National Republican., 1882-04-08
YEsrERpAY,s ooNFLAoRAr1oN.
Fan PartIcuIars-The Amount OF Damage
Noble Efforts orthe Fireman.


Yesterday morning about II .25 q colored boy,
employed in the paint and oil establishment of
George Ryneal, No AIS Seventh street, went down
into the basement to draw gallon Of oil. lmme-
dately upon his return to the first floor smoke was
seen issuing from the cellar and invest CATION dis
closed the fact that the flooring at the foot of the
stairs and Immediately in front Of the elevator was
in flames The clerks employed by Mr. Ryncal
did everything possible TO rctard the progress Of
the fire, but without success. Mr. Charles Kclcher,
Of Keleher & Co., on Eighth street, saw the fire
and turned in an alarm from box l24, Engines
Mes. 2, 4, and G aud truck Immediately re-
spondod, but Chief Engineer Cronin recognized at
once that he had
TERRIBLE CONFEDERATION
to contend against and turned In general alarm,
which brought the entire fire department quickly
upon the ground. The fire was a hard one to man
age, the burning oil, paints, and varnish being al
most like Greek fire. The heroic efforts of the
fremen were successful, however, and at one
o'clock the fire was entirely extinguished, Mr..
Ryneal suffers almost total loss, but the salvage
will be considerable MIR. Ryneals loss
is from $4,000 to s25,OOO on building and
stock, fully insured.S . The stock in Mr..
Charles Baum's establishment, next door to
Ryneal's, is considerably damaged by water, not.
withsanding the fact that no water was directly
poured into the building. The floors Of the Ryncal
building were considerably higher than those In
Mr. Baums, and the water flowed in through the
joist openings in a torrent. The ceilingsin Raums
will have to be removed and large stock of lace,
buttons satiHs, silks, and children's and ladies'
underwear
is TOTALLY RUINED,
causing loss of from $4,000 to $4,000 also fully
insured Chief Engineer Cronin, Foreman Spill
man, of truck b, and Fitcmen Marlct and Lowe,
of engine No. 6, and Axeman McCartee, of truck
ial fnr thpir hroy 90 n HUht-
ing the fire. There is no telling where the flames
would have stopped had not VIII Hart of the
Washington Gas Company, gone down into the
burning cellar in Ryneal's and the densely-
smoking cellar in Baum's and removed the gas
meters. If this had not been done the entire
volume Of gas from the two.inch supply.pipe
would have added
NEW PUEL TO THE FLAMES.
After the fire was cxtinguishcd the firemen were
invited to Helmus' restaurant (Which, by the way,
was also slightly damaged by water, and given
generous lunch by Mr. Ryncal. When THE Re-
PUBLICAN reporter arrived at the fire he immedi-
ately went TO Baum's entrance door and requested
permission to ascend to the roof This was re-
fused, but nothing daunted the man with pencil
hied him to George Hcnning's, and by the courtesy
of his assistants was allowed to climb up TO the
tin. Chief Engineer Cronin threw a ladder across
the Chasm caused by the low roof of Helmus'
saloon and in less than jiffy the scribe was on
Baum's roof When he came down through the
trap. door wended his way down stairs, and APP
peared among the astonished Baumites there was
an ejaculation of astonishment something like the
gallery gives when the first transformation scene
in the, I" Black Crook" Is brought forth Both
Messrs. Ryueal and Baum were absent when the
fire broke out; Mr.. Ryneal having gone into the
country to gather flowers and cvergreens for Easter
and Mr., Baum being in Baltimore buying stock. No
blame is attached to the coored boy. The floor
ing was so saturated with oil that spontaneous
combustion was liable to take place at any time