Evening star., 1940-03-28
Repair Work
Al St. Peters
To Be Rushed
Completion in Time
For Jubilee in
November Is Goal

The parishioners of old st. Peters
Roman Catholic Church today be-
gan the work Of building anew the
structure that was wrecked yesterday
by fire.
The Very Rev. Msgr. E. ]. Con-
nelly, pastor, announced he would
ask the approval of Archbishop
Michael j. Curley to let contracts
for the repair work as soon as pos
sible.
1t is the hope of the priest that the
church can be repaired and redec-
grated in time for the celebration
scheduled In November of the gold
en- jubilee Of the church's construc-
ton.
Hundreds of kilograms, letters and
calls from parishioners and others
have heartened the priest, who was
Frustrated yesterday by the tragedy
he witnessed.
This morning, he conducted mass
in the church's convent at 1873 c
street Sc. but had not decided
where regular Sunday services would
NC uelu peuulHS repair.
$4,000 Damage.
The roof of the massive building
at Second and C streets Sc. was
eaten away almost entirely by the
flames and the interior was badly
damaged by smoke and water. Fire
men said that at least S50.00O
damage had been done in the first
general alarm blaze since the Hahn's
fire in 1885,
Two firemen were overcome by
smoke and one remained in Provi-
dence Hospital overnight for treat
ment. He was A. L. Craver. "a, of
902 Maryland avenue NE, attached
to No. 3 Engine Company. The other
man treated was Paul Knight, AZ.
of 1901 Nineteenth street Sc, of
No. 7 Truck Company.
Police had thrown lines around
the area today to keep back the
hundreds of curious visitors.
Acting Fire Marshal Charles G
Achstetter was conducting an in
vestigation into the cause of the
fire. He said he was particularly
interested in the fact that two
painters had been working near the
roof with blow torches.
Started Under Rear Roof.
The men were working near the
front of the notwithstanding
putty of the windows, whereas the
fire apparently started under the
roof at the rear of the church. Mr..
Achstetter said it was possible that
the flames had worked back through
the dry pine timbers under the
roof, from front to back.
He stated that the building alone
was valued at s150,0O0 and that the
damage was covered by insurance.
Many Of the valuables inside the
nave were saved by priests and
parishioners who dashed into the
burning building to carry out what
they could
The organ, the interior decora-
tions, many of the pews and the
lights were badly damaged. The
altar escaped serious damage, how
ever. The church is the second
Oldest diocesan site in the District,
the parish having been founded
in 1920.
The first alarm was sounded few
minutes after 10 am, and within
so minutes four more alarms had
brought 40 pieces of fire-fghting
equipment to the scene. This left
only Is engines and trucks in re-
serve to fight other fires in the city.
Flames Leap High in Air.
The smoke was curling out from
under the roof when fireman al
rival and soon hung in a black pail
over the entire area. Within half an
hour after the alarm was turned in
flames were leaping IS feet into the
air as the blaze swept from the back
of the roof toward the front.
Sections of the slate root collapsed,
ard firemen were forced back to
avoid the tumbling slate and en-
bers. Within an hour Fire Chief
Stephen Porter announced the fire
was under control.
Yesterday was one of the worst
days for fires in recent city his
tory. Seventy four alarms were
sounded in the 24-hour period end.
ing last midnight. During the St.
Peters fire IA other blazes were
reported.