Evening star., 1952-08-28
NineApartments
Ordered dEnlptied
Al Blast Site
Move Is Precuution
Against Failure Of
Weakened Structure

riously. and wrecked six dwelling
units in the three-story brick
apartment development at the
north end of Alexandria along
Mount Vernon boulevard.
Six additional apartments were
slightly damaged and considered
unsafe. Inspector Lash's order to-
day included those six and three
adjoining ones.
The evacuation was the first
definite action to come out of a
three-way investigation into cause
OF the explosion, which roared out
OF a basement boiler room at the
northwest corner of the unit.
Wreckage Covers Site.
Two representatives of the Vir-
ginia State Fire Marshals Office,
Ralph Ellis and Harold Glascock,
were on the scene by mid-morning
and said the piles of wreckage
made it impossible to get to the
actual point of the blast immedi-
ately.
Meanwhile, residents of the
destroyed apartments we're back
in the rubble today, attempting
to identify undamaged furniture
and household goods.
Alexandria Fire Marshal John
E. Posey and the two State rep
resentativeS pushed stheir investi-
cation into cause of the explo-
sion. The coal-f1red heating
system was being converted to oil
and investigators seek substantial
tion Of reports that a minor explo-
sion preceded the big one.
Mayor Marshall Beverley and
City Manager Ira F. Willard are
to confer on possibility of a spe-
cial inspection Of all apartment
heating units.
Damages yesterday was unoffl-
cially estimated at $4,000.
Hurled 100 Feet.
One of the survivors, 17-year-
old Ellen White of apartment 3O2,
at 1925 Abingdon drive, said she
was asleep in a front bedroom on
the third floor when the explosion
occurred about 3:45 pm.
She awoke 100 feet away on the
ground, after being blown through
the apartment and falling to an
alley. Bruised and bleeding, but
not badly hurt, she arose and stood
dazed, as rubble fell around her.
She heard q woman scream and
looked up into the exposed in
terror of the building. Her mother,
Mrs. Hazel White. was cling
ing precariouSly to a Second-story
window sash.
She had dropped from their
third-hoor apartment. What re-
mained of the second-story floor
was fitting crafty downward.
Ellen was dragged from the
danger area as she screamed for
some one to help her mother.
Then she saw a man on the sec
ond floor open a door, reach in
and pull her mother to safety.
The rescuer was later identified as
Hugh Pacella, "a, of Apartment
301 in the same building, an en-
ploye of the Washington Florists
Exchange.
Little Girl Trapped.
A 2-year-old girl was buried In
the wreckage for half an hour be-
fore she was rescued. She was
treated at the hospital for cuts
and bruises and released.
The girl was 10 Ann Hawkins,
daughter Of Mr.. and Mrs. William
L. Hawkins, who lived in Apart
ment 201 at 1923 Abingdon drive.
Mrs. Hawkins was in the kitch-
en- when she heard the crash.
Down the hall she saw bedroom
drop out of sight. She rushed to
the bedroom where 10 Ann was
taking a nap. opened the door and
looked into space.
Mrs. Hawkins dashed down the
stairs to the basement to find her
way blocked by debris. Bricks,
mortar and furniture were still
falling.
Neighbors led her up a stairway
into the open court in front Of the
apartments. She was calling, "My
baby, my baby" AS she was taken
in an ambulance to the hospital,
she sobbod, MY baby's dead"
Cries Lead Rescuers.
But the baby wasn't dead. Capt.
L. w. Devers of the fire depart
ment. probing in the ruins, re-
ported to Assistant Chief c. L..
Sampson that he had heard a
baby crying.
Capt. L. w. Davis and Fireman
B. F. Welker Joined Capt. Devers
in the search. They carefully
moved the rubble, piece by piece.
until they uncovered Jo Ann.
They grinned as she kicked and
howled when they picked her up.
A small electric heater had
propped itself over her and saved
her from being crushed.
Both Mrs. Hawkins and her
daughter were released from the
hospital after treatment for shock
and minor injuries.
Also treated at the hospital was
Howard Snyder. 43, of 304 Tim
berwood avenue. Silver Spring, an
electrician. He had been work.
ing in the boiler room. He Suf-
fered q bruise behind the right
ear.
Mr.. Pacel1a said he was in the
kitchen at the time. and his wife,
Elaine, and son, Billy, were in the
living room. Their bedrooms
crumbled to the basement.
The Pacella family stayed with
relatives in Alexandria last night
Other families made homeless
also stayed with relatives or with
friends.
Assistant Chief Sampson said
the explosion apparently occurred