Evening star., 1936-09-15
THREE-H0UR BLAZE
RAzES CLUB HOUSE
WITH $4,000 LOSS
Washington Golf and Coun-
try Club Fire Cause Is
Undetermined.
DINING ROOM BELIEVED
TO BE ORIGIN OF FLAMES
Two Colored Firemen Are Rescued
From Trap on Second Floor
in Roof Collapse.

The club house of the washington
Golf and Country Club in Arlington
County, Va, which included President
Woodrow Wilson among its members,
was virtually destroyed early today by
a stubborn fire that took more than
three hours to extinguiSh. President
Harding also played golf there fire.
quentIy, although not a member.
OF frame construction, the building
was easily susceptible to the blaze.
When flremen arrived, the entire
structure was ablaZe and flames were
leaping from the roof.
The blaze was believed to have
started in the center of the main
dining room in the rear of the first
floor. The cause was undetermined,
but Arlington County flremen and
club officials believe defective wiring
was responsible. The damage was ex-
pected to reach $4,000. The loss is
completely covered by insurance.
Two Kittens Perish.
Two kittens, asleep in the club house
kitchen, perished in the fire. There
also was a near tragedy when two
colored flremen, members of the Halls
Hill Company, were trapped on the
second floor at the height Of the blaze
when a portion of the roof collapsed
They were nearly overcome by smoke
before they we're rescued by John
Clardy of the Arlington Fire Company.
The two f1remen, Milton Bracket,
chief of the Halls Hill Company, and
Robert Nicholson, assistant chief, were
given first aid and returned to aid in
fighting the blaze.
Another fireman, Robert Todd OF
the Cherrydale company, was over
come by smoke. He was admitted to
Emergency Hospital
Discovered at l AM.
The fire was discovered shortly be-
fore l am. by James S. Nicoll, 26,
member of the club and finance ex-
aminer of the Public Works Ad-
ministration, and Herbert Stevenson,
20, club bookkeeper, who were asleep
in their rooms on the second floor.
Nicoll said the odor of smoke awoke
him, and he raced to Stevenson's
room, aroused him and then rushed
to the first floor and telephoned for
the fire apparatus. The men said at
that time the walls between the din
ing room and lobby were ablaze.
The Cherrydale and Halls Hill COM
panies, those nearest the club, we're
first to arrive. Observing the serious
ness of the fire, calls were made for
assistance. Virtually all of Arling-
ton County's fire-fghting equipment
responded, as well as No. Engine
Company in Georgetown. Despite
the volume of water poured into the
building, it was nearly hours before
t1remen got the blaze under control
Residents Aid Firemen.
Residents of the vicinity assisted
fremen in removing the personal be-
longings of members from the locker
rooms in the basement, where the fire
did the least damage. Scores of bags
Of golf clubs were saved, and thrown
into pile in the rear of the club
house.
Many valuable golf trophies and
autographed portraits, however, were
lost. These included pictures of the
late Presidents Wilson and Harding,
Gen. John j. Pershing, cabinet officers
and other prominent personalities who
took part in the clubs activities. Mrs.
Woodrow Wilson still retains men,
bership.
Nicoll and Stevenson were the only
persons in the club house when the
fire started. Stevenson said activities
at the club ended early last night, and
he closed the club house shortly before
1880 o'clock and went to bed.
Aside from Nicoll and Stevenson,
Fred w. Mugleston, manager of the
club; George Biddle and Herbert
Borkland, members, live at the club.
All were away at the time of the
fire Mugleston and Biddie were out
for the evening. Borkland, an attor-
ney for the Justice Department, left
Saturday for hunting trip in Can
ada.
Clothing Destroyed.
All clothing owned by the five men
who lived at the club was destroyed.
Stevenson and Nicoll fled in pajamas.
Nicoll is said to have lost Is pairs of
shoes and l8 suits, as we'll as other
personal belongings. The club records
and funds, however, were in a fire.
proof safe, which was intact when
the blaze was extinguished.
Mugleston said that, despite the
damage caused by the fire, there
would be no interruption in golfing
activities, which include the clubs
championship tournament this week.
The club has been located on its
present site for about IS years. 1t
was purchased from the late Admiral
Presley M. Rixey. Previously it was
operated in Georgetown and another