The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-12-13

Archives building can care for them, were reported damaged by fire and water.
 Fire Marshal Calvin Lauber said he was Investigating the possibility that the blaze was incendiary.
 There is chance that it was" he said.
 A complete check of losses will not be possible until executives have examined the filing cases damaged by fire, smoke and water.
 The plush and leather decorated office of Chairman Aiming s. Prall of the Federal Communications Commission was one of the centers of damage. It was flooded. Bremen in gas masks dragged heavy hose lines across the carpet. Hundreds at Scene Hundreds of theater-goers and late night throngs, many in formal dress, were attracted to the scene when the first alarm was sounded shortly before midnight. City fire companies, augmented by neighbor- ing Maryland and Virginia towns, still were pouring gallons into the structure at dawn.
 Water overflowed into the section of the Interstate Commerce Com mission headquarters adjoining the southwest section of the poStoffice building.
 In the ICC section a crew of fire men worked in relays to sweep out water which was nearly two inches deep. They were pushing it down stairs and elevator shafts. Third Assistant Postmaster Gen. eral Clinton B. Eilenberger, who lives in a hotel across the street, rushed to his office to save valuable papers,
 "The water is even coming through the ceilings" he said. He said it was impossible to esti- mate the damage to records until other departmental heads had checked their lists with data which was saved.
 Cancelled Money Saved As the blaze gathered momentum One fireman hurried from the build- ing to turn over 8 bundle of can celled gold bank notes to Police In- spector IL. I. H. Edwards. It was understood more than $1,000,000 in cancelled - and, therefore, value less = $10,000 notes were in the bundle. The top note in the bum dle had been issued 21 years ago by i the Crocker National Bank of San Francisco.
 It was an unusual fire. There were no spectacular flames. But the corridors of the huge building were filled with smoke and acic | fumes.
 The blaze was discovered by watchmen who sought to extinguisf 1t. After almost a half hour battle they summoned fire apparatus. A general alarm was sounded al 4 a. m, bringing virtually every piece of fire fighting equipment in tht city. Fire officials said they wert ready, if necessary, to call out ths 1 reserves. DAMAGE $3OO.OOO
 
 Washington, Dec. 13. (UP)-Gov' ernment officials today estimated damage at $3O0,000 and possibly more as result of a disastrous firt which blazed for several hours to- day in the magnificent new SIG, ,00O. 900 postoffice building.
 The first wass one of the mos damaging to government propert. in the nations capital in man! years.
 Chief damage to the elegantly ap pointed marble and limestone struc ture was by tons of water poure' into the sixth floor of the buildinl where the blaze strated. The water gushed down stairways seeped through floor and poure' down elevator shafts.
 Postmaster General James 4 Farley's massive mahogany recep ton room with it's Oriental rugs an fine furniture was soaked so hadl that it was feared 1t would have t be completely refitted.