Evening star., 1948-01-21

Sweeps Inferior
Coliseum
Building Had Housed
State Department ond
Marine Corps Supple.
Pictures ON Page A-3.)

Nearly 40 pieces of equipment,
including the fireboat William r.
Belt were mobilized early today
to battle a five-alarm, one
special alarm fire that wrecked
the interior of the old Coliseum
in the 500 block of Twenty sixth
street NV. The flames were
discovered shortly after 4::30 am.
The middle section of the 160-
foot, two-story building, a roller
skating arena before the war, was
used as repair shop by the State
Department. A department official
estimated supplies worth $125,000
were lost.
A northern wing of the building
was occupied by the Marine Corps,
which had carpentry shop and
garage on the first floor and storage
place for officers personal goods
on the second floor
The Christian Heurich Brewing
Co., using the southern wing, re-
ported two cars, truck and jeep,
as well as a 37-foot motor boat
usually stored there by Mr.. Heurich,
escaped damage.
Nearby Residents Flee Into Street.
Residents of five frame houses
adjoining the building to the north
fed into the street, but their homes
we're saved, as was the Heurich ga
rage across the street.
Hampered by sleet and rain, and
low water pressure, the Fire Depart
ment was forced to sound a special
alarm at $50 am, nearly an hour
after the first alarm was turned in
at 4:39 am.
In addition to the fireboat, two
water towers were utilized to bring
the blaze under control.
With apparatus and hose entirely
surrounding the building, traffic was
cut off along New Hampshire avenue
and Waterside drive, behind the
structure, and Twenty-sixth street.
Four lanes of workbound automo-
biles were stalled on Waterside drive
for mile.
Less than two blocks from the
fire is the Washington Gas Light
Co.'S abandoned west gas plant
Because of several oil storage tanks
on the plant grounds, the company
sent a crew of observers to the
scene to report developments.
Owned by the Heurich company,
the structure probably was worth
$4,000, an official said. The build
ing damage was covered by insur-
ance. During the war. part of the
building was used as a training
quarters for the Office of Strategic
Services. At one time, the brewery
used a section of the building as
b stable.
Defective Wiring Suspected.
officials said the fire apparently
started on the second floor of the
Marine section. That electrical wir-
ing might be responsible was ad-
vanced by 1t. Francis G. Miller, post
supply officer for Marine Corps
Headquarters, who said the section
recently was 95 per cent rewired.
Water pressure, weakened by old
mains and a general unsatisfactory
condition of the supply system, was
most apparent when the second
alarm was sounded at 4:45 am, ac-
cording to Battalion Chief j. W..
Kay. The building was blazing
fiercely at that time.
Four trucks joined the fire boat
in pumping water from the river.
Standing about an eighth of a mile
from the scene, the boat furnished
II lines. When the Fire Department
complained of the low water pres
sure, the Water Department sent
men to boost it.
Fire Discovered by Guard.
The fire was discovered by Fred
J. Alleigio, a Public Buildings Ad-
ministration guard on the second
floor of the middle section. He said
he noticed the overhead heating
system appeared to be everheated,
and on looking out the building,
saw smoke pouring from windows.
He attempted to remove some of
the supplies stored there, but was
forced to remain outside after one
trip.
In the Marine section of the build
ing T/Sergt. Daniel McCarty, en-
ployed in the garage, was sleeping
upstairs He was aroused by the
buzzer used for gaining admission to
the building. Then he awakened
Corpl. Ernest earle of Arlington,
another Marine.
Marines Move Cars.
Together they managed to remove
seven cars from the Marine garage.
But the upper story was entirely
destroyed and with it the possessions
of some Marine officers. The goods
were taken to the building to be
Grated for shipment to another post
Usually, about 10 officers goods are
stored there
Less than 10 feet from the blaz- 1
ing building was the frame home of
Mrs. Lulu Nelson, 81, colored, who
was i'll.
From next door. 526 Twenty-sixth