The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-20
A DISASTROUS FIRE.
The Grocery of D. w. Humphrey on
Salem Avenue Wrecked.

Salem Avenue wrecked.
At LIS o'clock yesterday afternoon an
alarm of fire was sounded from Box 81,
at the corner of Salem avenue and
N1ain-street. The firemen quickly re-
l.spontsd, and found a dense volume OF
ssnspltS comin g Jfrom the cellar under
sfhe groceryastore Of D. w. Humphrey,
'at-55 Salem avenue. Before the fre
could be subdued great volume or
water was turned into the cellar and
store. completely running the large
stock of groceries. and the combined
loss by flame and flood is estimated at
from 1000 TO $4,000.
At about LIS Mr.. Humphrey started
for his home at 10s Salem avenue. leav-
ing the store in charge of two OF his
clerks, Elmer Brokenshre and Fred
Van Gordcr Mr.. Humphreys daugh-
ter. Miss Grace. was also in the store.
I'm The office. She is the bookkeeper and
cashier. Mr.. Brokenshire started in to
trim up the windows for the holidays
lie had just begun and Mr.. Van Cor
der and he were discussing the style of
trimming. Manager Byrne, of the opera
house, and City Treasurer Connor We're
. IN the store and the four were IN an
animated conversation when Mr.. Brok-
'iiSIIlIS Ipbhetl toN uiu tHG ptl' II VI ''A'
store and saw smoke curling up be-
tween the boards of the floor.
He jumped out of the window and
said: The stores on tire!" He ran
for a water pail and shouted to Man
ager Byrnc to turn in an alarm. Fill
ing The pail with water he raised the
cellar door and was greeted by Il dense
volume Of smoke of a heavy, pungent
odor. He at once, saw the futility of
attempting TO descend and ran back to
the cashiers Office to tell Miss Humph-
rey of her peril and to save the books
and lock the safe. He succeeded in
getting her to a place of safety and
had just time to grab the books and
swing the safe door shut and get out
before the smoke made it perlouS to
remain longer.
Then the firemen arrived. They found
smoke pouring from the cellar, the roof,
the chinks over the doors and from a
multitude of other places. They at
tackled the cellar first. but had to turn
their attention quickly to the upper
portion OF the building, which seemed
in imminent danger of combustion. For
half an hour they worked with great
zeal and then the fire was drowned out.
An element which tried the courage
of the tiremen severely was the knowl-
edge that in the cellar and not far
from the fire was a tank of kerosene
oil, containing four barrels of the fluid.
Despite this the volunteers worked with
a will and We're helped by a number of
bystanders in shifting their hose and
directing its nozzle where it would do
the most good.
When 1T was declared safe to go in
the store a number of curious persons
followed the clerks and firemen inside.
1t was a most deplorable looking place.
The fire had only scorched the walls
on the main floor, but the energy of
the water had knocked everything
moveable askew, tore the labels off the
canned goods, and the floor was COW
cred With a litter of crackers, nuts.
apples, and many other parts of the
stock. Mr.. Humphrey looked on and
sadly observed: "Well this is a dandy
docking store now" A small square
register in the center of the floor was
taken up to sweep the water into the
cellar and the front door was opened.
A number of persons walked in and
were cautioned to look out for the hole.
Mr.. Fred Lieberman, of the Carbondale
Telephone company, came in behind the
ISSL ~ tie uToWu, anu ult iOl near lile
warning. He promptly put his right
foot inNthe hole and but for the pres.
ence OF bystanders would probably
have been seriously hurt. AS it was,
he was grabbed and saved from fall
Ing. His leg above his ankle was badly
scraped, however.
Mrs. Smith, Mrs. Humphreys Wild
owed mother, lived upstairs over the
store. She did not suffer bit of loss.
as neither the fire nor water penetrated
her apartments. Back of her home,
however Mr.. Humphrey used the sec
ond floor as storeroom for flour. tea
and other goods in bulk, and some of
these were soaked.
Mr.. Humphrey did not sit around and
sEewail~his loss, as many another man
would have done Although the fire
had spoiled his trade in the busiest
nMeek ,ot the year. he took matters
'philOsophically and in half an hour
after he saw his stock of goods was
ruined beyond redemption, he had hired
another store and was busy ordering
bran new stock from a local whole
sale grocery house. Although it was
necessary for him and his clerks to
work hard all last night, he proposes
TO be e1Qpen and ready for business this
morning. This commendable enterprise
was to be expected OF Mr.. Humphrey
ms he Is one of the greatest "hustlers"
in the city. His new location will be
at the corner of Lincoln avenue and
Main street. in the old Arnold store
He will be ready to receive all his GUS
toners and fill all orders this morning
The groceryman had just stocked up
wi.b,a full iine~of holiday goods and
the Store was packed from cellar To
roof with largo extra stock, He esti-
mates his loss at about $4,000 to S3,50O
partly covered by insurance.
Tho store cat was found by the fire.
men in a dying condition, overcome by
smoke. a merciful hand put it out of
Its agony.