Evening Star Newspaper, December 25, 1929, Page 3

. FIREDUTY CALLED - SCORES OF POLICE Reserves From Every Pre- cinct Summoned to Hold Back Curious Crowd. Police reserves from every precinct in the city were summoned to the White House last night when the fire ‘roke out. About 100 responded and Maj. Henry G. Pratt, superintendent of police, ar- rived early to take charge of main- taining the fire lines. Inspectors E. W. Brown and Thad- dius A. Bean aided Maj. Pratt. Traffic was diverted from Pennsyl- vania avenue, betwe:n Fifteenth and Seventeenth streets. Only a few hun- dreds watched the fire and the police had little difficulty in maintaining order. Although the fire was discovered at 8 o'clock and the alarms followed in quick succession thousands throughout the city, busy with Christmas eve festivities, did not realized the White House was burning. The third precinct reserves, number- ing five men, were the first police to reach the scene. Pvt. L. L. Jackson, colored, driver of the car, rushed into the burning offic:s and carried out several chairs, hats, a rug and many filing cabinets. Capt. William Stott of the third pre- eipet, in which the White House is located, arrived soon after the fire apparatus and remained until early this morning as many of his men were among the police who assisted the soldiers of headquarters company of ‘Washington district of the 16th Brigade in maintaining an all-night vigil around the Executive Mansion. The reserves of the Traffic Bureau assisted by other members of the force had the crowd outside of the grounds well under control. Pvt. F. J. Scoville of the Traffic Bureau, stationed at the ‘West. Pennsylvania avenue gate, report- ed that men who attempted to mas- querade as high Government officials in order to get a closer view of the fire were quite troublesome PARTY CONTINUES DESPITE FLAMES AT WHITE HOUSE (Continued Prom First Page.)_ penter, and Charles Williams, a mes- senger. It was the latter who smelled smoke while coming up the stairway from the basement in the executive office, and resulted in the discovery of the fire by Policeman Trice and Secret Service Operative Wood. Leaves Without Coat or Hat. In his haste the President hurried from the White House without overcoat or hat. A few minutes later, however, hat and overcoat were brought to him. Going to the rear of the executive office, the President threw cpen a large window leading into his office and was among those who went into the smoke- filled room and carried papers and other articles 1o safety. He did not make a second trip into the building, but after standing a few moments in the rear grounds super- intending the salvage work, he and some of his friends went to the roof of a nearby building, where he re- mained for nearly an hour, watching the fire and giving orders to his assist- ants in salvage work. Secretary of War Hurley joined the President later in the evening and about 10 o'clock, after the departure of the children guests at the party, Mrs. Hoover and her sister, Mrs. Jeanne Large of California, who with her two children is a, house guest for the ghfistmaa holidays, joined the Presi- lent. B — SPECIAL NOTICE. THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STOCK olders of the Chas. Schneider Baking Co.. Inc.. 101 election of directors and other be held at the office of the Eve v Ve a 1930, at 7 p.m. Transfer books I be closed 10 days prior to tie meeting. G. MEINBERG, President. B. F. ROVER. Secretary. _ e THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE_STH holders of Gude Bros. Co.. Inc., of Washing: n. D. C.. will be held at the main office, 1212 ¥ street northwest. X and for n of any other business that may properly come before the meeting. ________WILLIAM F. GUDE. President. _ | OFFICE OF THE FIREMEN'S INSURANCE Company of Washington and Geovgetown, Wth street and Louisiana avende northwest The stockholders of the Firemen's Insur- gnce Company of Washinzton and George- town will meet at the ofiice on MONDAY, January 6, 1930, for the purpose of elscting 13 directors for the ensuing vear. Polls ©pen at 11 a.m.and close at 12 m. " e ALBERT W. HOWARD. Secretary. THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STOCK- holders of the Atlantic Building Company, Inc.. will be held at the office of the com- 11 Va. ., 1930, at 11 o'clock X is 'for the election of and trsusaction of company busi- ATLANTIC BUILDING CO.. INC., MYRON M. PARKER. Jr.. President. ROBERT €. DOVE, Secrétary-Treas; E_ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STOOK- = A 42-44°G street n.e, Washington. D. Co on Mondsy, January 20, 1930, at 4 p.m.. fof the s for the ensuing year trancaction of such other Busi- as may legaily come before [OREE BUCKELS MCELROY, D. ROSENBERG. Atiotney 3 Secretary. 