Norwich bulletin., 1910-09-30
GASOLINE IN BLAZE.
But Did Not Explode, Though Building
Was Burned

employ of the Southern New England
Telephone company, pulled in the alarm
from box "a. at the foot of High Street,
for the fire in the red wooden building
in the rear of 994 Main street, owned
by NJ. L. Tryon. and occupied princi-
pally by J. E. Robertson's tire shop,
although Mr.. Tryon had a quantity of
paint and lumber stored in the loft and
in the shed adjoining.
The building was very dry and only
shell at best. The fire was caused by
"a yulcanizer that Mr.. Robertson had
left heating while he stepped out OF
the shop for a moment. 1t was but a
short time before the structure was a
mass of flames, as the woodwork was
pretty well soaked with gasoline and
oil, and the, flames therefore spread
rapidly. Mr.. Robertson saved but very
little and the bulk of his stock, tools
account books and the, tires, principal :
1y automobile tires, between 20 and SO
in. number. was partially destroyed
The tires were valued from $25 up to
500 apiece.
There is practically nothing left OF
the building but the charred walls and
it is considered a complete loss. Mr..
Rooertson's loss is. estimated at $500
and Mr. Tryon's loss is estimated at
$500 also, but this is said to be fully
covered by insurance.
The alarm sounded at 157 ID and
a big crowd congregated before the ar
rival of the Bank street companies and
the Montgomery Hose company No. 2.
There was quite a little talk about
the slowness of the department by men
in the vicinity of the fire. 1t is I'M
derstood that the companies had to
await the arrival of horses and there
fore were q triie slower than usual.
Upon the arrival of the department,
however. the men quickly got to work
and prevented the fire from spreading
to the blocks near by as we'll as the
small wooden houses in the rear which
are very close.
peculiar thing in connection with
the fire is the fact that in the very
center of the hottest blaze there was
a tank of gasoline, about 20 gallons in
capacity. that was not injured by the
flames, except for it's outside covering
of woodwork. After this had been
burned away Chief Wade u. Webster
carried the tank out of the building
carefully. The tank was some warm,
but its contents were intact-a narrow
escape from a bad explosion.
Question of Rebuilding.
The fire brings UP an interesting
question: Can the structure De replaced
again to favorably conform with its
original? There are those who are OF
the opinion that it can be so replaced,
while on the other hand others con-
Il
a question that has come up before,
although in different way. This par =
ticular building was located within the
fire district and therefore, according
to the regulations governing the con-
struction of buildings, cannot Zoe re-
built unless of f1reproof material. The
fact that the building was originally
constructed before the specific Ordi-
nance became effective is the argument
advanced by some that the building
may be rebuilt to conform with it's
original. Permission has been refused
to build nom firepfoof buildings within
the prescribed fire district in at least
two instances within a year and it is
reasonable to assume that such per-
mission will not be granted in this case
in The event of an application for re-
building should be made.
Firemen Delayed.
Members of the Montgomery Hose
company. No. 2, do not like the way
things have been breaking for them at
the last two or three fires. Thursday
they were again delayed and were late
at the fire. through no fault of lack OF
men to respond or because they had
to wait for the horses, as both were
on hand early, but because the mechan-
ism of the harnesses failed to work
satisfactorily. This has been reported
it is understood to the head of the de-
partinent, but the difs1cu1ty has not
been remedied and as result the
Monties have been getting in wrong
with some of the citizens. When the
Jackson street company did get away
they were on the fry and rounded the
corner of Jackson street into Union
with such speed as to run afoul of a
dog and ran over it with the wheels
of the hose carriage. The feet of the
horse came near finishing, the animal,
who rushed out barking at the appa-
IN q In1, H. rxySf n
the gong sounding for a right of way.
The dog was a bull named Babe and
was owned by John McCrunan of 80
Enion street.