davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1946-01-13

lie made it possible for the Ryans to
purchase another home"
What should you do If your house
catches fire?
Chief Porter gives some sound advice
in answering this question.
There are three ways to report a fire
correctly and a dozen ways to do 1t
wrong.
When a fire is discovered do one Of
these things:
l. II you live within a few doors OF
an enginehouse run down the street
and tell them.
2. Call Hobart 1916. the emergency
number OF the fire alarm headquar-
tiers, which is listed in large, black
print on the first page of all telephone
directories. or dial the operator and tell
her you want to report a fire. She
will ring the Hobart number for you.
3. Ring one of the fire boxes which
are in convenient locations in every
nelghborhood and stay at the box to
direct the firemen to the blaze.
AL telephone and box calls 60 to the
fire alarm headquarters, located at
Third and Douglas streets NV. Or
duty at all times are telephone oper-
ator and flre-alarm operator, who Is
actually the dispatcher for the Fire
Department.
Fire Boxes
incidentally, these two men are both
civilian employees, not members of the
Fire Department, as the fire alarm
system comes under the Jurisdiction Of
the District Electrical Department.
The quickest way to get the Fire
Department is to turn in one of the
fire boxes" Chief Porter said. Fire
companies can reach any box in the
city in from 3 to S minutes
False alarms Q,282 were turned In
last YEAR, are constant source of
trouble to the department, according to
Chief Porter. False alarms cost the
taxpayer money and create a dangerous
situation as they pull equipment from
parts of the city where actual fire may
do great damage" he said.
Police and Fire Department officials
are working constantly to apprehend
and punish persons turning in false
alarms, he said.
And how about preventing fire in your
home?
On the matter of fire extinguishers,
Chief Porter made this observation:
Fire eXtinguishers can be of great
value as protection-but some one who
does not know how to use one properly
will delay calling the Fire Department
and thus give the blaze a chance to
spread. If fire extinguishers are placed
in the home, I advocate that all mem
bers learn how to use them"
Few homes in the city have extin-
guishers in them, according to Chief
Porter.
The fire chief sums up his advice
to the home owner this way:
First of all, be careful. Check your
home and make sure that no fire
hazards exist. And 1t is very wise to
think about just what you would do
If you wake up at night and find your
house full of smoke. Plan how you
would make your escape Remember
the common-sense safety rules.
Finally, call the Fire Department
promptly. Every delay in getting us to
the scene OF the fire multiplies the
damage and heightens the chance Of
fatalities"
Evening star., 1946-01-13

This sort of thing all along the line
caused the defeat of our troops at
Bladensburg and the burning of Wash
ington, which Immediately followed.
Rebuilding the Mansion
Of course, the President had 10 seek
a new home for a while, but during the
meantime the White House restoration
went on, the south portico, where
Franklin D. Roosevelt took the oath of
office on January 20, year ago, was
completed in 1923; in 1926 the east
room had been restored and in 1929
the north portico was finished. And
thus the mansion remained practically
until 1902 when, during the admins
tration of Theodore Roosevelt, the
executive Offices were built and ex-
terror improvements made and the in
terror elaporately redecorated. In 1927,
while President Coolidge was in office,
the building again underwent consider
able repairs.
However, it does seem that the Presi-
dent is entitled to more privacy and
that the executive wing of the White
House should be moved elsewhere. In
the past it has proved to be fire haz-
ard, and what occurred on Christmas
eve, 1929, may happen again.
Upon this occasion the Executive Of
fee Building had only recently been re-
modelled at cost of about $50 1000, and
the loss may be placed at about that
amount. Referring to this event, The
Star in its issue of December Is, 1929,
said that the fire was first discovered at
8 o'clock pm. the day before, and that
the police reserves from every precinct
in the city were summoned to the White
House, and about 100 responded, with
Maj. Henry G. Pratt, superintendent,
who took charge of maintaining the fire
lines. Inspectors E. w. Brown and
Thaddeus A. Bean aided Maj Pratt
"The third precinct reserves number
ing five men, were the first police to
reach the scene. Pvt. L. L. jackson,
colored, driver of the car, rushed into
the burning Offices and carried out sew
eral chairs, hats, a rug and many filing
cabinets.
Capt. William Scott of the third pre-
cinct, in which the White House is To-
Gated, arrived soon after the fire appar-
atus and remained until early this
morning as many of his men were
among the police who assisted the SOL
diers of Headquarters Company of
Washington District of the 18th Brigade
in maintaining an all-night vigil around
the Executive Mansion"
AS it stands, the Government owns
about one-half of the block to the north
of the White House, which extends from
Jackson place to Seventeenth street and
Pennsylvania avenue to H street In
deed the White House could make good
use of this square by erecting buildings
there and connecting them with tunnels
and electric conveyances, just as the
Senate ONCE Building and the House
Office Building are connected with the
Capitol, and thus relieve the present
situation.
Evening star., 1946-01-13