3 ICE—THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE {* stockholders of the H: U. 0. of O. F. of tix r 27, 1929, . for ti election of directors for the ensuing vear d for the transaction of such other busi- as may Dproperly come before the EPH MANNING. President, oLt Beretsry. . % # THE ANNUAL MEETING OF THE STOCK- holders of the Seventh Street Savings Bank, £ for the election of directors and such other business as may properly come before the [ meeting. will be held in the bankinz house af 3 o'clock p.m. on Tuesdns, January 14, OT IN BUSINESS FOR MY HEALTH, BUT ¢ the heaith of ¢. Print- ing. ~ACE LETTI OP. 215 Dist. Natl. Bank Blde. Fr. 7143 Open 8:30 a.m. _ OUR REPUTATION COMES FROM CARE- ful handling. ~“on-time” arrival and low costs in moving household goods from points w 1.000 miles. Just p) d we will gladly gliote our rates. NATIC ERY ASSN.. INC.. National 1460. I WILL NOT BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DEBTS contracted by _any one than myseif. GEORGE A. 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Standing inside the rotunda with water over his shoe tops and dripping | from the attic where the flames had just been extinguished, he pointed out the chief damage. The roof and attic, he said, has sustained the greatest damage. The top floor was a mass of charred embers, he pointed out, and | the roof also was in such a condition that it would probably have to be re- placed. Although some of the interior walls are of stucco, he gave the opinion that some of them had not been damaged beyond repair. The ceiling through the entire first floor was rdined. In the attic where the flames raged were row upon row of charred Govern- ment pamphlets that had acted as tinder to the flames. It was this, to- gether with the many small rooms and passageways, that afforded the firemen their greatest difficulty. As soon as the fire would be brought under con- trol in one place it would eat through a partition and burst out afresh in an- other room. The fire fighters would :,lilen have to cut their way to the new aze. Windows Act as Drafts. The small windows prevénted water in great quantity from reaching those places on the top floor where it was most badly needed, but acted as drafts that fanned the flames. Firemen were forced to break the dome skylight opening to the first floor in an attempt to get at the fire. They found, however, that the aperture fram the shaft to the attic was so small as to be of little use, so Chief Engineer George S. Watson directed his men to attack from the roof. Here they chop- ped holes to allow the escape of smoke before they could enter. Chief Watson was notified by tele- phone from police headquarters and was out of his house and speeding to the scene before the first alarm had rung. Because of the traffic he did not arrive until after some of his men. The first to reach the White House was Central Battalion Chief C. W. Gill. Deputy Chief Engineer P. W. Nicholson also responded on the first alarm and took charge of the men who were fight- ing the blaze from the rear of the west wing. Three More Alarms Follow. Nhree more alarms followed in quick succession and brought to the scene 16 engine companies, 4 truck companies, the water tower and the rescue squad. Later a fifth, a special alarm, brought 3 more engine companies. Chief Gill, with members of No. 1 rescue squad, carried a hose in through the front door and up the stairs.’ Pvt. Walter G. Clark of 222 Cromwell Ter- race was the first man on the hose line and the nearest to the hottest point_of the fire. A sudden back draft of smoke and flames caught him and scorched his face and clothing. He was carried downstairs by his comrades and Dr. John A. Reed, newly appointed police and fire surgeon, ordered him to Emer- |gency Hospital, where his burns were | found not to be of a serious nature. The only other case requiring hos- | pitalization occurred when Pvt. William T. Capps of No. 9 Engine Company of 2314 Efghteenth street was overcome by smoke while on the roof. He was able to climb down unassisted, but upon reaching the ground collapsed. He, toerT was taken to Emergency Hospital. He spent the night in the hospital, al- though physicians there said his condi- tion was not serious. Six Narrowly Escape Six firemen, belonging to No. 16 En- gine Company and No. 3 Truck Com- pany, narrowly escaped serious injury when the ceiling of the President’s office collapsed about them. All were bruised, but after treatment by Dr. Reed and Commodore W. E. Longfellow, chairman of the first-aid committee of the local Red Cross Chapter, were able to con- tinue fighting the fire. Commodore Longfellow, who came to the White House as soon as he learned of the fire, was assisted by his son, Dean Long- tellow. Fed by the combustible material stored in the attic, the flames were plainly visible through the windows when Chief Gill arrived with the first apparatus. By the time Chief Watson reached the scene they were bursting through the roof. The second alarm was turned in by Chief Gill as soon as he arrived. Chief Nicholson sounded the third and the chief engineer sent in the fourth alarm. With that alarm came the water tower, | but it was not used. An American flag and a clock pre-| sented by the French government were | rescued from the President’s office by | Honorary Deputy Chief Henry C. Stein, | who serves with the Fire Department ! without pay. Gets Flag and Clock. | He and Chief Nicholson were stand- | ing in the rotunda when he saw the flag through a rift in the dense smoke. He called Nicholson's attention to it and told him there was also a historic clock in the room. “Go get them,” Chief Nicholson ad- vised, and a few minutes later Stein clock. By 10:30 o'clock Chief Watson an- nounced that the fire was under control, and shortly before 11 o'clock the last visible sparks were extinguished. Most OF LAST emerged from the smoke with flag and ! THE EVENING 'STAR, WASHINGTON, D.