The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-19
FLAMES SWEPT A TOY STORE.
DUNAIF & BERNsTEIN's PLACE CON-
SIDERAHLY DAMAGED.

Origin of the Fire Not known, But
1t Is Supposed TO Have started in
Rubbish in the CeIIar-Firemen
sent streams Through Hole
Chopped Through Hallway Floor
ing-Insurance in Three Policies
Is $4,000, But the Amount of stock
Is Not KnOwn-Firm Carried Toys
and IA General supply of Notions.
Dunaif & Bernsten's stock of toys and
chinaware in their store in the Odd Eel
lows building was largely destroyed by
fire yesterday afternoon. which originated
in the basement and worked its way into
the store room before It could be extin-
guished That part OF the stock which was
not destroyed was battered up in a way
that makes it unstable.
Shortly after the alarm was sent in
from box No. 10 people In the vicinity of
the store thought from the huge volumes
Of smoke that issued from windows that
the entire building was to go. From many
of the upper windows smoke was pouring
out in a way that indicated fire also on
those floors, though in fact it was only
escaping from the cellar into the upper
rooms. Barnard street was dense with
smoke which was added to by that from
The engines, thereby making a volume
which was deceiving in aspect The
sounding of the alarm and the appearance
of smoke drew large crowds TO the scene
of the fire, but the quick work of the
police in throwing out their lines kept on
lockers back.
The alarm brought out the apparatus
from all stations, and in short order fire
mon were scrambiing through the density
in an effort to locate The blaze. SuDarin-
tendent Maguite mad just sailed for New
York on his way TO the Syracuse couven-
ton of chiefs, which left Assistant Chief
MOuro in charge of the department, Assist
ant Mouro was not long in locating the
flames, though this could not probably
have been done SO easily but for the in
formation given by proprietor Bernstein,
who remained in front of the store until
the fire was subduCd.
IL was found that the fire was in the ce.-
lar, and was gradually making its way
into the store room through wide sta r
way leading from The cellar. The fact the
water could not be properly directed
through the smoke made it necessary for
the iiremen TO chop a hole in the flooring
from the hallway Immediately above. ana
through this hole a stream was 9oured
which soon had The fire under control. Be
fore this was done. however, the place
was completely flooded, and nearly all the
stock, including goods on the shelves, was
thrown from its place and made a part
of the general debris on the floor. The
tiremen used water freely for the reason
the fire was IN bad place to communi-
cate TO other paris of the building which
would then have endangered thousands of
dollars worth of property.
Eddie Boles, the colored porter, is about
the only person who was in a position to
give any explanation of the origin of the
fire, but his explanation is SO meager,
that it cannot be credited for much. He
said that he went into the cellar a short
time before the fire was discovered for
the purpose of packing goods which were
to be shipped to Darien. The toy store
has the entire cellar of the building It
occupies, and also that under the barber
shop which adjoins it on the south. Boles
passed through the first cellar and into
the second. where he says he remained
several minutes. He smeled smoke pres
emily, and upon examining in the ada
cent room, found fire near the center
which had started in pile of excelsior and
other dry rubbish. The flames were licking
up at a lively rate at the time, and real
izing that quick work was necessary, he
cried our fire above, at The same time
rushing there for safety.
Mr.. Bernstein was standing in front of
the store at the time, but on hearing the
alarm, he at once confirmed the porter's
report, and then proceeded 10 have the
alarm turned in. Box 19 is only a short
distance away and after the alarm was
sounded from this 1t was only a few mo-
ments until the dashng grays appeared.
The hremen did excellent work in getting
their apparatus in condition for business,
and once this was done. they toiled like
Trojans to get the best Of the flames. It
took hard fighting to save the building, as
the fire was rapidly increasing in volume.
and would have been a destructive sweep
had not the work been done promptly.
Mr.. Bernstein told a Morning News re-
porter that he has 5000 insurance, whi2h
is diveded between three companies, each
having issued a policy for $1,000 He was
not prepared to say what size stock he
had, as many things mad been hauied in
during the past week, and tor that reason
il was impossible TO tell about the status
of affairs. He told an insurance man he
| had just put a lot of goods in the &c lar,
col sstins of hardwar I. cutlery and tin
ware He said the store room was well
stocked with toys glassware. tinwIre and
notions. That portion of the goods which
were not knocked from the shelves is be-
lieved to be in fairly good condition. but
all that got on the floor was either ruined
/ by water. or smashed by the hremen in
| getting around.
| The firm has occupied the odd Fellows
! store since last January, when they put
/ In a stock of toys and did a fairly good
/ Christmas business. Since then they found
! their business was paying fairly well, aud
/ We're increasing their stock by adding new
/ departments, such as hardware and other
4 goods usually found in a notion house. For
4 a time they had two stores, one being on
/ Broughton street in the old Turner's hall
but this was abandoned some time ago,
/ Mr.. Bernstein is in charge of the business.
! Mr. Dunaif being out Of the city
WHEELS OF JUSTICE GRIND.