OF each day. Whether this was done
or not last night, Mr.. Lynn said, he
did not know
In answer to questions, he said that
Mr.. Moberly told him he had fallen
asleep in the room and when he was
awakened the flames burst in through
the door,
Mr.. Lynn said that the house physi-
clan, DIR. Carver, had taken charge of
Mr.. Moberly, who was in an extremely
nervous condition, and said that Mr..
Mobeley had been overcome by smoke.
Mr.. Moberly has been working on
the retouching of wall decorations in
the Senate corridor. This Scaffolding
was taken down today. Mr.. Lynn ex-
planned that this was done because the
work was nearly finished and he de-
sired to remove the obstruction from
the corridors, as Congress is about to
resume work
While Mr.. Lynn has not yet reported
to the Speaker and the Vice President
who, by act of Congress, are in charge
of the Capitol Building, and whose
agent is in charge of the building,
he will probably appear soon before the
House committee on appropriations to
make statement regarding the amount
OF money necessary to make repairs
resulting from the fire, and that funds
for this purpose will be carried in the
deficiency appropriation bill.
Had Not Been Smoking.
st had not been smoking at any time
during the day of the fire." said Mr..
Moberly today when questioned as to
whether the fire might have started
in that way. He stated that no other
person was in the studio after O'Clock
as far as he knows and that he had
fallen asleep there.
IT went to the studio between and
o'clock in the afternoon after doing
some work in the Senate wing of the
Capitol" said Mr.. Moberly. II worked
for while on some drawings and put
ting away material and strengthening
up around the studio. About o'clock /
fell asleep with my head on my arm ,
on the desk where had been sketching.
IT was awakened by a noise which
sounded like something trying to break
in. I rushed to the inner door leading
to the model room and opened 1t. The |
flames of the fire were so intense that |
/ was overcome and do not remember |
anything until I came to on a couch |
in Representative Carriers Office"
Lonesome at Home.
Mr.. Moberly explained that the rea-
son he stayed In the studio after his |
days work was done was because he !
lives in Mount Ida, Va, alone and "it Is |
lonesome there" He said he preferred |
to remain In his studio and do some |
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