Evening star., 1948-01-04
Spectacular Fire
Chokes Traffic.;
Loss 100000
3-AIorm BIuze Burns
Two Floors of 11th
Street Building
picture on Page A-f7.)


Firemen fought a spectacular,
three-alarm fire in a CONNER
cial building at ITO Eleventh
street NV. for an hour and a
half last night while crowds Of
spectators gathered on'F, G and
H streets and midtown traffic
was stalled for several blocks.
Flames which burned through
second and third floor windows
eventually broke out through the
roof and sent clouds of smoke
rolling over the flremen and
crowded streets. The damage may
exceed 100000.
The building was unoccupied
When the fire started, and the only
casualties were three slight injuries
to firemen Members of 80 families
hastened from the adjoining Caro-
lima Apartment House until the
blaze was brought under control.
The connecting buildings were vir-
tually undamaged, firemen said.
Traffic Rerouted.
1t was we'll after 8 o'clock, how
ever, before police and flremen
could clear the downtown streets
for normal traffic.
During the height of the blaze
traffic was halted or rerouted be-
tween F and H streets and 10th and
18th streets NV.
Fire Chief Clement Murphy said
the blaze apparently started on the
second floor quarters Of the Dis
play Center, Inc. firm dealing
in window displays, and carrying
stocks of paper, decorations and
some types of paint.
The first firemen on the scene
shortly after 6 o'clock beat back
the flames from second-floor win
dows with streams of water and
scaled ladders to enter the burning
building. But they were forced to
retreat before the heat. smoke and
danger of collapsing floors.
Water Floods Store.
While the flames did not reach
the ground floor display room OF
Marks g. Son Home Furnishing
store, the thousands of gallons Of
water poured into the building from
dozen hoses flooded the lower
section. The fire was brought under
control about 7.30 nm
The brick building was owned by
/ w. Earl Leese and his brother, Nor
man, who valued it at more than
100000. They said the loss was
covered partially by insurance.
Chief Murphy said the basic struc-
ture appeared intact and probably
could be repaired The interiors
of the two upper floors and roof
were destroyed.
Furnishing Store Damaged.
The Home Furnishings store was
owned by Samuel and Irving Marks.
Samuel Marks placed his damage
at between $4,000 and 100000.
The building connected on the
south with the Carolina Apartment
! at 7O6 Eleventh street. The ground
floor of the adjoining building on
the north was occupied by the Yet
; Ho Chinese restaurant.
y Despite the proximity of the fire,
!; and the wailing sirens of arriving
appars tus, the restaurants patrons
!, were reluctant to leave their din
ners before finishing. Meanwhile,
firemen were scaling ladders only a
!, few feet from the front door.
J, The three alarms, turned in from
5 sos to Gil pm, drew 18 engine
| companies, four truck companies, q
water tower, two rescue squads, two
/ ambulances and all available police
+ in the downtown section to the
5 scene. Radios broadcast an order
for ff-duty firemen to report to
, their stations.
Three Firemen Injured.
Three firemen who were slightly
injured were: Capt. j. R. Best Of
No. Four Truck Co. who received
cut hand while fighting the flames
, from an adjoining roof: Firemen
. Harry Winters, 81, of lit Mississippi
. avenue Sc, and Wayne Summer
. Vile, 80, of 1918 North Utah street,
, Arlington, who were treated at
, Emergency Hospital for minor cuts
= and burns.
, The flames were seen first by
man alighting from street car
1See FIRE, Page A-4J