The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-03

Alex Dunn's hat and gents furnish
ing store at 112 Wyoming avenue was
badly damaged by a fire which broke
out few minutes before II o'clock
last night.
The cellar, where the flames orig
mated, contained a $4,000 stock and this
was completely destroyed. The main
store on the first floor had $4,000
stock and this was also damaged more
or less by smoke and water. The loss
to the building, thanks to the ener-
getic and well directed work of the fire
men, is trilling.
The fire was discovered simultan-
eously by group tf young men on
the opposite side of the street and
Patrolman James Saul, who was at the
corner of LaCkawanna and wyoming
avenues. An alarm was sent from box
22 corner of Wyoming avenue and
Spruce street and the central city COM
panics were quickly on the scene, the
Relefs making an especially fast re-
sponse.
Smoke was pouring out of the front of
the store in dense volumes when the
fremen reached the scene and grew
that it was beyond the possibilities to
contend against, but with the aid of
the Miller respirator four of Hickeys
gallant men fought their way to the
rear with the chemical hose and made
an attempt to locate the flames. Their
efforts proved of little avail, however
as the fire had gained too great head
way to be fought with the chemical en-
gine and a call on the larger hose had
to be made.
LUCK WAS WITH THEM.
Two streams were directed into the
cellar from the front sidewalk tran
SONS and another from the rear cellar
window. 1t was a case of fire away
and trust to luck but luck fortunately
was with the fighters and the flames
commenced to gradually subside and
the smoke to grow less dense. Then a
hole was cut in the floor and a stream
directed down upon the immediate CEN
ter of the fire. Later it was possible
with the aid of the smoke ~rotectOrs
to carry a line into the cellar and in
due time the flames were completely
subducd. 1t was the worst cellar fire,
Chief Hickey said, that he has ever
had to contend with. The smoke,
much Of which came from burning
straw goods was SO dense and nOXiOus
that the pipemen had to be changed
every six or seven minutes. Under or
dinary circumstances it is possible with
the aid Of the patent respirators to
continue in the smoke for twenty min
uteS or more without feeling any very
unpleasant effects.
How the fire started is n mystery
Mr. Dunn and his clerk, Mr.. Caskie
were in the store a few hours before
the flames were discovered looking oveI
the books. Before leaving the clerk
went down cellar to get a copy OF
the New York Herald which he had
left there and it is supposed that ir
lighting the gas jet he in some way
started the conlagration Mr. Dunr
was on his way home about ten min.
utos OF twelve and dropped into the
store for a moment to get an umbrella
as it occurred to him he did not have
one at the house and it looked as if II
would rain towards morning. He i,
positive that there was 10 semblancC
of fire or smoke in the store at thai
time. He went across the street to tho
Anthracite hotel to get a cigar ant
while calling in there with a friend
some one rushed in with the announce
ment that Dunn's store was afire. The
alarm sounded at about the same mo-
ment. When Mr.. Dunn reached the
store the smoke was even then 81
dense that he could not make his way
| through and was compelled to retreat
STARTED IN CELLAR.
The fire started among a pile of boXe
containing straw goods and reserv,
| stock near the foot of the cellar stair
way, about half way between the rea
| and center of the store. The flames
| Travelled over large portion of the eel
| lar and everything it contained wa
| completely destroyed.
The damage will foot up to 5000. Al
| insurance of $4,000 was carried.
Lewis, Reilly & Davis' store, whicl
| adjoins on the north, was filled will
| smoke. Mr. Reilly, who was awakened
| by one of his clerks and who reached
the fire shortly after it broke out, wa
| fearful less their immense. store woult
| be visited by the flames. The building
| which is an annex to the Wyominj
| house, is a not overly substantial af
fair, and if it once got properly starte,
it probably could not have been stayed
Mr.. Reilly does not know whether o
not the smoke was so dense as to seri
ously damage his firms stock.