The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1889-10-30
FIRE, EXPLOSION AND DEATH.
A Blaze In the store OF Cook
Everett q Pennelt
Two clerks burned by the Explosion
OF carboIIc Acid.
Young william HoIIIvan Died Of His
injuries. -.

Yesterday morning, about nine o'clock two
| of the clerks at Cook, Everett d PennelPs
| wholesale drug store, situated in the block
| at the corner of Pearl and Middle streets,
were in the laboratory in the, second story
| engaged in pouring carbolic acid from.a fifty
gallon can of the acid into pound and ounce
packages. Accidentally few drops of acid
| fell on the top of the stove and Immediately
| caught fire, the fire running up the stream Of
| acid into the can, which Immediately explod-
| ed throwing the flames in all directions.
The clerks on the first floor, heard cries Of
| fire from the boys up stairs and ran to the
foot of the stairway, just as one of the clerks
from the laboratory, named Fred Chandler,
ran down the stairs all in flames and fell into
their arms. With great disregard of self
Chandler cried, don't mind me, look out for
HollYan."
Some of the clerks ran up to the laboratory
where Hollivan, the other clerk, was en-
ployed, and found the room all in flames, and
Hollvan also. The boy was brought down
stairs and taken home to his parents resi-
dence on Portland street in Rich's ambu-
lance. Mr. Atkinson in the meantime had
tdktu OuduuttI W HIS ttSlQcuC6 Oh luuld
| street..
The physicians found Chandler not seri-
ously injured. His. hair was burned close to
his head. and his arms we're badly scorched,
but serious results are not anticipated. Mr..
Chandler is about twenty years of age
In the case of Willy Hollivan, the physi.
clans hoped for the best. He said he had
not inhaled any Of the acid fumes, His
body around the waist and upper part of the
legs, and his arms and upper part of the
body were burned. II the burns are not
very deep. and the shock to the nervous sys-
tenn too great, he will probably recover. He
is only about twelve years of age. Both
lads are much liked by the employers and
employees, and are smart capable clerks
Young Chambers account Of how the fire
caught differs somewhat from that told at
the store. He says he had taken up the can
Of carboic acid to pour it out into the pack
ages and how it took fire he couldn't tell.
Hollivan was in the adjoining room and came
In to see him fill the packages. When the
| explosion came both he and Hollivan took
fire. Hollivan ran round in circle. Chan
dler ran to the door, managed in some way
and run down stairs. -'rs
The fire department responded quickly to
| the alarm from box AZ, and under Chief
Gloves did most satisfactory piece of work.
They confined the flames to the laboratory in
the second story, and were so judicious in
the use of water that Mr. Cook said he
should not make any claim on the insu r
ance companies for injury to stock, unless he
found more serious damage than appeared to
exist yesterday. OF course the stock is am-
ply insured.
The building is owned by John E. DON
nell and insured. A few hundred dollars
will put it in as good shape as before the fl re
During the fire Captain Kimball, of Truck
1. attempted to climb ladder on the outside
of the building. A piece of broken window
glass fell and struck him In the face, cut ting
an ugly cash In his cheek and chin, just
missing his eye and which bled profusely.
Several stitches were necessary in dressing
the wound.
Died OF His injuries.
W. G. Hollivan, one of the young boys in
jured In the fire, died at about three o'clock
this morning. Hewas conscious yesterday
and up to half past one this morning. He
did not seem to realize his condition or to
recall the circumstances of the accident. He
was about 16 years old. son of w. C. Holli-