The copper era and Morenci leader., 1913-05-30
TURNER'S GARAGE DESTROYED BY
 BIG FIRE
Gasoline Explosion Causes Loss of Five Thousand Dollars and En- dangers Adjoining Property
 On Hills Addition.
A few minutes past ten o'cle

A few minutes past ten o'clock on Saturday night last a fire, which started from an explosion of gasoline in the rear of the Turner garage on Hills Addition, completely destroyed the building and it's contents. Five automobiles were in the garage at the time and all were saved with the ex- ception of one. A. M Turner, pro- prietor, who was drawing gasoline from barrel at the time of the ex plosion, was severely burned about the face and hands and was taken to the hospital for treatment. The loss is placed at approximately $5,0000O with no insurance.
 During the afternoon on Saturday two iron barrels of gasoline arrived at the garage and were placed on the outside of a building adjoining the garage. Late Saturday night MT Turner went to one of the barrels to draw some gasoline into five gallon can. In his hand MT. Turner car ried a lantern and it was reported that the fire originated from spilled gaso- line which ignited from the lantern flame. On Thursday of this week, after MT. Turner emerged from the hospital he stated positively that the gasoline explosion did not ignite from the lantern. He says he distinctly remembers setting down the can fully forty feet from the barrel be- fore he inserted the rubber Syphon and started the flow of gasoline from the big barrel into the five gallon can. A small hole had been cut in the can to receive the syphon. As the gasoline started through the Sy- phon and struck the inside of the can aecording to the description of MT. Turner instantly there as an igni- tion and explosion. The syphon fell out on the ground and the flow of gasoline continued spreading the flames in all directions. MT. Fur ner's face, clothes and hands were in flames instantly. He threw himself to the ground rolling over and over until he had extinguished the flames. The small house adjoining the gaso- Der near by rushed to the scene and a hose was secured but, according to statements made by those present at this time, there as a lack of water, and almost no pressure. The garage building was soon on fire and the work of saving the automobiles was begun. While the fire ragged the second sealed barrel exploded shooting the flames a hundred feet in the air.
 The fire fighters saw nothing could save the garage and turned their ef-
 
 cry adjoining. A hose stream was put on top of the printery by carrying the hose to the roof There was not enough water pressure to throw the water ten feet from the mouth of the nozzle and it was almost a miracle that the printing office was saved.
 The fire in the garage had practi- cally burned itself out before the fire alarm was sounded. At the central ho electric lights were off at the time and he could not see to manipulate the switch board When he finally secured a lamp every drop on the board was down. The fire was burn ing at this time and the frantic eff forts of the residents of Hills Addi- tion to notify Central to turn in fire alarm were unavailing. Finally a messenger was dispatched to the A. C. works and the alarm sounded fully thirty minutes after the fire started.
 A switch engine was dispatched to the scene with additional hose lines. The Chase Creek and North Clifton hose carts were hurried to the scene but with the burning of the main gar age building the fire was practically over. The water supply to the A. c. works was cut off by MT. Heck of the Clifton Water Co.,, and the A. c. pumps were thrown into the mains, and when the fire fighters finally turn ed their attention to subduing the flames in a coal pile and wood pile, in the rear of the lot, the water pressure was all that could be desired. It took six men then to hold the nozzle. If this pressure had been available immediately upon the origin of the fire the garage could no doubt have been saved.