Evening star., 1937-12-13
DESTROYS
HAHN SHOE STORE;
DAMAGE E|S$3OO,0lO
Flames Burst Through From
Basement, Roar Swiftly
to Roof.
CROWD OF OVER 10000
WATCHES FIRE FOUGHT
All Floors in Structure Collapse.
Adjacent Goldenberg's Remains
Open as Usual.

Firemen today extinguished smouId-
erlng remains of the spectacular five
alarm blaze that destroyed interior of
the William Hahn & Co. shoe store at
Seventh and K streets N. w. yesterday.
doing damage estimated unoficially
at between 100000 and $500 900.
More than 18 hours after the fire
broke out in the basement of the store,
occasional bursts of smoke still were
shooting up from the debris within
the bare walls of the four STORY struc-
ture. An engine company and a
truck company remained on duty un-
til 1912 am. today, pouring water on
the danger spots.
Bursting through the basement into
the first floor shortly after firemen
responded to the first alarm at 11:43
am. yesterday the blaze roared swift
ly up through the roof of the building,
which was filled with reserve stocks
of shoes for the Christmas trade.
All Floors Collapsed.
Within two hours, all the floors had
collapsed into the basement, and
smoke poured out gaping hole in
the roof. Firemen climbed to the tops
Of adjacent buildings to shoot water
down upon the flames.
Fire Marshal Clavin G. LAUDER, who
directed operations Of the firefighters
in the absence of Fire Chief Charles
Schrom, who was at home i'll. said it
was Washington's worst fire in 3 or 10
years. The general alarm brought to
the scene more than 60 pieces of fire.
fighting equipment, about two-thirds
of that in the city.
Several firemen were injured slightly
or suffered from the effects of smoke
and exposure before the blaze was
brought under control Three of the
injured firemen were admitted to hos
pitals for treatment.
Prevent Blaze Spreading.
The firefgnters succeeded in keep
ing the blaze from spreading to
the adjacent Goldenberg Department
Store. Water seeped into the base
ment Of the store to depth Of between
one and two feet, however. Officials
could not estimate the damage imme-
diately. Firemen still were pumping
water from the basement this morn
ing, but the store was open for busi-
ness as usual today.
Employees Of the demolished Hahn
store were sent to work at other stores
Of the firm here today. Edwin Hahn,
president Of the company, said the
other stores were well-stocked to carry
on the holiday business, and that addi-
tional merchandise would be rushed
in Immediately to replace the reserve
stocks destroyed yesterday.
Firemen said the blaze apparently
had smouldered for several hours in
the basement of the Hahn store before
it was discovered. The first alarm
was turned in by Reginald Carter, an
employe of the Goldenberg Depart
ment Store, who noticed wisps Of
smoke coming out the basement win
dows. The general alarm was sounded
20 minutes later.
Great clouds Of smoke pouring out
the windows of the building as the
fire gained headway attracted more
than 10000 people to the scene. De-
tails Of nearly 100 policemen, under
supervision of Inspector L. I. H. Ed
wards. kept the crowd under control.
Scores of fire hose poured water
through the windows for more than
two hours to bring the blaze under
control. A new fire tower shot water
directly at the building from a height
opposite the upper windows.
The water splashing from the build
ing and from the flrt-fighting equip
ment froze quickly in the 26-degree
temperature. Long icicles formed on
the firetrucks and on firemen's helmets.
Broadcasting companies set up
mobile equipment to describe the
scene.
Ambulance Crews Stand BY.
Ambulance crews stood by to aid
injured f1remen. The most seriously
hurt were Morris T. Hollis 424 Seven
teenth street Sc, who was treated
at Emergency Hospital for f1rst-de-
gree burns about the face, shock and
exposure. Roger Gray, TIA Sixteenth
street Sc, suffered a strained back.
He also was confined at Emergency.
Sidney G. Carter. 227 Upshur street
NV, was treated for a bruised hand.
Street car service in the fire area
was suspended for several hours, and
the Capital Transit Co. put several
buses into operation to handle their
traffic around the fire zone.
Fire Marshal LAUDER said he would
continue an investigation today in an
effort to determine origin of the blaze
Firemen hesitated to dig into the
debris today because of possible danger
of the building walls collapsing. Mr..
LAUDER said it looked as if the walls
would have to be razed.
While most of the city's firefghting
equipment was concentrated at the
Hahn store, four minor alarms were
turned in from other sections Of the
city. These biazes were quickly ex-
tinguished. Damage was slight.