- C., WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 1929, A view of the flames licking the executive offices in the southwest corner. the firemen opened holes in the roof. Then they would shoot up for a second or two. For a time, however, flames crept from ventilators near the roof, not only on the southwest c orner, but from the northeast corner, next to the terrace. inside the White House grounds as well engines on West Executive avenue. There were few flames, except when There was enough fire apparatus at the fire last night to guard all of Wa shington. as on West Executive avenue, A view of the fire taken from inside the White House g rounds. | phers were excluded from the grounds and forced to take p ositions on the steps of the State, War and Navy Building | across the street. Their flash lights boomed intermittently during the course of the fight against the fire, State, War and The department was taking no chances, between t he White House and the and the apparatus was packed Navy Building. This view shows the fire see that there was no outbreak from a hidden spark and trying to clear the first floor and basement of the tons of water that were poured on the fire. Chief Watson estimated that 120 fire- men were called into service by the four alarms which brought 19 engine com- panies and four truck companies. As the alarms came in Battalion Chief ‘Thomas O’Connor assumed control of the Fire Department headquarters in the District Building and began calling to duty firemen who had hoped to spend Christmas eve at home. These men, with skeleton apparatus, were sent to the outlying precincts to protect the city from other fires. Help-Relay Phone Calls. Chief Clerk E. R. Pierce reported for duty and with 10 men manned the telephone system, helping the regular operators relay calls. Officials of the Baltimore Fire Depart- ment offered their services, but were thanked and told that they would not be_needed. Besides the police who were called to handle the crowds, 150 men, com- posing the Headquarters Company of the Washington Military District, ar- rived under command of Capt. A, R. Bolling and formed a living wall along West Executive avenue. With them came Brig. Gen. H. O. Williams, com- mandant of this district. A troop of Cavalry from Fort Myer was on the point of leaving for Wash- ington when Col. Guy V. Henry, com- mandant, was informed it would not be needed. Col. Henry, however, with Maj. Samuel V. Constant and Capt. | Mark Devine of the fort, came and | stood by in case their services might be required. Meanwhile from the west terrace, his hands shoved down in his overcoat pockets, President Hoover puffed nerv- ously on a cigar, He was less than 100 feet from the main entrance to the executive offices and although in no imminent danger from flames or lfiarkn he was sprayed occasionally by shifting hoses of the firemen. Secretaries Save Hoover Papers and Few Odd Treasures After the confidential papers and correspondence had been carried from the President’s of- fice last night, his secretaries turned their attention to their own offices and hurriedly carried their papers and other cherished articles to a place of safety. One of the first things Secretary Ak- erson carried from his room was the huge portrait of President Hoover which hung above his fireplc e, Secretary Richey lugged it his highly treasured etchings of President Hoover, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. Secretary Newton, with the as- sistance of his son, succeeded in saving his papers and portraits, A score or more newspaper corre- spondents who covered the White House regularly lost considerable per- sonal effects, together with their files, when the press room was destroyed. The Executive offices recently were remodeled at President Hoover’s request at a cost of about $60,000, the work permitting expansion of office space for additional secretaries and clerical help, A score or more Christmas wreaths which were hanging in the windows of the burned building became part of the watered debris. The press room occu- pants were particularly mournful be- cause & huge poinsettia from Mr. and Mrs. Hoover was destroyed. For five blocks in every direction from the White House fire engine pumpers operated to supply the pres- sure of the tons of water poured on the building. The hundreds of yards of fire hose almost formed a network as it neared the actual fire. Firemen had great difficulty handling the hose be- SIDELIGHTS OF FIRE cause a sheet of ice formed almost in- stantly where any water was thrown. The President