Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1959-10-14
Hine Students Questioned
In Search for Arsonist

room in the basement. He ran
in to find a blazing wad of
toilet tissue hanging on a chain
on a wooden partition.
Mr.. ChaSey was called down.
stairs after this was put out
by Mr.. James. Then the prin-
cipal returned to his second
floor Office, Immediately SMELL
ing smoke from the now raging
blaze on the third floor. Detec-
tive Cox reasoned the fire was
probably started at about the
same time the first basement
flareup over an hour before.
Had Head Start
1T had to have been burning
for some time to have gotten
as big as it did," the detective
said.
Mr.. Chasey praised both stu
dents and teachers for their
conduct in leaving the building
as quietly and calmly as they
did.
He credited a fire drill only
two weeks ago as good prepara-
ton for the real thing. The
stairway leading fro mthe third
floor blaze was used by some
students when the alarm rang
through the building. But bill
lows of smoke forced abandon
ment of this escape route, and
students were routed to four
other stairwayS.
Mr.. Chasey Joined School
Supt. Carl F. Hansen in labelling
the act of arson as "despic-
able"
Its disconcerting to think a
person would set the fire with
so many youngsters in the
building" the principal said.
The principal said the only
act of vandalism at Hine School
this year apparently occurred
sometime Monday night.
Teachers found a window bro
ken on the C street side when
they reported for work yester-
day morning. However, Mr..
Chasey said broken school
windows are common, express
ing the belief the shattered
glass had no connection with
the fire.
School officials said the third
floor portion of the building
damaged by the fire had been
closed off for some time because
of too few fire exits. The audi
forum was sealed off in 1913,
and two classrooms were aban-.
doned last spring.
The school was plagued by a
series of fires in 1858. officials
said all were started in or near
room used by children in a
social maladjustment" class
a special class for emotionally
disturbed youngsters.
District Commissioner Robert
E. Mclaughlin, who arrived at
the fire scene within 80 minutes
after the blaze started, said
damage to the building prob
ably wouldn't exceed $4,000.
Replacement Sought
He added there has been an
effort for several years to re-
place the building with a new
structure. But he said urban
renewal plans and proposals
for a new East Mall from the
Capitol-both of which are
pending-have delayed any re-
placement action.
In 1916 school officials called
EDITIONS at the school
Shocking, insanitary and fire
threatening" and only last
September IA Senator Morse.
Democrat of Oregon, said 1t
was shocking" the District
hadn't replaced the building.
DR.. Hansen this year had
asked for $$118,200 to draft
plans for a replacement, which
would cost an estimated $2.8
million on a site bought several
years ago by the school board
adjacent to the old building.
This money was cut out of the
District budget.
However, Commissioner Nc
Laughlin said the Commission
ers will consider this request
in the next few days as they
look for possible markups in
! tho Snbool h0ord hiidppf