The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-08-02
WIMPYS STORE IN A BLAZE.
FLAMES STARTED FROM A CUP OF
BOILING OIL RUNNING OVER.

A Bicycle Chain in Cup of Hot oil
Came Near Causing n Disastrous
CONFERENCE.-The Burning Oil
Communicated TO Excelsior and
other COMMUNICATIVE Commits
siOn's New Rule for the Men to
Clean Up Water and Chemicals Put
Into ERect-It VIII Hereafter BE
Followed at All Fires Where 1t Is
Practicable to Do So.
William F. Wimpy's furniture store, No.
Is Broughton street, west, caught fire on
the third floor yesterday Afternoon, from
the boiling over of a cup of oil an which a
bicycle chain was being cleaned. The hre
quickly got into some excelsior close by,
and before it was exdnguished did consid-
cradle damage to the furniture within
reaSp,
A relative of Mr.. Wimpy was on the third
floor. which is used for storing and repair
ing furniture, boiling a cup of oil In which
the chain was being soaked. Too much
heat caused the cup to unexpectedly run
over, and when the escaping oil caught
fire, it quickly communicated to the cup.
1t was seen that the flames would soon
envelop the place as there was an abund-
ance of furniture, varnish, excelsior and
other combustibles near at hand.
Rushing down stairs, the young man re-
ported the fire to Mr. Wimpy and an alarm
was turned in from box 10 at Broughton
and Whitaker streets. The department
showed up in good time, and the men
worked like beavers when they got there.
Assistant Chief Mouro happened to be
near the store when the alarm sounded,
and by the time he located the blaze, the
apparatus from the northern division sta
tons had arrived. The assistant chief went
to Broughton street second story window,
where he called for a rope, which was
thrown up to him. BY this means the hose
from the central station chemical was
drawn up and quickly gotten in shape for
work.
In the meantime hand extinguishers were
hustled up by Engine Company No. /.
which was the first to begin work on the
fire 1t had begun to spread by this time
The smoke was very thick also, and was
making its way out Of the windows, pro
ducing rather threatening outlook from
the street
Shortly after the hremen began their
work the blaze was extingushed 1t had
fortunately started near the head of the
stairs, where it was convenient for the
men to work to good advantage with the
chemicals There We're some dressers,
lounges chairs and other things burned
or slightly damaged by the heat The fire
men found II necessary to throw articles
in different directions to make room, and
some of them went tumbling down the
stairs. That portion Of the goods near
the fire which was not damaged by It, re-
ceived a sprinklIng of chemicals. which
may damage them to some extent. 1t is
estimated that the loss will not be over
$3.50, which Is covered by insurance.
Fire Commissioners Cunningham and
Hull were present and saw the first work
in cleaning up after a fire since the rule
to this effect was adopted. Heretofore the
practice has been to leave stores flooded
with water, where the men could quickly
clean them, if supplied with necessary
means to do it, All hands pitched In
cleaning the Wimpy store, and the man
ner in which they Strengthened things out
clearly indicated some of them would not
be bad housekeepers. even If they We're
bachelors. Most of the soiled furniture
was neatly wiped and placed where il
belonged, the floors were dried, and be-
fore the men left IL was not very eppar-
ent there had been a fire. Both Chairman
Cunningham and Commissioner Hull were
pleased with the feature of cleaning up,
and neither of them understand why 1t
was not adopted long ago. It is said the
department will be supplied with the nee
essary things TO hereafter leave all places
in good condition, where it is practicable
to do so. This applies only to places
where the cleaning may be done in few
moments. 1t could not be undertaken, of
course, where the firemen would be de-
tanned too long from stations.
Mr. Wimpy carries an extensive stock
of furniture and housekeepers supplies,
the store being packed from the first to
the third floors. He appreciates the good
work the department did and took occa-
sion to thank Chief Mcguire and his men.
Mr. Wimpy spoke especially of Fireman
Joyce, of engine company No. T. whom he
says scooted up the stairs with the alac-
rity of A squirrel Each of the foremen
had their men and equipment in shape,
so that il would have been almost impos-
sibe for blaze of much larger dimen
sions 10 have gotten beyond their control.
MRS. THOMAS j. LYNCH DEAD.