The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-04-14

John Sears, of the Sears Glass and
Paint company, will in future exer-
else more caution in handling volatile
varnish
A few minutes after last evening,
Mr.. Sears descended into the cellar of
the building occupied by the firm, on
First South street, two doors east of
the DinwoOdey block, to draw some
Varnish. He carried a small bicycle
lamp as an illumination. Five minutes
later he came up the stairs, his cloth
ing ON fire and his hands and face Sc
verely burned, crying, 1.-THE dark Ian
term The dark lantern! 1t has set
the store on fire" His brother Nate.
realizing that the place was in dan
ger, at once wrapped a gunny sack
around Johns limbs. extinguishing the
flames in his clothing, and telephoned
in an alarm. A moment later an
alarm was sent in from the box on
Main street. BY this time the smoke
was pouring in dense volumes from
the windows, both front and rear,
and when the department arrived the
No. 2 arrived upon the scene a short
time after No. 1, and soon seven
streams were pouring a deluge into
the burning building.
The nature of the combustibles was
such, however, that water for
a time had little effect. In the
rear of the partition dividing the
store from a warehouse apartment in
the back part of the building was
half dozen tanks of oil and turpen-
tine. These caught fire very soon
after the blaze broke out and. al
though three streams were concen-
tralted upon them, the water had but
very little effect Finally the happy
expedient Of tipping them over, by
the use of long hooks, was adopted
and Notwithstanding the heat was
most intense, in a very short time the
blaze was under control and at z
o'clock was entirely extinguished.
The department, both regular and
volunteer, is entitled to great credit
for services rendered. Every man
worked like a Trojan. Despite the
fact that their designations are in the
hands of the chief the volunteers
turned out and did good service.
estimated alt this time, al
those who are in a position to know 1t
cannot be less than $1,000 on the stock
alone, which is rated at $4,000. Mr..
Sears declined to give any figures
whatever as to the value of his stock
or the insurance The damage TO the
building, which is owned by Isaac Jen-
nings, will amount to about $1,000.
The losses are fully covered by IN
surance, which is carried by the COM
panies represented by Jennings q
Game, Hugh Anderson, A. L. Jacobs,
and Fowler & Young,
Robinson Bros. occupy the store on
the west and William Longmore,
clothier, is in the room on the east.
Neither of the latter are damaged in
any great amount. One hundred dol
lars will cover both.
By a judicious flooding of Sears cell
lar a large stock of paint and glass
was saved, while eXertions on the part
Of the firemen and others in removing
goods on the second floor prevented
what otherwise might have been a
great loss, az some costly Varnishes
and alcohol were stored there.
The books and accounts of the firm
we're saved by the timely action of
Nate Sears and one of THO firms en-
oIoyees in putting them in the safe.
John Sears was painfully scorcheu
about the head and face, besides burn
ng his right hand and the lower part
If his legs. Another young man.
whose name could not be learned, had
MS left hand burned. Dr. Bascom
dressed the injuries.
An agent for pants can make ten
trike in the fire department The oil
which flooded the floor has spoiled the
rousers of every man who pa-tici-
,ated.
The fire was caused by the flame of
he lamp igniting the gas from the
-arnish can. which exploded setting fire
O other inflammable material in the
-icinity.
1t Was Incendiary.
An alarm of fire was sent in yester-
ay morning at 1:50 by telephone from |
he corner of Sixth East and Second
outh. The store of Russell Bros, the |
uilding occupied by which is owned |
" a Mrs. Larsen, was found to be
blaze and from all indications it was |
ct on fire.
The store has two front windows
uilt on the bow plan and in each of |
hese had been placed a quantity of |
material. On the north |
ide lot of shavings saturated with |
Gal oil and a lot of cotton, also satur-
ted, had been placed within the plaS
ering, which had been conveniently
for the purpose.
The fire was soon put out and the
amage is very light.
This is the second tina within two
reeks that this building has been on
re. The structure itself is insured for
200 and the stock and fixtures for
l250 Chief Devine said last night
hat the fire was the work of an in
endiary and that diligent efforts
Tould be made to ascertain his, or her,
ientity.