The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-05-17
COSTLY FIRE IN GREENWICH
FIVE BUSINESS BLOCKS QUICKLY
 WIPED OUT LAST NIGHT.
The Postofilce and st. Mary's Church Among the Buildings Destroyed-The Total Loss Estimated at S17o,0oo- Only Half Covered by yfnsWrance-Fire Caused by the Dropping of a Lamp.


 Greenwich, May 16.-In one of the most disastrous fires that ever visited this place five business blocks, includ- ing the postoffice building, St. Marys R. c. church, a stable owned by E. c. Benedict and also a gas house connect ed with the premises were damaged py fire tonight to the extent. of upwards of $175,000, which was about half coV- cred by insurance. There were no cas- ualties, although there were many mar row escapes.
 The fire started in the basement Of J. H. Ray X Sons hardware store and carriage repository, a three-story brick structure on Greenwich avenue, ana was caused by the accidental dropping of a lighted lamp or candle by boy who was drawing gasoline. The flames rapidly spread to the large gasoline tank and it was almost instantly mass of flames. The boy had scarcely tune to reach the upper floor and give the alarm so that the clerks in the store could escape, when the fire reached a quantity of rock powder, estimated to be in the neighborhood of 575 tons, and a severe explosion resulted, lifting the roof off the building and causing it's total collapse and also it's complete de- struction by the flames The building had seventy-fve feet frontage and was 270 feet deep, In the basement were stored oil, paints and blasting powder. On the ground floor was an extensive stock of hardware, while the upper story was utilized by the Troy (N. Y) Wagon company, which had in the building a stock estimated at $25,000 on which there was only $5,000 insurance. The Rays carried a stock estimated at over $500 on which there was but $5,000 insurance, and their building. which was worth $22000, was insured for only $10,0OO. Owing to the danger ous nature of the stock carried by the firm the insurance companies demand ed a heavy premium, that the firm would not pay which accounts for the small amount of insurance.
 Following the destruction of the Ray building the fire communicated to the buildings adjacent owned by Thomas Fox of Portchester, William H. Green and Michael Castiglione, frame build lIRS, Wflltn Wtlt lpietlly bSS'iSy Vt ''AN then spread to St Mary's Roman Cath olic church $35,o00 structure, which was likewise consumed. The postoftice building across the street, owned by William F. Ritch, caught fire almost at the same time and in short order the building adjacent to the postoffice, own ed by w. H. r. Lockwood, was afire. The flames continued to spread to a stable on the estate of E. c. Benedict, and when a few minutes later the gas house connected with the Benedict property took fire it was apparent that both buildings were doomed to total de- struction. The stable was one of the best equipped in the state and the estl- mated value was $20000 while the gas house was valued at $7,0O0. both or which were covered by insurance.
 The fire occurred in the center of the principal street and a prevailing south- erlv wind threatened to carry the flames to a great distance. Though there was an unlimited supply of water the pressure was so little that it was ineffective without pumping, and the Greenwich fire department had no fa- cilities for so doing. However, with the arflNal or tue 6lahiloiu iiid VI
 engines the matter was remedled. In the building owned by MT. Green there was a Chinese laundry and in the Gas tigilione building there was an Italian fruit store and tenants on the upper story. The three blocks were valued at $12OO0. The postoflice building was val ued at $3, ,000 while the Lockwood build ing was damaged to the extent of $1,Ooo and the Boston dry good store, located in the building, suffered about the same amount from damage by water The stable of F. c. Benedict that was de- stroyed is said to have been one of the best equipped in the state. The ire was not extinguished until nearly mid night.