CHRISTMAS EVE FIRE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17143, 27 December 1929, Page 5

CHRISTMAS EVE FIRE

DAMAGE AT WHITE HOUSE VALUABLE PAPERS DESTROYED (Elec. Tel. Copyright—United Tress Assn.) WASHINGTON, Dec. 26. President Hoover to-night stood, on tho root' of/ a low White House wing, and watched a Christmas Eve lire seriously damage the executive's remodelled offices. The outbreak presumably was due to short-circuted electric wiring, while the President and Mrs' Hoover were entertaining the children of the secretaries. Half an hour after the fire began dense clouds of smoko were pouring from the structure, while the entire building, including the President's office, was soaked by the streams of water, which poured on the fire; Two secretaries dashed into Mr. Hoover's office through dense smoke, and rescued all the President's papers and personal belongings. It is believed that important records were destroyed. President Hoover and his family gathered round a private Christmas tree on the second floor of White House on Wednesday, doclining to permit the Christmas celebrations to oo disturbed by Tuesday night's fire. Mr. Hoover will establish temporary headquarters elsewhere while the ravaged wing is remodelled. Possibly he will use his private study at WhM House. In the meantime, the stair will be quartered at the State partment across the street.