The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-09-17
AFTER THE BIC FIRE
Latest and Reliable Figures Of Losses and
Insurance.
STRUCTURES Will Be BUILT
Matthews Bros. and the Gross, Fos-
ter Co. Will Start Business at Once
and All Owners Have Signfied
Their Intention of Rebuilding.
Crowds of the Curious Were About
the Ruins All of Yesterday

Early Saturday morning was discoy-
cred what proved to one OF the most
damaging fires in the history of Scran.
ton. Nos. 316, 31S and 800 Lackawanna
avenue were completely demolished
and adjacent structures were either
damaged or burned almost beyond re-
pair. The city's entire fire department
was finally summoned and control Of
the flames was not secured until about
10 o'clock All yesterday the scene OF
the big blaze attracted crowds of sight
ssers from all parts Of the city and out
Of town.
At o'clock Saturday morning Off
Ger Stephen Dyer, patroling his beat on
Lackawanna avenue, observed smoke
emanating from the basement Of the
drug store of Matthews Bros, 800
Lackawauna avenue. Fire companies
quickly responded to the alarm, but the
infammable contents Of the store de.
fed the steady streams Of water. Four
explosions sent sheets OF burning
chemicals and oils broad cast and en-
dangered the lives of the plucky fire.
men. At $50 a district alarm was sent
in, and general alarm at 8 o'clock
summoned every company in the city.
They had to work strenuously to pre-
vent the flames from eating up the en-
tire block With the collapse Of the
side walls and roof of Matthews drug
store the backbone of the fire was
broken, but it almost meant death to
four firemen who went down with it.
They are John Beckett, Charles
Beckett and Michael Ruane, of the
Eagle company; William Martin,
Crystal company. None of them were
injured beyond a severe bruising.
The rapid headway of the flames
could not be put under control until
tbs splendid drug store of Matthews
Bros, the Gross Foster Co.. wholesale
and retail dry goods store and NJ. Nor
toms stationery store were destroyed.
SCHEDULE OF LOSSES.
The latest statement Of the amount of
property destroyed and losses entailed is
herewith presented:
No. 500, building owned by Mathews
Bros; less on building, $4,000; insurance,
80, 200; loss on stock and fixtures, SAC, GOO;
insurance, $26, 400.
Nos. 316 and 3!s, owned by Richard Hen
wood, occupied by Gross, Foster & Co.,
loss on building and fixtures, $50, 900, in
surance, Sl4, 800; loss on stock betwean
$50, 600 and $l00, 600 insurance $50, 600.
No 1922 building owned by NJ Norton,
loss on building $4,000, insurance 81, 500;
loss on stock and fixtures $50, 600, insur-
ance $4,000.
No. 3l4, building owned by A. IL. Shop
land, loss on building $500, insurance
81, 900; occupied by j. d. Williams Il Co. (:
loss on stock by water $500, fully covered
by insurance.
The tenants on the upper floors of Gross
& Fosters building estimate their loss as
follows: Theodore Y. Konency, hair
dresser, loss on stock and fixtures and
household furniture, $1,000, insurance,
81, 900; NJ. NJ. Dewitt, photographer, loss
on stock and fixtures, $1,000, insurance,
SO, 800; besides +. l.. Cranes building, No.
32i, was slightly damaged, the loss not
amounting 70 over $780,
SCRANTON PROGRESSION.
A TRIBUNE reporter interviewed r.
J. Matthews yesterday afternoon at
his home. He said that his firm will
begin business Immediately and pro.
ceed without delay to rebuild on the
site where their store stood. Where
they will open business he was not able
to state, as it will require few days
to procure q suitable location.
NJ, B. Gross. of the Gross. Foster &
Co., also said that his firm would be-
gin business without delay As soon
as they can find store large enough to
accommodate them it will be reuted.
The rest Of the fire sufferers have de-
clared their resolve to resume business
as quickly as it is convenient.
Tne total loss as estimated will reach
$225, 600 The disposition evidenced
by all concerned to begin rebuilding
or re-opening business is but another
sample of the progressiYeness of Scran.
ton. 1t will be safe to say that in less
than u fortnight each business man
whose business has been Interrupted
will be back again in the harness.
Matthews Bros, who for the fourth
time have been visited by fire. show
commendable public spirit in their in.
teniion to rebuild.
The firemen who were precipitated
from the roof and who fortunately
were not seriously injured by the acci-
dent. are feeling as comfortable as can
be expected.