FIRE AT WHITE HOUSE

Taranaki Daily News, 27 December 1929, Page 2

FIRE AT WHITE HOUSE

ONE WING SERIOUSLY DAMAGED. : By Telegraph—Press Assn.—Copyright, Washington, Dec. 24. President Hoover to-night stood on the roof of a low wing of the White House and watched a fire on Christmas Eve seriously damage tho remodelled offices of the Executives. The outbreak was presumably due to short-circuited electric wiring while President and Mrs. Hoover were entertaining the children of the Secretaries of State. Half an hour after the fire began dense clouds of smoke were pouring from the structure, while the entire building, including the President’s office, was thoroughly soaked with streams of water which were poured on the fire. Two secretaries dashed into Mr. Hoover’s office through the 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 the private Christmas tree on the second floor of the. White House early to-day, declining to permit the Christmas celebration to be disturbed by last night’s fire. President Hoover will establish his temporary headquarters elsewhere while the ravaged wing is remodelled. Possibly he will Use his private study at the White House. In the meantime the staff’ will be quartered at the •State Department, across the street.