Evening star., 1946-11-01
Fire Alarms Scream,
But Halloween Here
Is Fairly Quiet

Fire alarms screamed-45 false
ones-and precious soap was not
scarce enough to save all the win
dows in town, but on the whole,
Washington Halloween celebration
last night appeared moderately
quiet.
In nearby Maryland. however, q
fire believed to have been started
by pranksters destroyed a 10-room
vacant house at Mohican Hills, and
police reported a series of smashed
windows.
But throughout the area, most
youngsters in fancy get-ups laughed
and played in harmless Halloween
fun. Parties and parades carried
out the theme of supernatural in
fiuences associated with the annual
celebration which dates back to
pagan times.
Halloween, as the one night when
ghosts and witches are most likely
to walk abroad, is so called because
1t is the eve or vigil of All Hallows,
or 1eSClVal OF All SdlIlIS.
Leaves on Fire.
District firemen reported finding
Ia few "conf1agrations" of leaves
which apparently were set by prank
fsters. e s~-
The fire which destroyed the
Mohican Hills house, on Mohicar
road just of Macarthur boulevard
caused damage estimated, by fire
men at $1,000.
Chief Joseph A. Giammatteo OF
the Glen Echo Volunteer Fire De-
partment, said 1T looks like a case
of arson" He said he would SUBJ
NIT a report to Montgomery County
Fire Marshal Victor Bender.
The fire chief said a neighbor saw
what appeared to be pile of burn
ing leaves in the rear of the house
and went to friends home to call
the fire department. When she
went out again, according to Chief
Giammatteo, the house was In
flames.
Residents Help Firemen.
He said nearby residents aided
firemen in preventing the flames
from spreading to other homes after
sparks set leaves afire. Firemer
from Cabin John and Chevy Chase
also responded to the alarm. Chief
Giammateo said the house had beer
boarded up after a fire in 1941.
Chevy Chase and Bethesda fire.
men also fought more than a dozen
brush fires started by Halloween
pranksters.
In Bethesda, police captured five
boys who they said admitted throw
ing stones through windows in sew
eral homes in the Bethesda Chevy
Chase area and in the police station
The youths, ranging in age from Ii
to II years, have been released In
custody of their parents pending
Juvenile Court action, according t<
Capt. James S. McAuliffe, in charge
Of the Bethesda station.
In one home at 801 Elm street
Chevy Chase, Capt. McAuiffe said
pranksters used a log as a batterins
ram to smash the front door.
| Windows Smashed.
Windows were smashed in home.
at Blackthorn and Glenwood streets
Western avenue and Forty-flrs
street and in Meadowbrook.
| In Silver Spring. police reported
smashed in homes in the $500 blocl
of Larry place and 1900 block o
Meadowbrook lane. They said oc
cupants of the Larry place hous,
were showered with glass wher
stones were thrown through theil
bedroom window.
Approximately 5000 Marylander
attended parade and party on th'
athletic field of Maryland Park High
School sponsored by the Mayors ane
Common Councils of Seat pleasant
and Capitol Heights. Seat Pleasant
Lions Club, My Maryland Post o.
the American Legion, the Maryland
Park Citizens Association and tht
Seat Pleasant district YMCA.