Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-12-25
Residents Safe
|nSpectacu|ar
$4,000 Fire
Many Driven From
Homes in Southwest
Lumber Yard BIuze
pictures on Page Al. }

After facing the menacing danger
Of FIRE, several hundred residents Of
the southwest section were safe IN
their homes today. thankful to Dis
trict f1remen, who early yesterday
morning confined Washington S most
spectacular blaze in many months
to single block in which coal and
lumber yards were destroyed.
Deputy Fire Marshall Charles
Achstetter said that demages to
properties of M ). Gensberg g. Sons
coal establishment and the Martin
Wiegand Lumber Co., both situated
at South Capitol and G streets,
probably would total $l50,0O0. -Four
alarms brought out most OF the
fire apparatus in the city.
Several hundred colored residents
Of the nearby area were routed from
their beds into below-freezing winds
by police as a precautionary meas
ure shortly after the blaze was dis
covered about $3.50 am. Sunday.
Several Firemen Injured.
A number of firemen received
minor injuries and one of the some
5000 spectators attracted to the
scene suffered chest Commissions
when he fell from a tree into which
he had climbed for better view.
In Christmas eve fires, Emma
Lewis, So, colored, of 2718 Poplar
street, received fatal burns in the
basement of a three-story apart
ment house at that address, and
Louis G. Parker, 29-year old dairy
salesman, was burned on both
hands in attempts to extinguish a
fire in his first-foor apartment at
9l4 F street NE.
Four Alarms Sounded.
Four alarms called every fireman
available to fight the flames, which
could be seen as far away as Alex
andria. Northeast winds tanning
the fire were so strong that nine
hours were required to master the
blaze.
A row of six brick houses on the
southeast corner of the block was
saved by f1remen, who kept hose
playing on the roofs and sides of
the structures for several hours.
Only one residence-that nearest
the fire-was badly damaged.
Martin T. Wiegand, treasurer of
the lumber concern, said that, while
exact estimates could not be given
until after an investigation, he knew
that about million feet of lumber,
two trucks and new sawmill were
destroyed. Damage he said, might
reach as high as sl50000
Mr.. Gensberg declared that "all
Of my merchandise and 10 trucks
were destroyed" He said an esti-
mate at this time is impossible, but
that damages would not exceed
$4,000.
Man Injured in Fall.
Carroll Golden, 81, of 10l Fourth
street NE. was treated at Casualty
Hospital for chest injury received
In a fall from a tree at Delaware
avenue and G street which he
climbed for better view of the
proceedings.
Firemen, temporarily overcome by
the blaze, included Battalion Chief
o. r. Monkey and his driver, w. B.
Allen, who were treated at Casualty
Hospital for badly blistered feet.
Several others were treated for
smoke exhaustion by an ambulance
physician.
The origin of the fire had not been
determined, fire officials said today.
Woman Found Unconscious.
Likewise, the basement blaze at
2718 Poplar street was termed "of
undetermined origin" Firemen
found the 53-year colored
woman unconscious on the floor,
with her clothing on fire. At George
town Hospital doctors attributed
Emma Lewis death to third-degfee
burns.
Parker was burned trying to put
out Christmas tree fire at his 9l4
r street apartment. Presents that
were to be distributed to his family.
including two small sons. were de-
stroyed, and members of the house.
hold spent the night at the home
of neighbor. Firemen attributed
the fire to faulty wiring in the
Christman tree lights.
Nine other persons besides the
Parker family were forced to flee
from the F street apartment build
ing. These included Mr.. and Mrs.
o. R. Rice, Preston Bageant, 80;
his sister-in-law and his two sons,