was dressed for the dinner party he was giving to his sec- retaries’ children. He threw on a heavy blue overcoat and was wearing a black hat as he watched the blaze from the terrace on top of passageway between the Executive offices and the main bullding. The Government cannot collect from any insurance company for the damage to the Executive offices. It carries no insurance on anything. A special ap- propriation by Congress will be neces- sary to restore the President’s working quarters. Larry Richie, George Akerson and Allan Hoover, when the fire broke out, carried out all the President's desk drawers. They also carried out several highly prized’ and historic flags. It remained for a fireman, however to bring out the President’s flag, which was furled in the corner of George Aker- son's office. ALFONSO RECEIVES U. S. AMBASSADOR Laughlin Presents Credentials to King—Calls on Other Span- ish Officials. By the Associated Press. MADRID, December 25—Irwin B. Laughlin, newly appointed American Ambassador to Spain, presented his cre- dentials to King Alfonso yesterday and exchanged felicitations with the Span- ish monarch. After the formalities of the royal re- ception, Ambassador Laughlin made a formal call upon Premier Primo de Ri- vera, who shortly after returried the visit. The Ambassador plans a .quiet family Christmas at the embassy home and will then begin a series of calls on government officials and the heads of other embassies and legations. The King received the American Am- bassador in the uniform of a captain general, with red trousers, a blue coat and many decorations. He made a striking martial figure. The simple evening dress of Ambas- sador Laughlin and his staff was in con- trast with the gorgeous uniforms of the Spanish court. TWO NAMED' Berlin Selects German-American Committee Members. BERLIN, December 25 () —The for- but no attempt was made by him to remove any of his large number of books. Some members of the press rescued the several autographed photographs of Presidents which adorned their walls as well as a of the apparatus was ordered back to the fire houses at this time, but two companies spent the night 3 w newly purchased dictionary and stand, elgn office announced yesterday that Germany had appointed _Secretary Ernst von Simson of the state depart- ment and Pablo Soler, former Spanish Am] or at Berlin, as members of the standing German-American arbi- tration committee, in accordance with 'a-he‘ "G;Hnln-Amerlfln treaty of May Former Ambassador ~ Alenson B -member, JAILER HELD TO JURY ON MURDER CHARGES Placed Under $1,000 Bail in Death of Policeman and Former Constable. By the Associated Press.. PAINTSVILLE, Ky, December 25.— John Marshall, Johnson County jailer, was held to the February grand jury in $1,000 bail on a charge of wilful mur- der here late yesterday as a result of @ shooting Saturday night in which Jess Dills, a policeman, and Joseph fiustlc, & former constable, lost their ves. The affair, in which witnesses said 10 or 15 shots were fired on a downtown street, was precipitated by Dills' at- tempt to arrest Marshall and Castle. Elmer Castle testified that he and Jo- seph Castle and Marshall had been drinking and that shortly before the shooting Dills had told Marshall “You are too drunk to be on the street,” and James Price, another witness said he heard Marshall say “I'll be damned if I go w‘j’:fl with yoti!” The shooting followed, and wilen it was over Dills lay dead with four body woundd and Castle was mortally wounded. = Marshall escaped un- scratched. The defense made an effort to show that the bullets taken from Dills' body were not the same as those in the pis- tol that Marshall carried, and also that Joseph Castle might have slain the po- liceman. Pelphrey Smith of Morgan County testified he heard Joseph Castle say to Dills: “Let go of Marshall or you will get shot!"” .and the Marshall did not fire a shot. Marshall gave bond after the hearing and was released In the Par East all kissi in is considersd vulgar and - prohibited ip the public fore is PHONE SERVICE RESTORED QUICKLY |Workers Have Communica- tion System Repaired in Two and a Half Hours, Employes of the Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co. worked all night to repair the service crippled by the fire. They had the White House in communication with the outside within two and a half hours. A force of men were standing by early today to install additional telephones as soon as the President indicates where the executive offices will be located. The main lighting system of the White House was not damaged by the fire, although the switches of both the War Department and the Potomac Electric Power Co. are located in the basement of the west wing, the scene of the fire. Various rooms in the west wing were plunged into darkness during the fire when water grounded out the circuits and caused the fuses to blow. A force of men from the electric eomd)-ny stayed at the White House until 2 o'clock this ‘morning assisting firemen and telephone men. Under di- rection of D. F. Scanlon and George 'W. Edwards, assistant