Evening star., 1939-12-08
Couple Rescued
From 4th.F|oor
Ledge in Fire
Others Flee Flames
In Apartment BIoze
On Connecticut Ave.

Tiremen early today rescued a
couple and their dog from a fourth
floor ledge at 1927 Connecticut ave-
nue. NV. while flames which had
made a furnace of the stairway
broke through the roof and drove
other occupants OF the building
down a fire escape at the rear.
Clinton Macauley, an employe of
the Civil Aeronautics Authority; his
wife and their pet dog, Wags, were
taken down a ladder swung up to
the window from Connecticut ave-
nue. about 3 am. as a large crowd
of spectators watched from the side
walks and street In a chill, winter
gale.
The flames had engulfed the CEN
trail stairway of the small, four
story building so swiftly that none
of the six occupants could escape
that way. All left in nightclothes
and such wraps as they could throw
about them hastily.
A taxicab driver passing along
Connecticut avenue saw flames
shooting from the building about
2:54 am. He turned in an alarm.
The first f1remen on the scene found
the couple outside a window under
the roof.
Flames were all around them" 8
fireman said. I'VE had to hurry"
While a ladder was being hoisted
over the sidewalk at the front. other
firemen circled to an areaway be-
hind the building to aid persons
down the rear steps.
Tells Of Experience.
Il was awakened by cracking
flames and breaking glass" Mr..
Macauley said. Somewhat earlier
q noise on the staircase reused me,
but I went back to sleep. Possibly
I was not wholly asleep, or at least
was easier to awaken the second
time. told my wife to collect such
valuables as she could find in
hurry while I got the dog.
I'VE started out the door to the
corridor and stairs. AS I opened
the door, smoke and heat struck me
in the face. I closed the door again,
and helped my wife out the front
window. I shouted to a passing
taxicah driver, and I think he heard
me. Anyhow, he drove off as if to
turn in an alarm.
I'VE must have been on the ledge
from S to 10 minutes. although it
seemed longer"
Meanwhile, Misses Ruth and
Sophie Trefon, sisters, who occu-
pied fourth floor apartment at the
rear, were awakened by the smoke.
They donned overcoats and made
their way down a flight Of stairs in
the rear, as firemen came up to
assist them.
In third floor apartment, T. G.
and A. NJ. Wilding- White, brothers,
were aroused oy glass falling into
the areaway. They scrambled out
on fire escape just as the two
young women came down from
above.
The fire was brought under con-
troll in less than an hour. It was
believed to have originated in
Photographic studio on the second
floor, f1remen said The flames de-
stroyed the furnishings on the Sec
ond and third floors, but were ex-
tinguished before they did much
damage on the top and bottom
floors. The stairway had a cement
foundation, but railings and fur
nishings were destroyed.
The routed residents spent last
night with friends and returned this
morning to see what could be SAL
vaged from the charred ruins of
their apartments just in time to be
greeted by f1remen returning to the
scene. A heap of debris shoveled
into, the areaway had begun to
smoke and threaten to break into
flames. Mattresses in the pile were
still burning.
No estimate of the damage could
be obtained this morning. The build
ing, it was said, is owned by the Ma
tional Savings & Trust Co. A florist
shop and dress shop on the ground
floor escaped with comparatively
little damage.