Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-22
ARREST FOLLOWS
PROBE OF 9TH ST.
FIRE EARLY TODAY
Curnreak in Two Places, Re-
SuIting in Five Alarms, Pc
ported by Marshal.
nth AND F STREET
BLAZE TO BE PROBED
Three Firemen Cut or Bruised as
Four Buildings Are Swept.
Hotel Guests Watch,

An inquiry by Police and Fire De-
partment officials into the origin of the
blaze which swept four buildings in the
400 block of Ninth street early today
resulted in the arrest of one man for
investigation. The inquiry was taken
up after preliminary reports from the
fire marshal's Office indicated that the
fire had started simultaneously at two
places.
Authorities were informed that one
merchant whose stock was damaged
had placed some Sc, 500 in fire insurance
on merchandise contained IN three
buildings in the block, including two OF
those which were damaged by the blaze.
The investigators also will look into
the source of a fire in the Office OF the
Mode, Eleventh and F streets, wrlcn
broke out soon after the fire apparatus
responded to the alarms on Nlnth
street.
r. C. Robert. Fire Department in
spector, was assigned to invest gate the
blaze, which attracted crowd OF 5oO0
persons and resulted in the injury Oh
three fremen.
Starts in Dry Goods Store.
Breaking out about O'Clock in a dry
goods and novelty store at No. 430,
owned by Edward Frank, the blaze
spread to Dixie Shoe Store at 432 and
thence to jewelry shop at 434
A clothing establishment at 428, con-
Quoted by Friedlander Bros, also was
damaged by the fire, which wrecked the
building in which it originated and, for
a time, threatened to spread to other
nearby structures, including the Hous-
ton Hotel.
Nearly 200 guests of the hosiery,
awakened by the cracking of flames
and the odor of smoke, left their beds
and watched the fire from windows.
Discovered by Taximan.
The blaze was discovered by w. H.
1fyerly, taxicab driver, who turned IN
the first alarm at 2:13 o'clock. The o.her
four alarms were sounded at flye-minute
intervals.
AS the crowd grew firemen roped of
the area surrounding the burning build
inss because of the danger of watchers
being hurt by falling timbers.
The injured firemen are Sergt. Michael
Lamp, No. IA Engine Company: Capt.
o. A. Becker, No Engine Company,
IN.
Company.
Lamp was the most seriously hurt.
suffering a cash on the head when hit
by a falling object presumably a piece
of timber. After being given first aid by
members of the fire rescue squad he was
taken to Emergency Hospital, where
physicians said his condition was not
serious
Becker, who ran nail through his
foot also was treated at the hospital,
but Bradford. who suffered cut hand
resumed work after receiving treatment
from the rescue squad.
Only Occupant Escapes.
Frank. who lived in the building IN
which his store was located, was the
only person in any of the buildings
when the blaze broke cut. Awakened
by the smell of smoke, ne made his
way to the strset without difficulty
When the first firemen arrived every
floor in Franks building was ablaze.
The smoke was so heavy firemen
were forced TO don masks in order to
get near enough to the burning build
ing to use hose effectively. The pent-
UP fumes in Franks building caused
a slight explosion, blowing out the
windows and showering glass into the
street. The cause Of the blaze has not
been determined.
F Street Store Damaged.
While the apparatus of all downtown
companies concentrated on battling the
blaze in the two stores another fire
brought six companies from remote
sections of the city to the Mode, at
Eleventh and f streets.
Two pedestrians, Charles T. OBrien
of 1920 K street and Sam Trictor of
900 F street, saw the blaze in the Of
flee IN the rear of the four-story build
ing while passing the store about $3.50
O'Clock and turned in the alarm.
The flames had gained considerable
Roadway by the time the apparatus ar
rived. but fremen managed to confine
them to the office. Sidney ReizenStein
Of the MayiOwer Hotel. manager Of the
establishment, told police the damage
probably would not exceed $500.
officials at the fire marshals Office
were making an investigation today. A
cursory examination after the fire had
been extinguished failed TO disclose the
manner in which it started