clothes were driven into the street after
a fire which started in the basement Of
the Holton Arms School last March
spread to the main floor. The cause Of
the blaze was not determined, but its
effect was well observed. Luckily, no
one was injured.
Firemen answering two-alarm blaze
at the home of John c. Duke, 1883
Harvard street NV, in April were
forced to carry the only occupant down
a ladder from the second floor.
She was Domino, black and white
fox terrier, found overcome by smoke.
She had run into the house when the
fire broke out. Mrs. Duke and her
daughter, Mrs. Beatrice Jordan, DOM
mos owner, were out for lunch at the
time
The dog was revived shortly after
being brought down the ladder by
fireman.
Fire causes normally sensible people
to do strange things" Chief Porter
stated. He cited the example OF one
Evening star., 1946-01-13

seas, because the childs great-grand-
mother was able to rescue the baby
from this fire. The 5-week-old child,
Roland F. Lilly, jr., had been left in
care of the great-grandmother, Mrs,
Lillian Burdett, ST. Mrs Burdett seized
the child from it's bassinet in the
kitchen, some War Bonds and other
papers, and fled to the home of a
neighbor. who turned in the fire alarm.
This incident had a fortunate out
come Chief Porter pointed out, "but
what II it had occurred at night?"
An 1S-month-old baby was tossed
from a second-f1oor window by his
mother, Mrs. Margaret Bumbray, 20,
colored, during fire last January at
a home at 2201 Champlain street NV.
in the early morning.
Fortunately the child was caught by
an unidentified man standing on the
ground and escaped unharmed. The
mother jumped, injuring her leg slight
ly. Two other women who were forced
to jump were not as lucky and suf-
fered broken legs.
Evening star., 1946-01-13

for many years known as the Presi-
ace" was laid on october IS, 1892, it
being the earliest public structure be-
gun in the new Capital The architect,
James Hoban, who was born near CAL
Ian, County Kilkenny. Ireland, In 175s.
and who is buried in Mount Olivet Gem
etery, Washington, D. c., furnished the
plans and design for this world-famous
structure.
Hoban came to the United States
shortly after the close of the American
Revolution, and later, in 1891, when
he visited Charleston, S. c., was for
tunate in obtaining an introduction to
President Washington, and when de-
signs we're requested for the public
buildings Hoban journeyed to Phila-
delphia and again saw Gen. Wash
ington, whom he evidently impressed
with his talent, at least the result was
that his plans for the White House
were approved, and for his premium
he chose gold medal of the value of
10 guineas, or about $5110, the rest in
money
Soon afterward, on July 18, 1892, the
commissioners contracted with him for
his services for the year for 300 guineas,
and accompanied by them he surveyed
and laid out the foundation for the
building on that day. At the laying of
the cornerstone, however, President
Washington was not present.
The Cornerstone Mystery
No one seems to know the exact loca-
tion of the stone. The assumption that
1t is in the northeast corner of the
building, because it was Masonically
laid, may not be justified, since at this
early period what is now the general
rule of the order was not then always
followed, as we find in the laying of
the cornerstone of the Capitol year
later, it being then placed in the south
east corner, and similar exceptions
might be cited
Back in 1901, during the administra-
ton of President Theodore Roosevelt.
when the interior of the White House
was remodeled, he made his home at
No. % Jackson place, next to the De-
catur House, and remained there from
June Is to November 6, 1902.
At this time, those in charge of the
work are quoted as saying that there
was evidence of the cornerstone being
the second one from the bottom of the
northwest corner of the building, about
foot and half from the ground" In
1896, when the matter was brought to the
attention of Maj. Edwin P Locke, United
States Corps of Engineers, in charge of
the physical maintenance of the White
House, the major is recorded as having
said that while there is no record of
the incident, older employees in his Office
recall that when the interior of the
building was being remodeled, about
1901, the stone was in the position as
before stated. And the major based his
conclusions upon the memory of the
older employees which appeared to him
ss being correct.
Evening star., 1946-01-13

