Evening star., 1933-01-08
|. c. c. FIRE STARTS
EFFORTS HERE TO
PREVENT SABOTAGE
Cause of Blaze Causing $780,
600 to 500, 900 Damage,
Not Determined.
$25, 900 CATHOLIC U.
LOSS LAID TO HEATER
One of Contracting Firms on Fed
eral Building Program Orders
Sabotage Insurance.

Steps to prevent sabotage in connec-
ton with Federal building projects will
be taken, it was learned last night, as a
result Of the mysterious fire which swept
the top floor of the new Interstate Com
Snerce Commission Building early Fri
day evening.
This action was decided upon, it was
said, despite the fact representatives OF
the fire marshal,s Office were unable to
discover any evidence to support the
theory sabotage was involved in the
blaze. as charged by some construction
officials
one of the contracting concerns
working on the Federal building pro-
gram, it was learned, has ordered sabo-
tage policies from a British insurance
company. AS a result of the coVerage,
1t was thought likely the Government
buildings on which the contracting firm
Is working would have to be kept under
special guard or covered by doodllgntS
after nightfan.
Investigation Continues.
Meanwhile. investigation of the I. G.
C blaze was being continued by repre-
seutatives of the fire marshaPs ONCE.
However, inquiry into S25 900 nre
that broke out in Mcmahon Hall, Cain
ole University shortly before am.
yesterday, was abandoned when FIRE
Marshal Calvin G. LAUDER discovered
evidence indicating an electric heater
was responsible for the blaze.
Apparently Left Burning.
The heater, 1t was said, apparently
was inadvertently left burning Friday
night and, becoming overheated, ignited
some of the biological specimens IN
the herbarium, on the third floor OF the
building. Valuable plant specimens
and rare scientific books were damaged
by the fire.
Belief the l. C. C. blaze was started
by a cigarette was expressed yesterday
by Fire Marshal LAUDER following
conference with r. C. Roberts, one OF
his inspectors, Who examined Ine
eight-story structure. -,
Estimates. of the damage ranged all
the way from $4,000 to Sloo,ooo' al
of which was covered by insurance.
REPRESENTATIVES Of the insurance COM
pany, engineers for the contracting
firm, the James Stewart Co., Inc, and
Government engineers, under Supt. Neal
A. Melick, will inspect the building
today.
Steel Framework Damaged.
Most of the damage was done to the
steel framework, ruined sections OF
which will have to be cut out with
torches and replaced.
Basis of the sabotage reports is be-
neVed to have been the pending labor
controversy involving members Of the
Hosting Engineers Union working on
two other Federal construction projects.
Investigators found the steel skeleton,
which had been completed several weeks
ago, blackened by the flames and, in
Eome places, twisted by the heat. Char
red remnants of the wooden forms used
In fireproofing the steel with concrete
were mixed with the remains OF the in
sulation, which had been burned from
Ats position beneath the roof.
Handicapped by the difficulty OF
reaching the blaze with water. firemen
were unable to prevent the flames
spreading from the eighth floor, where
they broke out, to the floor below.
Burning timbers dropped into the
Hourt, igniting scaffolding below, and
thames leaped high into the air as
hhrongs watched from behind tightly
drawn police lines. After being
aDrOught under control, the IRE DroKe
out again about eight hours after the
flrst alarm was sounded-at almost the
same time as the Catholic University
blaze was discovered. The flames were
lexinguished in about an hour, how
ever.
Suspect Being Sought.
A shabbily dressed man, reported to
have been seen on the first floor by
Watchman T.. F. Burke shortly before
the blaze broke out, still was being
sought for questioning last night.
Most of the damage at Catholic Uni
Nersity was done to the walls of the
herbarium, which was lined with cab
snetS containing plants gathered from
all parts Of the world
A man found lettering in the hall
was arrested by fifth precinct police, but
was released after questioning.