The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-14

Cusick's livery and undertaking es-
tablishment in the rear of Washington
avenue facing court house square, was
totally destroyed by fire this morning.
The flames broke out in the hay on
the third floor and had gained consid-
cradle headway before the fremen ar
rived, inasmuch as it had been burn
ing and spreading for some time before
they were discovered.
When the flremen arrived they had
only the tiny chemical stream TO corl-
bat the fierce flames with. Every hy-
drant in the vicinity was frozen. Be
fore one could be thawed out the fire
was beyond control. When the second
stream was ready tho building was
virtually a total loss.
The horses were ell rescued and much
of the contents was saved.
A second alarm was sent in by Act
ing Chief McManus and soon several
lines of hose were laid but not one
drop of water could be obtained every
plug in the immediate vicinity being
! clogged with ice.
! Meanwhile, willing hands began get
/ ting out the horses, which were in their
! stalls in the basement, and others ran
! the hearses. carriages. cutters, wagons,
/ etc. out. Harness, blankets and smaller
/ articles were taken into the Scranton
: Street Railway companys barn, near
| by The horses, TO the number of sew
enty-five, were turned adrift and ran
! in everv direction through the central
city.
/ Fully half an hour elapsed before the
! first stream of water was turned on
! the flames. 1t was secured from the
| hydrant at the corner of Washington
avenue and Spruce street
! At o'clock no second stream had
been secured. There was also lack
of hose, due to the fact that much of
the supply of the central city COM
panies was rendered unserviceable al
the West Lackawanna avenue fire OF
Saturday morning.
Just what was destroyed could not
be learned. There We're some single
carriages and sic chs on the second
floor that could not be taken down
owing to the elevator being rendered
useless by the fire.
There was n loft filed with hay and
a bin containing two car loads OF oats.
The origin of the fire is not known.
At 3.15 o'clock a. IN. the flames were
still raging but the strong probabili-
ties were that they would not spread to
the adjoining buildings.
The building and contents We're in
sured for $4,000 in companies repre-
sented by c. G. Poland.
STORY OF THE FIRE.
Patrolman Thomas Lowry discovered
the fire as he was coming along Wash.
ington avenue toward Linden street at
2.0j o'clock Noticing a reflected glare
on the court house windows he glanced
in toward the livery and saw flames
just breaking through the last window
in the third story at the end adioin-
ing the second story of the Liberty
hall building.
He Immediately turned in Il still
alarm bringing the Phoenix Chemical
and Crystal Hose companies to the
scene
BY this time the fire had broken
through the next window and il could
be seen that the whole third floor at
this end was mass Of flame. Much of
the hay and feed is stored on this floor.
Cusicks livery is three-story an,
basement brick structure, facing or
Forest court, hut in the rear Of 217-22
Washington avenue, and owned b!
Mrs. Mary Cusick, OF Lackawanna ave
nue.. The buildings length runs paral
lei with the court and it is ~ feet ions
and so feec wide, the main entranc'
being from Washington avenue, jus
abouI the centre Of the building.