The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-06-24
JUNK SHOP FIRE
THREATENED A
LUMBER YARD

The occurrence OF disastrous lum-
ber yard fire. connagrations which
have been very familiar in this city
within the past few years. was avert
ed by the fire department yesterday
afternoon, when the lumber yard OF
George ID. Lansing a Son was seriously
threatened by sparks from a raging
fire In a nearby junkshop. A roof OF
one OF the lumber sheds did break out
into flame, and then TO avoid a more
disastrous fire the sheds and their con-
tents and the lumber in the yard were
completely wet down.
The sparks from the junkshop fire
set fire TO other buildings and at one
time the roofs OF IL buildings in the
vicinity were ablaze.
The junkshop which jeopardlzed the
neighborhood was owned by Abraham
Abish and was located In the rear OF
Livingston street The fire in the
great quantity OF rags and similar
material got a. good start before IL
was discovered. and when first seen
the entire roof and rear wall OF the
two-story structure was one mass of
flame. The firemen were called by an
alarm from box 81 at North Main
street and Branch avenue, and on their
arrival second alarm was sounded
as sparks had been blown by the
strong southwest wind 10 the roofs OF
about every building within the
block.
While n few of the firemen fought
the main blaze the larger number had
their work cut out for them I'm look
ing after the houses, the roofs of
which had ignited. The places which
were afre at this time included the
lumber yard OF George ID. Lansing a.
a. .al.s.
OF Oscar Washburn, 10 Branch avenue;
three family house at 20 Branch ave-
nue.; home OF George H. Batcheller, s
Branch avenue; home of John Connery
Is Mechanic street; home OF John Sui
livan. 13 Mechanic street; home Of
Mrs +. r. Munnegle, Mechanic street; /;
the old Homestead, S3i North Main
street; house on Sexton street, owned
by Mr.. Abbott; n barn I'm the rear OF
Mechanic street. owned by Miss Pot
ter; barn on Livingston street
owned by Henry Zuill.
The most serious OF the house fires
was in the home OF Mr.. Batcheller. The
sparks blew In at third story window
and before anyone realized the fact
the flames had attacked some lace cur
tains and got good start. Mr.
Batcheller, assisted by J. S. Yeomans
and III. J. Keon. young men of the
neighborhood. with members of the
Protectives. fought the fire with buck
cts. garden hose and fire extinguishers.
finally putting II out The damage will
amount TO several hundred dollars.
Next to this fire. that I'm the Mum
negle house was the worst the damage
there footing up 10 several hundred
dollars. The flames got n start in a
similar way as they did at the
Batcheller home. Neighbors and fire.
ment put this fire out with buckets
of water and extlnguishers.
The lumber yard was an early source
of anxiety. The hremen realized that
II they allowed this place TO get start
ed the fire would spread throughout
the neighborhood, and the big gaso-
meter In the rear OF Mechanic street,
just across the street from the yord
would be In danger OF exploding. Be
cause OF this danger the order was
given to wet down the whole yard
thoroughly and Hose 8 was detailed
for this purpose.
When the fire attacked the line OF
houses along Mechanic street Mrs. John
Connerty was overcome by excitement
and had to be attended by Dr. -. IL
Leddy and the ambulance surgeon. She
was In highly nervous condition.
A large crowd gathered TO watch the
blaze, but the police OF the Second
district under Capt. Mowry, kept the
fro lines well established. The ambu-
lance from the Rhode Island hospital
also responded promptly. but its SER
vices were not needed.
The junkshop was completely burned
to the ground, and Mr.. Abish says his
loss Will be $4,000. other losses will
bring the total TO the approximate OF
10000 The fire in the junkshop is
attributed to spontaneous combustion.