trating the point of Chief Porter that
carelessness is often disastrous in the
case Of a well-known educator who
died last February.
DR.. William T. Shepherd, IT, foun-
der of the Columbia University Prepara-
tory School which he headed, was
found dead in the bedroom at 1856
Monroe street NV, where he lived
with his daughter, Mrs. Alta Huffstet-
Ter.
After investigation showed that DR..
Shepherd died of suffocation when his
lighted pipe apparently set fire to the
bed while he slept, the coroner issued
a certificate Of accidental death.
He was found by roomer, who called
the Fire Department. Efforts to revive
DR.. Shepherd failed.
In fire last June an overheated re-
frigerator motor burst into flame which
swept rapidly through the kitchen of
a home at 1910 Sixth street NE, caus-
ing considerable damage but no deaths
An Army corporal later saw his in
FAINT son. born during his service over
Evening star., 1946-01-13
Evolution of the White House

when they burned Washington in 1914,
but what they did helped later on TO
bring forth more beautiful White
House during the four years 1t was
being reconstructed. But the INVASION
of Washington was an exciting event,
and not without its really tragic spots.
for when Col Minor, with his Virginia
OF the battle. instead of being immedi-
ately supplied with arms and amm'lni-
ton the colonel in charge was instructed
to make his men put in order the few
guns which they had brought with
them, and in the morning to report in
person to Col. Carbery, who would fur
nish him with additional arms.
Complying with instructions, the fol-
lowing morning he applied, bright and
early for the arms, but was informed
that Col. Carbery had gone out to his
country seat the evening before. After
several hours spent in most painful wait
ing for his return Col. Minor was au
thorized by Gen. Winder to get the arms
by any means. However, almost i'm
mediately thereafter Col. Carbery rode
up and the arms were ordered dealt
out, but without the necessary f1ints,
which were later procured and dealt out
one by one and not thrown out by the
handful, as the exigency of the situa-
ton would have warranted
Indeed, it is related that they were
counted as carefully as If they had
been coins, and that after counting
out a considerable number the man
doing the counting, fearing he had
made miscount, insisted upon count
ing them over again, the result being
that Col. Minors regiment was not
able to join the Army before the re-
treat.
Evening star., 1946-01-13

Fire Department reports show that
this fire started in the basement of the
home, and when discovered around
am. had made such progress that the
stairs and Railways were blocked
However, all was not grim during the
years fires.
Saved by the Bell
Take the case of Mrs. Annie C. Minis
of 1923 s street NV. A considerate
fire announced its presence at her home
last January by ringing the front door
bell.
From a third floor room where she
was sewing, Mrs. Minis went downstairs
to answer the bell but instead of
caller she saw smoke from a blaze in
the basement creeping up through the
fioorboards in the hallway
Firemen said the ringing of the bell
was caused by a short circuit in the
wire resulting from the fire.
Fires can be very spectacular to watch,
but this one had Hollywood angles.
Over a hundred girls in their night
Evening star., 1946-01-13
"Fortunately, the child 1DQS
caught by a man standing on
the orOund."

