Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-03
Exploding Bullets and Wind
Hinder Seat Pleasant
Firefighters.
P0STMISTRESS SAVES
MAIL AT RISK OF LIFE
Incendiarism Blamed for Worst
Confiagration in Sections His
tory-Several Injured.

Endangered by exploding ai1lYnuni-
zion, and handicapped by a high wind,
dremen from eight District Of Columbia
ana nine Prince Georges County COM
panies early today brought under con-
sol the worst fire in the history of
seat Pleasant, Md, which in As min
ptes wiped out the general store and
lumber shed of F. l.. Watkins, causing
property damage estimated at $4,000
The owners declared the fire was Of
kncendiary origin.
Many had narrow escapes when
quantity of shells In the store was set
of by the flames. Policeman George
l.. Heath of the sixth precinct, who
was called from reserve duty at the
ninth precinct, was cut on the nose
by one of the bullets He was treated
at Casualty Hospital and later sent
home.
Postmistress Is Heroine.
Mrs. Vallie Gargan, postmistYess, be-
came the heroine of the fire when she
rushed into the burning building, clad
in pajamas and dressing gown, to save a
quantity of mail from the Seat Pleasant
post office. which was quartered in the
building. Mrs. Gargan also succeeded
in saving the official post Office records.
Stamps, money orders and monies Of
the post Office were in a safe which
withstood the flames and were salvaged
from the embers this morning.
Mrs. F. A. Augustine, who lives next
to the store, required treatment from
DR.. r. Apgar for shock. Henry Spring.
man, go years old, who was i'll at the
home of F. L. Watkins, a short dis
lance from the store, was carried by
Morris Hampton and Thurman CLANCY
to q neighbours residence.
Fireman II. r. Morat, 2506 Twenty
eighth street northeast, an aide to
Chief Ernest Howard of the Sd Bat
talon, sprained his side when he STUN
bled over a wire fence. He was treated
by a private physician. About six
county volunteer firemen were reported
injured by flying glass, but all returned
to duty after receiving first aid on the
scene.
passing the store early this morning.
He heard soms one yell sFirel" saw
smoke pouring from the building and
turned In the alarm at the nearby
Seat Pleasant fire house.
Watkins and /. I. Main, the first to
arrive on the scene, declare the blaze
started simultaneously In two places
q store mouse containing wire ana dIl-
other store house, about 100 feet away,
containing feed.
Heat Breaks Windows.
One Of the Seat Pleasant company's
hose lines ignited, and 375 feet of hose
was destroyed. Another hose line broke.
The heat broke windows in the Chesa-
peake Beach Railroad Co.'s District line
station. Sparks were blown over near
by structures, including the Southern
Maryland Trust Co., the railroad sta
ton, the shoe shop of F. A. Augustine
and the homes of Dr.. z. M. Brady and
r. L. Watkins
Everything was hastily carried out
OF the railroad station, and nearby resi-
dents attached their private hose lines
to defend their own homes. All of the
telephone lines in Seat Pleasant were
put out OF order; and one electric light
cable was broken by the blaze. When
the ammunition exploded, several fire.
men threw themselves on the ground to
escape injury, remaining prone until
the series of explosions was over.
A few items of the stock and a num-
Der of showcases were removed from
the store before the flames reached
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