The sun., 1901-02-20
FIRE IN A
CANDY SHOP
William Muller Saw the Flames
and Struck Box 7.
NARROW ESCAPES MADE
Blaze Started in Cellar of Constan.
tine Meras' Store, No. I'll Market
Street.-Damage Was
AbOut $4,000.
NARROW ESCAPES MADE

William Muller, of No. 107 East
Seventh street, pressman of The Sun,
while passing the candy store of Con
stantine Meras, No. III Market street,
shortly before o'clock yesterday morn
ing, discovered fire in the cellar and
hurried to the front Of the Grand Opera
House and struck box Z.
1t was about 2 minutes of o'clock
when the alarm was sounded. Chief
Engineer Welsh and Assistants Wiley
and Palfrey. and the Friendship, Water
Witch, Washington, Phoenix and Della
ware companies promptly responded.
The fire had gotten strong hold on
the woodwork in the cellar and although
Chief Welsh tried to stop its spread
with simply the chemical apparatus, in
order to save the store from damage, he
found it necessary to order the engine
companies to, throw water on it.
An investigation Of the conditions in
the cellar indicates that the blaze start
ed in two places; near the front of the
store, on the lower side, in a quantity of
rubbish, some distance from the heater,
and near the rear of the store on the
upper side, close to a boiler, yet the
boiler was so built that Chief Welsh
hardly thinks that the fire came from
| it. From the two points thus indicated
the fire ate by way OF the walls and
partitions to the store. The chief has
suspicion that it was started by in
cendaries. When the chief went to the
Shipley street end of the cellar he found
the door upon which led to the cellar.
| In the store the fire damaged the fix.
lures on the south side and made 4
mess of the great variety of candy which
stocked the shelves and counters. Here
n mirror was cracked, and the jars Of
candy We're wrecked.
Candy spilled from the counters to tn,
floor and was trampled into the floot
of water. From the walls and ceilint
the paper pealed or hung in shattered
bits. Holes We're cut in the floor through
which the firemen directed streams
From the store, the flames passed III
to the second floor, eating into the wood
work on both sides of the Mercantil
Clubs parlor. The carpet and wal
paper were damaged.
The clubs piano stood against th
rear wall of the room and the flame
which came up the partition began eat
ing into the instrument. 1t was dam
aged to the extent of about $1OO. TIL
Mercantile boys had just taken out al
insurance on the piano in the Luptol
Insurance Company and will not, there
fore. loose anything. The damage don
to the club room will amount to 5000.
AT the time the fire was discovere
Nicholas Johnackers, George Petos an
Gregorus Meras We're asleep on tn
second floor and were awakened by th
loud pounding on the door. Smellin
smoke they hurriedly donned thei
clothing and made their escape from th
building by the way of the roof. The
did not stop to look for any other wa
Of escape.
G. Meras, the proprietor of the cand
, shop, is at the present time in the hos
pital of Dr. Elbert and Stevens suffer
ing with stomach trouble, and has bee
there for several weeks.
In the rear of the second floor is til
candymakIng department of the stor
and here numerous sweets were
course of manufacture. The fire di
not get into the room, but the smok
did. Five persons have been employe
in this department.
, 1t was about o'clock when the fiji
was brought under control Order wa
] preserved at the scene by Capt. Kan
Sergeant Kelleher, Sergeant Tucke
! Sergeant Bayley, and Officers Willial
+ Ward, Ford, NNinthrup, Hatton, NJ
. Ateer and Solomon. The good work
the tiremen and policemen was matt,
[ | of much comment
v The back of the first floor was for
0 long time occupied by the New Ell
Publishing Company, later by Meras
, storage place. Allen, Harting w,
going to occupy the building on Marc
z 25 and had a part of his things move
in yesterday afternoon.
!, Allen H.. Ainscow, the owner of IL
Y building, has it insured for $4,000 in IL
Z Continental Fire Insurance Compan
through Hawkins & Go. Mr.. Meras +
ports his insurance on stock and Fl
t lures as $4,000.
) The greatest loss will fall upon Mer
d for his stock and fixtures, the former b
+ ing practically a total loss and the la
ter badly damaged.
# Mr.. Ainscow said in speaking of Il
Y cause of, the fire: II cannot imagine he
n the fire started except that some pap
k must have been thoughtlessly thrown
the boiler and had become overheat
It and ignited and communicated to Il
n rafters. Mr.. Meras is very caref
d man and allows nothing to be throw
l. around carelessly, but since he has be-
sick nothing has been kept in order,
% everything is when they have no lead,
|