caught by a man standing on
the ground"
death by flames occurs all too often,
Fire Chief Stephen T. Porter believes.
Last year, for instance. sirens of fire
engines racing to blaZes that brought
tragedy, property loss and death were
heard exactly 1920 times in Washington
Actually, only approximately 4,800 of
these alarms were fires, according to Fire
Department statistics
Seventeen deaths attributed to fires
were recorded last year in the District
and property loss amounted to 81 ,303,-
$40. excluding the figure for December,
which has not been calculated as yet.
Most of these deaths were the result
OF carelessness in the home that could
have been prevented with little fore
sight Time and time again the Fire
Department has stressed elementary
rules Of safety for the home only to have
tragedy result shortly afterward from
the very thing We were warning against"
Chief Porter said.
Defective electrical equipment de-
fective heating plants. collections of
junk in a home which become a fire
hazard, careless acts of individuals,
such as smoking in bed, allowing chill
dren to play with matches-these things
which we all know are dangerous but
which we ignore until it is too late
played a part in causing these fires.
'Of course, when people wake up at
night to find room full of smoke or
their home in flames they are liable to
do panicky things. My only advice as
to what to do in such situation Is try
to keep your head. Remember, the Fire
Department can get to almost any blaze
in under 10 minutes once it is reported"
he said.
The fires in Washington last year
were varied in their nature and illus
Evening star., 1946-01-13
BY Colt Hendley, Jr.

"
Smoke sitting under the door of her
hotel room caused the young airline
hostess to awaken suddenly.
AS she stared at the ceiling of the
strange room, dark with 3 am. black
ness, she heard shouts, people run
ming and the wailing of sirens getting
closer. The smoke became stronger
before she was fully awake.
Then she realized the hotel was on
fire. She was facing one of the most
dreaded events to normal human
fire at night
Jumping from bed she flung open
the door to find the hall engulfed In
fame. There was no escape that way.
Closing the door she went to her fourth
floor window. For few minutes she
stood there, but as the smoke got
thicker and the flames began to break
into the room she made her decision.
Opening the window, she climbed out
on the sill. grabbing steel chain
which supported the hotel sign just
below her.
Sliding down this chain she came
TO the top of the sign. There she
perched until firemen got a ladder to
her and carried her to the ground.
Her name was Mrs. Doris Slower, "a,
then employed by the Pennsylvania
Central Airlines, and the fire occurred
at the Monticello Hotel in Alexandria
last February. Approximately so guests
were driven from their rooms, many
of them saved by two sailors who ran
up and down the corridors waking the
occupants of rooms. Firemen esti-
mated the damage at more than $4,000
This terror of fire at night, of finding
oneself without home or clothes, of
having the saddening experience of
losing a member of the family through
Evening star., 1946-01-13
BY John Clagett Proctor

The question of adding to or re-
modelling the White House is one that
has agitated the public mind for many
years, but in general way the old
part of the building has remained about
as it was when restored after it was
burned by the British on August "a,
1914
To the world at large it may not be
the most beautiful building-and in
deed the world at large may be right
Evening star., 1946-01-13

However, in his search to locate the
cornerstone, Maj. Locke had the paint
scraped from several stones near the
base of the building at the northeast
corner, but no clues were found
1t was pointed out at that time that
the customary cornerstone inscription
in the early days was on the inside of
the block and would not likely be found
by scraping the outside surface. And
since the major was said to be unwilling
to hunt further for the stone, for fear
Evening star., 1946-01-13

but we Americans, regardless of what
others may think, do regard it with a
fervent feeling that no other residence
here or elsewhere approaches. AS a
home for the Chief Executive, however,
Its architecture can be ruined, and it
certainly has not been architecturally
improved, exteriorally, within the men,
ory of any one now living. Incidental
ly, its design is said to have been sug-
gested by the residence of the Duke
Of Leicester in Dublin, Ireland)
Evening star., 1946-01-13

of damaging the foundation, the stone
still remains unidentified
The growth of the White House was
rather Slow one, and as late as 1904,
we are told, the grounds were rough
and neglected; temporary wooden steps
were at the principal entrances and the
roof leaked badly. There were no out
buildings for the storing of fuel and
other domestic supplies. and the house
lacked many of the conveniences so es-
sential for comfortable living, all of
Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1946-10-01
A Job Well Done

