Evening star., 1943-01-01
District Probes
Rooming House
Fire Fatal 10 7
Second Victim Dies
Of Fractured Skull
Suffered in Fall

A thorogh investigation of the
rooming house fire yesterday at 1865
Euclid street NV. was under way
today by District agencies. A sec
ond victim, . 19-year-old youth, died
last night in Emergency Hospital.
John Bruce Walden died at II pm.
Of q fractured skull received when
he fell from q third-story window.
James H. Warren, 20, a Government
guard, died earlier In the day Of
burns at Garfield Hospital.
Fire Marshal Calvin q. LAUDER
estimated the damage to the three
story brick dwelling at 10000 and
confirmed police reports that q
lighted cigarette ignited a fire on q
day bed in a flrst-floor hallway,
which quickly spread to all parts Of
the house.
Police reported that Mr.. Warren
had fallen asleep on the sofa, pre-
sumably with lighted cigarette in
his hand.
Conflicting Reports Sifted.
Investigators, meanwhile, were
sitting conflicting reports on the
rooming house. which the landlord,
Glenn M. Givens, 1868 Euclid street,
said was occupied by IS persons.
District Building Inspector Robert
H. Davis told The Star late yester.
day that his Office could find no rec
ord of the house being issued a cer-
tificate Of occupancy. Supt. Of
Licenses Edward Bailey, however.
said that Mrs. Givens had applied
for permit to operate a rooming
house last May, but that no action
had ever been taken on 1t.
Mr.. Givens asserted he had paid
the District more than q year ago
for q license. He said he had not
applied for . renewal as he was
awaiting notice Of renewal from
the District.
Mr.. Davis said his ONCE had been
flooded" with applications since the
Commissioners in August ordered
all rooming houses here licensed.
He said they had received 5000 ap-
plications and that about half Of
these had been acted on.
Blames Shortage Of inspectors.
He blamed lack Of inspectors on
inability to clear up the roomine
house requests. Mr.. Davis said
he had lost many men to the armed
forces and higher -salaried Jobs, and
that he had been forced to take
some OF his regular inspectors from
their nfhor oseioouoan}r - 3x,,,>.x,
gate rooming places.
The building inspectors office
said the Euclid street home was
owned jointly by Jacob Zarin and
Mrs. Yetta Norman, both of WASH
ington, and that it was leased in the
name of Mrs. Givens.
Fire Department officers report
ed the building was without a fire
escape but was equipped with two
stairways. Mr.. LAUDER pointed out
that the suddeness of the fire and
the fact flames quickly were roaring
from all windows probably would
have rendered fire escape useless,
21-Year-Old Seaman Hero,
Under District law, a roomine
house Of three or more stories with
accommodations for more than nine
persons above the first floor must
have the standard outside fire es-
cape. unless Stairways are fire.
proofed and equipped with fireproof
doors and fire extinguishers and fire
bells are provided.
A 2l-year- seaman attached to
the Navy Department was disclosed
today as hero in the fire which
resulted in the injury of five persons
and routed 80 people in the block.
He Is Seaman (First Glass; I. l..
Welton Of 2750 Fourteenth street
NV, who was reused at his home
by screams, quickly dressed and ar
rived on the scene just before fire.
men. Mr.. Welton climbed to the
roof Of the adjoining grocery store
and assisted five persons to safety.
Mr.. Welton, who Is from Little Rock,
Ark, said he reached up to ledge
and clambered to the roof.