Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-10-04
UGLY BLAZE N
BUSINESS BLOCK
usssfs. Way and Johnson Old
Fine Work il Preventing Serious
csa|lag'alian 10 Queen Street.
GASOLINE TANK fxplOtEi
John A. Ashby and Percy Smith Pain
fully Burned-prug Stock Probably
Complete Ruin. While the Damage
to the Building viii Reach About
$6oo-smoke Did some Damage.

The entire heart Of the business
section OF Hampton was threatened
by fire late yesterday afternoon.
which broke out in Congdon's Drug
Store and was caused by the explos'
ion OF gasoline tank.
The blaze was started shortly after
s o'clock and the quick work OF Mes
srs. Joseph johnson and William
Wray. clerks in the J. F.. Rove De-
partment Store, prevented the flames
from getting to the Old frame struc-
tura occupied by Mr.. J. e. Copeland.
which adjoins the drug store. The
two men secured one Of the small fire
extinguishers, which they used with
fine effect until the arrival OF the
Hampton firemn.
The firemen found 1t necessary to
turn on a stream Of water In the in
terror OF the drug store. and In this
way succeeded in preventing the fire
from eating up the other business
houses. The stock OF goods in the
drug store Is damaged considerably.
while the building is damaged. to the
extent Of about $500.
Percy Smith, the negro porter en-
pIoyed by Congdon, started in to H.
Illuminate the store shortly after 3
o'clock. and had lighted the burner In
the front window next to Copelands
store. Just under the window was
the gasoline tank and Smith went to
the tank to rearrange It. Without
turning OF the light in the window,
Smith removed the cap on the tank,
which caused the suction to draw the
blaze back into the tank Of gasoline.
An explosion soon followed and tho
window was a seething mass OF ugly.
looking flames within a few minutes.
Smith was severely burned about the
face. head and arms. but succeeded In
getting out Of the building through
the rear door.
Mr.. George Congdon. one Of the pro-
prietors. was standing just at the en-
trance on Queen street. while Mr.. }.
A. Ashbv, a clerk, was compounding
a prescription at the rear counter.
/. Mr. Congdon called to his employees
to run out Of the building, but asked
Mr. Ashby to save the CASH
register II possible. In his attempt
to get the register on the counter.
Mr.. Ashby was painfully burned about
the right arm.
When the cry OF fire went up it
caused the greatest excitement, as
within a short distance Of the drug
store are the stores Of Messrs. T. A.
Cooke. ]. r. Rove. Ransons Brothers.
Steiner and Kaufman. George X.
Wood. ]. F. Copeland. Kirsner's New
Re hive and /. Kirsner's clothing
store. as well as a number Of wooden
|structures in the rear Of the brtldines.
The clerks and store-keepers were
soon ON the streets and crowd beEan
Resembling. Messrs. Wfay and John
son hurriedly secured the fire ex-
|tinguisher and ran to the buiiG;ng.
where they began fighting the flames
Ry this means the two men confined
The FIRE to the interior Of the brick
walls until the arrival OF the firemen.
The west End Hose company made a
quick run down. but their services
were no. needed.
The building occupied by Congdon
Is owneds BY Mr.. George A. Schmelx
and is fully covered by insurance.
Mr.. George Conedon stated to the
Daily Press representative that the
stock Of drugs and sundries was valu-
ed a, $y.500 and said that his. hIm
carried insurance. Mr.. Conxdou Was
unable to state the amount Of insur-
apce.
The New Bee Hive store, as well a.
Kirsner's clothing store. were filed
with smoke and the stocks Of goods IN
these Suildinss vas damaged to some
extent ty the smoke The fruit stand
conducted ty . Greek. which h Just
between Copeland's and the drug
store. vas slightly damaged by smoke
aad water.
The Are attracted . big crowd OF
people. who lined the southern SIDE Of
Queen street and watched the hrewen
ut work from all points Of vantage.