On Wednesday, October 2. Amer
lean Relief for Norway concluded
its activities. During its six year
history, this American aid organ
ization has sent over 5ia million
dollars worth of relief goods to
Norway, and is represented in
nearly every district of the United
States.
In recognition of this outstand-
ing effort Nasjonalhjelpen, the
country's central relief organiza-
ton is now publishing docu-
mentary pamphlet. $4,000 copies
of which will soon arrive in the
United States. Headed by greet
ing from the King, Crown Prince
and Crown Princess. this memorial
document will describe the way in
which the American gifts have
been distributed in Norway and
will be sent to every American
committee participating in this
outstanding work.
Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1946-10-01
Norway's Lidice
Rising Again

The final chapters in the saga
of Televaag are now being writ
ten. 1t was here IN April of 1912
that Nazi wrath turned peace
full west-coast fishing village in
to a Norwegian Lidice. In repris-
al for the killing of two German
SIS men, Televaag was wiped
out. All the men were sent to
German concentration camps: Al
of them died there. The women
were carried off to prison. their
children We're taken from them
and sent to Nazi reformatories-
even the cattle were killed. And
before the eyes of the people of
the village every building was
burned to the ground.
Soon afterward, the Norwegian
Government in a solemn promise
to the people Of Televaag vowed
that their village would rise from
the ashes. Recent reports from
Norway describe how this prom
Use is being fulfilled. Despite ma
terial shortages. Televaag is be-
ing rebuilt according to schedule
the only place in Norway where
this has been possible. and it is
estimated that one year from to-
day the new Televaag will stand
ready. Of the 20 homes to be
built by years end. 10 are al
ready completed and the remain
der are well under way. Founda-
tions for 20 additional homes have
already been laid and 7 new barns
will soon be ready. A. another
part of the Government promise
to completely rehabilita.e Tele-
vaag, six new ocean-goirg fishing
boats are nearing completion and
will be ready in time for Tie win
ter season.
Not the least responsible for
keeping of this promise are the
people of Televaag themselves
who have shown an exemplatory
determination and initiative in the
rebuilding of their village.
Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1946-10-01
N.A.M. Makes STAR Front PAGE
By AIvoro c. Shoemaker

Inexhaustbly fecund must be the editorial mind when
to its possessors daily bread, it must conjure up
arguments in support of the policy of the boss who
meets the payroll This of course, applies generally to
must exchange their ideas for whatever money will buy
to eat in these days of baoonng prices and system of
artificial scarcity We hasten to add that this does not
apply to the present writer who has equipped himself
with trade by which he is able to make honest living
More specifically reflections prompted by a
frontpage blast in recent issue of the Seattle STAR d
rected against the who presently represents the
First District in Congress, Mr. Hugh DeLacy.
Foundation laid in the first paragraph of the edi-
tor by the statement that For the past years The
Seattle Star has been following closely the congressional
career of Rep. Hugh DeLacy."
WE'LL has the National Association of Manufacturers
and have those who determined shall start at
holy against Russia.
Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1946-10-01
Ny|on Lines
Norway Style

A recent announcement from
Trondheim, Norway, may prelude
tussle between grizzled west
coast fishermen and the Nor
wegian counterpart of Americas
famous nylon lines. The nylon lines
in this case, however, will be just
that: fishing lines, nets and equip
ment spun from the new wonder
thread. Norwegian experts have
long speculated on the possibility
of using nylon for this purpose
and plans are now under way for
series of extensive on the job
tests.
Norwegian fishermen are inter
ested in knowing how the material
will stand up in salt water, and
whether or not the new fishing
equipment factory soon to be built
in Norway should make provisions
for use of the new thread
No immediate prospects of COM
petition between stocking-seekers
and net-makers is anticipated,
however, as nylons have thus far
been little more than a dream in
the minds of most Norwegian
women.
Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1946-10-01

earth by parachute. This balloon
evidently failed to reach this alti-
tude, however. and drifted east
ward on the prevailing winds. Of
ficials state that this balloon could
have been released from any of
the AAF weather stations from
California to Iceland.
Air Weather Service headauar-
tiers in Washington has presented
the instruments to the Norwegian
Weather Service.
Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1946-10-01
US. Weather Balloon
Drifts To Norwoy

A set of Army Air Force instru-
ments used to record and broad
cast upper air weather observa-
tons from small weather balloons
has been found near Trondheim,
Norway.
Such balloons generally rise to
height of $4,000 feet and burst,
the instruments being dropped to