FIRE AT WHITE HOUSE.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 19819, 6 January 1930, Page 9

FIRE AT WHITE HOUSE.

A SPECTACULAR BLAZE. DAMAGE NOT CONSIDERED GREAT. (UKJTfc- i'BSSS ASSOCIATION -Bf ELECTRIC TBLBOR KfU —COPYRIGHT .) (Received January sth, 5.5 p.m.) WASHINGTON, January ;». Following upon the fire at White House on Christmas Kve enormous crowds of excited citizens gathered, when flames swept the supplementary house document room under the dome of the main Capitol building. The fire offered a brilliant spectacle as the flames aud smoke poured through the roof and the fourth storey windows. A general alarm brought the firemen, who controlled the blaze in half an hour after they appeared. At one time it seemed as if that historic structure was threatened with the worst fire since both wings were burnt during the war of 1812. The damage had not been estimated to-night, but it was not believed to be great, and due principally to water from the tire fighting apparatus.

Suggestions have been made from several sources that the proximity of the two fires at Washington indicate the activities of a pyromaniac, but the rumour as yet has not been sustained.

EXPLOSION AND FIRE IN HOTEL.

TWO PERSONS KILLED. (Received Jannury 3th, 5.5 p.ui.; NEW YORK, January 3. An invalid woman and an engineer were killed when flames swept Hotel Marguerv, one of the most exclusive hotels in the city. Following an unexplained explosion in the basement, flames shot up through the entire structure by way of the elevator shafts, driving hundreds of residents, many of whom were prominent persons, to the streets in their night attire. The dam age has not been determined. Six firemen were overcome when fighting the blaze. Late to-night the police were search ing the 'deserted suites for other fatalities.