The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-29


out early yesterday morning at Penn
avenue and Vine street and DESTROYED
the junk shop of Alexander Grass ana
David Smith. and OF Jacob Smith, ana
which also g1tted the carriage rerosi-
tory of the Marwood Jordan estate.
The damages were as follows:
Alexander Grass. building and stock ~. 100
Jacob Smith stool, ,...,.,,,,.,,........2 1000
Daniel Brenan,an building in which Smith
was located ....,....,...........'''' nwo
Jordan estate .,nV'
Grass carried not cent of insurance
on either building or stock, nor did
Smith. Brenaman's loss was entire.
but the Jordan building carried s1.sOO
insurance. The blaze originated In a.
heap of rubbish near Smiths place and
this was the first to catch the fire.
Owing to the infammable nature Of
the contents of any junk shop. most
insurance companies refuse to take
them as risks. and this accounts for
the fact that neither Grass nor Smith
had their losses at all covered.
SAYS A F1REBUG DID II.
Grass last night positively stated his
belief that an incendiary had kindled
the blaze. and numerous of the irenlen
who worked from 9 o'clock until OH
the fire entertain the same opinion. al
though the opinion is also ventured
that a cigarette butt carelessly thrown
into the yard might have ignited some
rubbish
The Municipal Contracting and lm-
provement company's horses and
wagons We're lodged in the Jordan
building. but We're all saved from the
flames. A watchman for the Dickson
Manufacturing company discovered the
blaze shortly before o'clock. pile
of rubbish was then burning tiercely
and just as he discovered it. a hungry
tongue of flame shot out and in an in
stant the corner of Smiths shop was
wrapped in n blaze.
The watchman sounded an alarm
from Box IS. at Penn avenue and Vine
street. and this alarm was answered
by the Crystals. Nay Augs. Phoenix
Chemical and Hook, and Ladder COM
nanies. When the fire laddies arrived
both Smiths place and Grass estab-
lishment. at 43S-44O Penn avenue were
on fire
Grass shop was two-stOry wooden
building. o5X5O feet, and Smiths place
onestory high and 25x25. Jordan's
building was also ahame. The two
junk shops We're doomed from the first,
the masses of rags. bones and rubbish
burning like the proverbial tinder The
firemen bent their efforts on controlling
the fire at the Jordan building. a large
three-story frame structure. Had the
blaze spread from there. Il row of
wooden buildings in the nearby court
would have been doomed.
1t was found necessary TO send in a
second alarm. and this was answered
by the General Phihney Engine COM
pany. of Green Ridge. and the Cen
turys, of South Scranton.
THE DAMAGE DONE.
II was 5 o'clock before the flames
smouldered down and by this time the
Smith and Grass shops We're each a
mass of cinders, while the complete in
terror of the Jordan building was
Quilted. The brick office of Grass was
untouched by the flames.
The contents of the Jordan building
which We're not saved We're of little
importance. but the Contracting and
improvement company suffered some
loss in the barn furnishings, horses
feed. etc. Grass shop employs eight
men and seven girls, and the firm eX-
poets to soon open temporary head
quarters.