Evening star., 1944-04-24
Inquiry Begun
Four Persons
Three in FomiIy
Leap to Sofety on
Adjoining Building

An apartment house fire which
four persons-one of them a 10.
year-old child-escaped by making
spectacular leaps so feet above in.
tervening sidewalks to adjoining
buildings was under investigation
today by the fire marshal and the
District building inspector.
Mrs. Audrey McNeely, 80, last tt
jump across 6-foot chasm beside
the apartment house at 81 Randolph
place NV. as flames enveloped her
was in a serious condition in Casual
ty Hospital today with first and
second degree burns on her chest
and face.
Her 10-year-old daughter, Betty
Jane Rattig, was reported in fail
condition at the hospital. Aided by
a push from her mother, she jumped
the space while scores of women be-
low screamed.
Her husband, Robert L. McNeely
SO, painter, was In good" condi-
ton although both his hands had
second degree burns and were
wrapped in bandages.
Breaks Ankle in Jump.
Rose Liberty, 20, who made a
similar jump from a fourth floor
window on the other side of the
building, was in Emergency Hos
pital with compound fracture OF
the ankle.
About 40 residents managed to
make their way down the stairs and
out the front door when the build
ing began to fill with smoke about
noon yesterday. Then an explosion
filled, the stairwen with flames.
The investigation was ordered by
Engineer Commissioner Charles w
Kutz, who requested report on the
building from Col. John w. Oeh-
mann, District building inspector.
Deputy Fire Marshal Roy A. War
field said today that the building
which is owned by Interstate Prop
critics, Inc, 726 Jackson place, and
leased to j. w. Block, 723 Carroll
avenue, Takoma Park, Md, was re-
ported to the District building in
spector's Office in 1912 as having q
wooden dumb-waiter used for trash
disposal, in apparent violation of the
building code.
j. S. Zebley, chief building In
spector, said that notices of viola
ton had been served on the op-
orator and owner of the building on
December 81, 1942, and on Novem-
ber 10, 1943.
The only other thing his records
showed, he said, was that one of the
inspectors had been summoned as 9
witness in an action brought by 9
tenant against the operator and
owner Of the building on December
20. 1943.
There had been verbal repre-.
sentations to the management since
he said, and verbal reports that
some improvements had been made
Constructed In 1905.
The building, he said, was con-
structed in 1908, before fireproofins
requirements. Under the law, he
said, there would have been no VIC.
lation but for the fact that its USE
was changed to rooming house ir
part, bringing it under the roominf
house code.
His Office had ordered the owne,
to construct additional fire escapes
he said. The inspection record or
the Randolph place apartment wa.
a good" one, Mr.. Zebley added
Scores of other houses with similar
conditions, he explained, have moi
had as much inspection and pres.
sure for Improvements.
From his hospital cot. Mr.. Nc
Nicely told today how his family had
escaped. They were having break.
fast when a partition near the
dumb-waiter shaft started to belch
smoke. They were cut off from the
f1re escape in the rear. Smoke was
pouring through the door to the
hall and he was afraid to open it.
He opened window and got out
on the ledge with the little girl.
Jump, Daddy, jump" she said, a.
he recounted it.
Jumped to Next Roof.
His hands were already painfully
burned. He jumped to the fiat root
Iof the three-story building next door
across six-foot space above a side.
walk below.
i He turned and managed to catch
the little girl who jumped just a!
his wife pushed her.
Mrs. McNeely hesitated moment
sitting on the window ledge.
i Delbert Oakes, painter who livec
in the apartment house and who
!; had managed to get out the from
door with his wife, his Schnauzel
dogs and two canaries just as a blast
blew out the doors plate glass panel
was standing below.
|. Don't jump" he shouted. "Tht
firemen are coming"
The fire engines from Company
No. IL, just around the corner OF
North Capitol street, were just ther
going by Randolph place. They
went to the fire box at Seton place
and North Capitol and came arounc
the block.
II never thought she (Mrs. Nc.
Neely) would make it," Mr.. Oake.
said today.
| Grabbed by Husband.
But as women screamed Mrs. Nc.
Nicely jumped. Her HUSBAND
clutched her with his burned hand.
and saved her from falling into the
passageway.
On the other side of the house
which was not damaged as greatly
Miss Liberty was on a similar win.
) dow ledge.
Her roommate, who had just re.
turned from the store, was scream.
ing at her not to jump. She jumped
but broke her leg at the ankle.