Evening star., 1951-02-07
z Investigations
Way in
Ninth 81. Fire
3-AIurm BIuze
Does Heavy Damage;
7 Firemen Injured

A two-pronged investigation was
under way today in a small ex-
plosion and fire which caused
heavy damage to building at
514 Ninth street NV, early last
night.
The three alarm blaze, accom-
panied by dense smoke, caused
injury to seven f1remen and at
tracted crowd estimated at 5000
persons.
Major damage was in Maxsi's,
q mems furnishing store owned
by Max Gotkin. A second floor
restaurant, the Mandarin, was
heavily damaged by smoke.
District Building inspectors and
the fire marshals Office were in
vestigating cause of the fire and
safety of the building today.
5000 Watch Blaze.
The fire, which Deputy Chief
Roy B. Hanback, said was "one
OF the smokiest" he has responded
to in SO years in. the fire de-
partment. apparently started
about $3.50 pm. The first alarm
was sounded at 8:34, the second
at 1886 and the third at 8:43 pm.
Thirty-seven pieces Of equipment,
including the water tower, ar
rived to jam busy Ninth street
and the surrounding area. It
took Is policemen, under Inspec-
tor Robert Bryant, assistant su-
perintendent of police. to control
a crowd Of about 5000 persons,
which quickly gathered.
The first firemen on the scene
were driven back by the smoke
and flames until cover of water
was sprayed on the first floor.
Stubborn Blaze.
It took about 100 firemen an
hour and II minutes to bring the
blaze under control. At 1915 pm.
they tore down partitions and a
false ceiling, which still contained
flames. At this time also the
smoke had almost died away. It
had been so dense that firemen
wearing gas masks could remain
in the three-story brick building
for only a few minutes at a time.
Four of the firemen who were
overcome or suffered minor cuts
were treated on the scene by DR..
William D. Claudy, departmental
surgeon. They were Sixth Bat
talon Chief Joseph Conroy. Sergt.
r. D. Jones of Rescue Squad No.
l, Pvt. r. w. Vansickle of No. 3
Truck Company and Pvt. Henry
A. Lang Of No. Engine Company.
Three other firemen declined
treatment and remained on duty
after a few minutes rest.
Mrs. Sylvia L. Gotkin, wife Of
the owner Of Maxsi's. said she had
just left the store with Wilson
Shayne. 81, of 815 South Fillmore
street, Arlington, Va, an account
ant who was working on the book
keeping. She said they walked to
"a parking lot at Ninth and q
streets NV. to get her car so that
Mr.. Shayne could be driven to
where his auto was parked. On
returning, she said, they noticed
smoke coming from the building,
which they at first thought was
the New England Restaurant at
Sic Ninth street NV.
Three Use Fire Escapes.
Meanwhile. Don Moy, "a, of 3547
Holmead place NV, owner of the
Mandarin, which has been at 514
Ninth street NV. for As years.
said he was alone on the second
floor when he noticed smoke COM
ing from downstairs. His wife, Ii
Shee Moy. 81. and a cook. Hen
Moy. 60, were on the third floor,
which has a kitchen supplying the
restaurant and wholesale chow
mein dealers.
Mr.. Moy called to the others,
and all three left the building by
a rear fire escape. Just after they
escaped, flames about Is feet high
shot from a rear window Of
Maxsi's. according to William Car
ter, chef Of the New England Res
taurant. About IA patrons there
were directed to leave, but the
premises suffered no damage and
neither did an eight-story build
ing at 512.
Persons in the Gayety Theater,
513 Ninth street, and in the Leader
Theater at No. 507, sat through
the shows, apparently unaware Of
the fire across the street.
No customers were in the
Mandarin because it had closed
earlier than usual in commemora-
tion Of the Chinese New Year.
Ordinarily the Mandarin has
large crowds at night. Policeman
Edmiston said the early closing
was especially fortunate. since the
front entrance was blocked by
smoke at the outset of the fire.
Streetcar traffic on F street and
Seventh street was tied up for
about an hour and half. Feeder
lines provided some detours, and
buses also were used to clear the
jam.
The fire provided a test for
neighborhood civil defense work.
ers. several of whom responded to
help control the crowds and OBJ
serve f1reflghting methods.