The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-02

One of the most destructive and dam
gerous fires seen in this city In many
months broke out about 11.30 o'clock
yesterday morning in the large three
story building at the corner of North
Washington avenue, owned and partly
occupied as a drug store by Pharma-
cist Carl Lorenz. Before the blaze
was thoroughly under control at 2
o'clock the building was almost en-
tirely destroyed and damage approxi-
mating a little over $4,000 was done.
The lower floor front of the structure
was occupied by Mr.. Lorenz as a
drug store. while the rear was used
by DR.. William II. McGreevy as an
office. The two upper floors We're oc-
cupied by James II. Bloomer and Isaac
X. Croft.
The water pipes had been frozen in
the night and plumber was engaged
in an effort to thaw them out. a por-
ton of the floor on the south side of
the second floor was taken UP and q
hand gasoline stove was being used
to thaw the frozen water. Some small
particles of dust must have been ig-
nited and blown along under the floor
ing. for in about five minutes time
the whole south portion of the build
!nT seemed to be on fire.
ALARM TURNED IN.
Flames burst through the flooring
ami around the woodwork of the WIN
dows. One of the clerks was imme-
diately sent to the county Jail and an
alarm was turned in from that point,
where box is located. In the mean
time the occupants of the second floor
had barely times to save themselves,
so fiercely did the fire spread. This
was due to the strong wind blowing
from the south the force of which
was specially felt, as there were no
houses south of the burning structure
to break it.
The North Scranton companies and
the General Phinneys were the first to
arrive and few minutes later the Re-
liefs, Crystals, Nay Augs. Phoenix and
Hook and Ladder companies were on
the scene. Chief Walker was also
promptly on hand and directed the op-
erations of the firemen.
Il was apparent to every one at
once that there was hardly any hope
of saving much of the building, but
the firemen went to work with will
and soon had six streams playing on
the flames. 1t was n hard fight for or
dinary weather. but the mercury stand
ing at 10 above zero made 1t doubly
hard. The spray from the hose set
Ting on the mems garments was frozen
stiff in a few minutes and gave them
the appearance of real live Esuui-
mauX.
MIR. ROBINSON'S KINDNESS.
Had it not been for the kindness of
eX-Sheriff Charles Robinson, who lives
on the corner. and several other fami-
lies in the vicinity. there might have
been many frozen hands and noses
and ears. The houses of these were
throw open to the fire fighters and
steaming hot coffee was served in
abundance.
The firemen succeeded in keeping the
flames from the drug store, but the
stock in the latter was badly dam
aged by water At o'clock the fire
was pretty well in hand. the upper
floors and the back portion OF the
lower floor being merely a mass of
ruins. At several stages of the fire
flying sparks started small blazes on
the roofs of adjoining dwellings. but
these were in all cases promptly eX-
tinguished by the firemen before they
gained any headway.
The tota loss is about $500, divided
as follows:
Mr.. Lorenz' loss on building. $4,000;
on stock, $500: insurance, $500.
Mr.. Boomers loss, $500: no insurance.
Mr.. Croft's loss. $1,000; insurance,
! 81 900.
Dr. McGreevy's loss, $500; no insur-
ance.
Isaac Saville, one of the volunteer
! firemen at work checking the blaze
was struck on the head by a piece of
| plaster about o'clock and this COM
bined with the terrible heat of the
| fire, shortly after overcame him.
MEMBER OF EAGLES.
Saville works in the Lackawanna
| car shops and lives at Bellevue. where
! he Is member of the Eagle Hose
company When ne heard the gongs
| sound yesterday morning he left his
! work and Joined issue with the men,
| bers of the local companies in fighting
the fire.
When he tainted away the Lacka-
wanna hospital authorities We're noti-
| fed and DR.. Busch, with the ambu.
lance, Immediately went for him and
took him to the institution. 1t was
! there seen that no injuries or burns
were apparent on his body. but thai
| he bad simply been taken violently i'll
He complained of feeling terribly cold
and although in a warm room. his
teeth chartered and he shuddereI a,
though the thermometer was below
zero. He was made comfortable, !,ow,
| ever, and later in the day was getting
along nicely
About 10 o'clock last evening TIE
fire which had been smouldering broke
out afresh and the place was once more
enveloped in flames. A still alarm was
sent in and General Phinney Engine
company, responding to the call, soor
put out the blaze
He Is "a Stranger in StrangC
Land" but you will like him when yol
see him. I.yceum Tuesday. ="
Smoke the Pocono sc. cigar. -
Go to the Lyceuri next Tuesday and
laugh. ~
Try Hotel Jermyn" cigar. 10c. -
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