superintendent of underground distribution, they rigged up extension lights in different rooms to afford the firemen sufficient illumina- tion in which to work. Hero of Fire ‘Telephone operator at the White House, who kept at his switchboard last night untli water reached his knees, as the firemen fought a blazing inferno over For most of the time last evening the photogra- NIGHT’S BATTLE AGAINST FIRE THAT WRECKED PRESIDENT'S OFFICES WHITE HOUSE FIRE SIXTH IN HISTORY Flight of President Madisan Before British in 1814 Recalled by Blaze. Once since its erection 137 years ago the White House was practically de- stroyed by flames, once it was seriously menaced and three times heretofore small fires have been discgyered, which were confined to small and easily extinguished. When the British, under Gen. Ross, entered Washington about dusk on the evening of August 24, 1814, after de- feating the American forces in the battle of Bladensburg, a detachment of British soldiers was sent at once to set fire to the Capitol and the White House. President Madison and his famous wife, Dolly Madison, had left. Mrs. Madison had been busy all day sending away valuables in carriages. Some of the most valuable State papers were saved, but not all of them. She did not leave until the British had nearly arrived, Saw Soldiers With Torches. M. Serurler, French Minister to the United States, wrote to his government that about 11 o'clock that night he saw British soldiers entering the Presi- dent’s Mansion with torches. The French Minister sent a letter by messenger to the commander of the British forces, asking that a guard be placed around the Octagon House, Eighteenth street and New York avi nue, where he was then living. HOOVER THINKS WING RUINED BY FLAMES SHOULD BE REPLACED today Secretary Richey went into con- sultation with Col. Grant regarding the establishment of new quarters for the Executive and his force and the clearing of the debris and ruins in the office bullding. Col. Grant had brought with him floor plans of the State and ‘War Building. Grant Directs Workmen, One of the first things 'Col. Grant did upon his arrival at the White House today was to give his workmen personal directions in the matter of clearing the debris and carting it away, After talk- ing with Secretary Richie he gave or- ders which resuited in the transferring of considerable of the office furniture and files and other articles to the north basement of the State, and War Building, where they will remain until it_is determined where the executive office will be located. Within a few days the offices on the first floor of this building now occupied by the judge advocate general, the in- spector general and chief of chaplains of the Army will be moved to the old Southern Railway Building on Pennsyl- vania avenue, and this course was con- sidered today along with others during Secretary Richey’s and Col. Grant’s con- sultation. It was understood that Col. Grant already has been in conference with contractors for a preliminary esti- mate on the cost of either putting the executive office in permanent recondi- tioning or else temporary condition. First of all, something must be done to brace the supports holding the roof which has been so greatly weakened as a result of the flames and the firemen's axes. This is deemed imminent because of the danger presented. Peculiarly enough, the room at the northwest corner of the building, oc- cupied by Walter Newton, another of the Presideni’s secretaries, in the chim- ney flue of which the fire is supposed to have originated, was only slightly damaged. It was directly under that section of the attic where the fire raged most stubbarnly and aside from a gap in the ceiling and one in the wall above the open fireplace, this room was none the worse for wear, except what havoc was done by water. The damage to the main lobby and reception room, the press room and the room of Lawrence Richey, another secretary, was principally water damage, except in those rooms which had skylights. These latter were destroyed. ONE FAMILY JOYFUL AS ANOTHER SORROWS Babe Born as Christmas Dawns, ‘While Other Dies in Fall From Toy Auto. By the Assoclated Press. CHICAGO, December 25.—Christmas brings its joys and tragedies—fate, some people call it. At the stroke of 12—tolling the mo- ment when Christmas ticks into reality —a baby was born to Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rizzo. Just several hours before, a wreath was removed from a window at the Henry G. Steinbrenner home—and a Christmas tree dismantled. Dolores “My messenger,” he wrote to Tally- rand, the foreign minister of France, “found Ross in the White House, where he was collecting in the drawing room (blue room) all the furniture and pre- paring to set it on fire.” The flames destroyed nearly all _the interior of the building. Gen. Ross sent a guard to prevent damage to the house of the Prench Minister. It was after the President’s house was rebuilt that it was first painted white. Navy Burned Own Yard. ‘That same night the Secretary of the Navy himself caused the Navy Yard to be burned. The