The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1896-04-23
OMINOUS FLAMES
BURST FROM THE BASEMENT
OF THE BAST BLOCK.
A Confsgration That for a Time
Threatened the Destruction of the
Building-Clever Work of Fire.
men Subdues the Fire.

Inreatened the DestruCttOn OF the
, BuiIding-Clever Work of Fire
men Subdues the Fire.
A telephone message at O'Clock las
Friday called the Central fire depart
ment to the handsome large block ownet
by Bast Brothers, at Nos. So, 81 and IS
North Market street. The Centrals hat
barely reached the scene when an alarm
from box 35 called the entire department.
The first intimation of fire was had
when the clerks in the grocery noticed
smoke coming up through the floor
hasty examination of the cellar showed
that boxes filled with hay and straw, in
which canned goods had been received,
had, in some way, ignited, and fierce,
hot fire was in progress. The fire depart
ment was at once notified and when 1t ar
rived, dense volumes of smoke were is
suing from every crevice, and battle
royal was begun. A stream from No.
rs was soon thrown into the basement,
and the chemical did good service. The
other companies were soon upon the
scene, and several other streams were
directed toward the fire.
The streets were soon crowded with in
terested spectators, who, every II. oment,
expected to see the flames leap out of the
upper stories, but the efficient work of
the fire laddies prevented any such dire
calam ity. 1t was but short time until
the fire was out, and, thorough examin-
alton made to ascertain the cause. Several
theories were advanced, but the most
plausible one is that of Mr.. John Bast,
one of the proprietors of the store, who be-
lieves that some passer-by carelessly
threw away lighted cigar stump, which
fell through the grating of one Of the win
dows, and into box containing the in
flammable material mentioned. The
fire started about the middle of the north
end of the building, and spread with great
rapidity, the hottest point being in the
northeast corner. A window at this
point furnished an outlet for the seething
mass of flames, and 1t looked for time
as though the entire structure was
doomed. 1t was afterwards ascertaiued
that tank containing about fifteen gal
Ions of gasoline was stationed at this
flamra fable fluid that caused the intense
heat. The firemen, badly handicapped
by the dense, suffooating smoke, fought
the fire with their characteristic vigor
and good judgment, and TO their sturdy
efforts alone is due the fact that the we'll
known Bast building is not mass of
ruins today.
The loss to the proprietors of the build
ing is difficult to determine, but Mr.. Bast
roughly estimates 1t will reach a figure
between $4,000 and $1,000. The res
taurant stock is not damaged, but the
damage to the stock of groceries, prin-
cipally by smoke, is great The cellar
was used as a ware room, and contained
great number of canned goods, boxes
of lemons and oranges and large
amount of general merchandise, all of
which is total loss.
The building is fully insured, and the
stock is insured in the following com.
panies:
Union Insurance Co., of Philadelphia,
W. L. Alexander, agency, $4,000; London
Assurance, Lynch g. Robinson, agency,
SO, 500; Richland County Mutual, of
Mansfield, J. X. Welsch, agency, 81, 200.
The fine stock of millinery carried by
Miss o. NJ. Long, in the extreme south
store room of the building, is badly
damaged by smoke. Miss Long had just
lately received her spring stock of hand
some and dainty hats and trimmings,
and expected business today to be unusu-
ally good, owing to the propitious spring
weather. Her exact loss could not be as
certained but it will in all probability be
covered by the following insurance: Citi-
zen's, of Pittsburg, 500; Providence, of
Washington, 500; both in the Piero
Bros. agency
Prof. 1. p. Miller's dancing class,
consisting of sixteen little girls, were
taking their regular lesson when the fire
occurred. Miss Eva Manchester presided
at the piano. One of the clerks in the
grocery below gave the alarm and there
was little stampede on the part of the
children. However, under the guiding
hands of Mr.. Miller and Miss Manchester,
they were safely conducted to the street,
Mr.. Miller remaining in the building
until assured that every little one was
safely cut of the building
While the fire was a most unfortunate
one, yet Bast Brothers may congratulate
themselves that their handsome building
is not todav n mass of smokino rnins