The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1898-03-18
GREAT FIRE OF TODAY
Gasoline Explosion Sets Fire to
Three Buildings.
TWO MEN BADLY BURNED in THE FLAMES

TWO MEN BADLY BURNED In The FLAMES
FnII Account of the Big speedwen Ave. Blaze
this Afternoon-B. F. Frledmanand r. w.
the Hospitals Marrow Escape from Death
Firemen have DifficuIty-W in Intense
Heat and Smoke-Owners and Occupants of
the Buildings and Statement of Losses
The largest and most serious fire that
Morristown has known for years occurr-
ed this afternoon; the alarm being turn
ed in from Box 2S at 12:45. The fire
originated in the bicycle and repair
shop of the B. Friedman Manufacturing
Company at "a Speedwell avenue. It
appears that Bernard Friedman, of that
establishment, was running an enamel
ing machine which was heated by gaso-
lene and in some way not exactly known
to anyone terrific explosion occurred,
blowing out the front of the store to-
gether with Friedman and Robert John
son, young lad of Is, who worked in
the shop and was lighting the gasolene
enameler.
Owing to the combustibility of the
gasoline and the other oils and chemicals
used in the business, the building was at
once blaze and when the Fire Depart
ment reached the scene the entire build
ing was in flames. There was much
difficulty in getting water;" thus him
dering the usual quick work of some of
the companies. Humane Engine Com
pany had first water, quickly followed
by the other companies. Chief Stevens
saw at once the impossibility of saving
the building where the fire originated,
which was two story building, balloon
construction and finished with yellow
pine ceiling. which served to feed the
to the buildings on either side.
The building on the northerly side was
one story building also owned by the
Cutler estate and occupied by w. Ergen-
sinner as barber shop and by B. T.
Rosenblatt as dry goods store. The
building on the other side, toward the
Park, was owned by D. F.. Leonard and
occupied on the first floor by Miss A. E.
Collier and Miss 1. Purkis as a grocery
store, and on the other side by Samuel
Silverman as dry goods and clothing
store. Mr.. Leonard and family occupied
the second floor and the third was occu-
pied by William Pfeiffer.
The two buildings of the Cutler estate
were about destroyed while the Leonard
building was partly burned and much
damaged by water; the roof on the north
erly side was completely burned off.
The buildings of the Cutler estate are
insured to their full value and the loss
will propably reach 81 800. The Leon
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will no doubt cover the loss. Friedman's
loss will reach about $500 in stock and
fixtures. which was partially insured.
Loss to the Misses Collier & Purkis will
be'about $500, covered by insurance of
$500 on stock and 5000 on fixtures.
The escape of Friedman from instant
death was marvellous. He was standing
on ladder by the enameler when the
explosion occurred and the first recollec-
ton he has of the occurrence was when
he was picked up in the street where he
had been blown by the force of the ex-
plosion. His clothing was in flames
which were promptly extinguished by
Patrick Keefe who threw his coat about
the burning man. Friedman was at
once taken to a dwelling across the
street and DIR. Vaughn was promptly on
hand; he administered opiates and
dressed the wounds with oil and cotton,
and later the patient was taken to All
Souls Hospital where he lies in critical
condition. Mrs. Friedman and infant
child were rescued from the second floor
uninjured and promptly cared for by
neidhbors.
Robt. johnson was badly burned about
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