bridges gcross the Eastern Branch had already been de- stroyed by the American forces. The next day the British burned the Treasury and War office, the arsenal at Greenleaf Point, now the site of the Washington Barracks and the War Col- lege. Several private dwellings were also burned, but the citizens generally were surprised at the care of the British to save private dwellings. Gen. Ross sald afterward that he did not like to burn the White House and other public buildings, but was ordered to do so in retaliation for the burning by the American forces earlier in the War of 1812 of the public buildings of the seat of government of Lower Can- ada, now known as Toronto but then as Newark. One hundred and fifty pri- vate homes were burned by the Ameri- cans on that occasion. Another Blaze in 1866. During the administration of Presi- dent Johnson in 1866 the White House was seriously menaced by a fire that destroyed the conservatory on the west terrace. The conservatory was rebuilt and remained until it was removed in 1902 to make room for the executive offices which were damaged in last night's blaze. During the administration of Presi- dent Coolidge a small fire occurred in the kitchen. It was quickly put out and caused very little damage. Twice during the Wilson administra- tion small blazes, confined to single rooms, were extinguished in a few min-. utes. Until last night the White House has never been seriously menaced with de- struction by flames since the conserva- tory burned in 1836. PP RUTH GARRISON, SLAYER, WINS MOVE FOR LIBERTY Girl Who Poisoned Wife of Para- mour Now Called Sane " — Physician. By the Associated Press. SEATTLE, Wash,, December After 10 years of imprisonment in the State Penitentiary as a criminally in- sane person, Ruth Garrison, Seattle, who killed Mrs. Douglas Storrs, wile cf her paramour, by placing poison in a salad, yesterday was granted a habeas corpus writ by Superior Judge John L. Sharpstein in Walla Walla. The writ, returnable January 3, was based on the report of a prison phys- ician to Warden Clarence Long, in which the doctor said that after seven years of observation he was convinced that Miss Garrison was a “sane and fit person to be at large.” Storrs, who had been a deputy sheriff, met the girl while she was working as a telephone operator. He denled know- ing anything of the crime and was never on trial. Mrs. Storrs died in a tea room in Seattle March 18, 1918. The girl was arrested the following day and admitted to police that she had placed & poison in Mrs. Storrs’ salad while the woman was out of the room. N Burning Pamphlets Steinbrenner, 18 months old, had died— she had fallen from a toy automobile and was fatally injured. SPECIAL VOTING CALL IS AWAITED IN UTAH Voters Will Name Successor to Leatherwood to Fill House Seat Vacancy. By the Associated Press. SALT LAKE CITY, December 25 (). —The vacancy in the House of Repre- sentatives caused by the death yester- day of Representative E. O. Leather- wood, Republican, will be filled at a spe. clal election, it was said at the Capitol yesterday. ‘There is no provision in the Utah law, it was said, for filling a vacancy through an appointment by the gover- Caused Smoke Pall During Loft Fire Had Been Stored There Since Roosevelt’s Day, Attache Says. Since the days of President Roosevelt the attic or loft above the executive office, destroyed by fire last night, has been accumulating a large, but rather worthless collestion of papers, chiefly Government pamphlets that cover every subject under the sun. One of the old attaches at the White House estimates conservatively that the dusty shelves in the loft above the offices must have contained fully 250,000 pamphlets. They nor. Gov. George H. Dern is a Demo- crat. Will Rogers Says: BEVERLY HILLS, Calif.—While ‘we are merging everything in the world that has no relation to each other, why not merge Christmas, Fourth of July, Groundhog, Thanks- giving, Labor day, Halloween, New Year and Aprils Fool, all into one glorious day. That would give every- body a chance to get some work done during the year. And look at the speeches, sermons and turkeys it would save. ‘This has been the hottest day we have had in California in years. Everybody that is not at the beaches bathing is huddled under the thou- sands of outdoor Christmas trees to get in the shade. Even the imita- tion snow is melting. All Santa Clauses are in bathing suits and wearing a palm leaf fan for whiskers. There will be two heat prostrations accounted for much of the smoke last night which billowed out of the build- ing through every crack while the fight against the fire was under way. ‘The loft is reached by a winding stairway. It is arranged so that there are Narrow passageways between the shelves, upon which the documents and other papers are piled high. One of the duties of watchmen in this part of the building Is to visit the loft every hour. TIRE BARGAINS You can save 25% on DUNLOP TIRES by pur- chasing under the NEW PLAN. C o m pare mail order prices with ours and you will buy DUNLOPS. LEETH BROS. 1220 13th St. N.W., Met. 0764.