The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-08-03
The Blackstone Block Destroyed
at a Late Hour Last Night
Estimated Loss $4,000
PROPERTY TWO THIRDS INSURED.
The Fire Departments Of Central Falls and
Pawtucket Called Upon and Render vaIua.
bic Assistance -Tenemcnts Burned.

perience with fire last night that will not
be forgotten for years to come. Just be-
fore, or just after the fire, will be the de-
termining date of all transactions Of recent
occurrence or about to happen.
Fox two hours fire ragged In the big Black
stone block and practically destroyed it.
Two business firms, two families, and q
family of boarders were burned out, en-
failing loss of about 10000.
Before the flames were subdued the fire
departments of Central Falls and Paw
tucket were called upon for aid, for the
local village department was inadequate to
cope with the flames. There was no breeze
stirring at the time of the fire, and the
flames were confined to the block.
The Blackstone block was large wooden
structure about 6Ox4O feet, containing three
floors, under gable roof containing many
dormer windows. The roof was slated.
The block was situated at the corner of
Broad and Titus streets. On the ground
floor were three stores. The one on the
Titus street corner was occupied by Peter
j. Gaskin, druggist, and the other two by
Walter Brown. In the middle store was
his meat market, and in the other his gro
Gerry.
On the second floor were two tenements.
One was occupied by Honore Adams and
| family, the other by John Carr and family.
The third floor was occupied by Mrs. AL
bert Sweet, who conducted boarding
house.
The fire caught in the Gaskin drug store
at few minutes past II o'clock, and was
due to an accident.
Mr.. Gaskin was preparing to close his
store for the night. He stepped into the
show window to turn out the lights, and
in doing SO tipped over rack OF bottles
containing ''dead stuck" which is liquid
preparation to kill insects. 1t contains
good proportion of naphtha.
Mr.. Gaskin stopped over to pick up the
rack and replace the bottles. He noticed
two or three of them were broken, but
the fumes of naptha were rising, and had
been ignited by the gas jet and were burn
ing over Mr.. Gaskin's head. AS the fumes
became of greater volume, the flame in
creased, and had soon enveloped the whole
space.
BY 2:3O the roof was practically gone.
Most of the gables had fallen, some into
the street, others back into the building.
L u
the flames lose the energy they had when
confined. They simply had gone out of
this huge chimney. The great volume of
water deluging the building was telling on
the fire, which was quickly deading.
BY o'clock the flames were under con-
troll and an hour later were extinguished,
save for the glowing embers, on which the
local department labored until nearly day
light, the other hremen returning to pro-
tect their cities.
The fire did not cut of the escape of the
people In the block, who had ample time
to get out. About q dozen were In the
building, most Of them asleep. They hur-
riedly dressed Of course, and some of them
removed small valuables. There was no
attempt made by the firemen to remove
household goods.
The loss is estimated at $4,000, two
thirds Of which is covered by Insurance.
The block, which Is owned byl Edmund
Clark, cost $500 to build In 1884. 1t has
always been kept In first class repair. Mr..
Clark is at Salisbury Beach, and the
amount It Is insured for could not be as
certained.
Mr.. Gaskin's stock and fixtures were
worth $500, and his insurance is $4,000.
His stock IL practically ruined. Walter
Brown estimated his stock and fixtures to
be valued at 5000. He was insured for
5000.
The loss to the Carr family Is about
5000; insured for $1,000. The Adams and
Sweet families loss Is about t25O0, on
which there is no insurance.
Mr.. Gaskin saved his prescription book
and will begin business In the Rutledge
block.