The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-02-24

| l today partly gutted the three-story brick garage in the Logan building at 171O Main street, owned by the Arthur L. Clark company. Two employees, Howard Bodl1rtha, 110 Berkshire ave- l nue. and George zKrausman of Strat- ford. were slightly injured by burns and falling glass.
 The damage to the new building is estimated at between $5,00o and ST. | 900, fully insured. The loss of 15 cars on the top floor, held at owners risk is believed to be about $12,00O and the loss of equipment and prop erty of the Clark company is believed to- be in the neighborhood of s$5.00O. l There is additional loss by heat and water to several cars on the second floor, which has not been estimated | but will not be more than $5,000, | probably fully insured.
 The origin of the fire which started in the noreast corner of the top floor, is unknown as Clark, who appeared on the scene after the alarms, had been rung in refused to talk or permit any of his employees to discuss the facts He was greatly unneryed by the dis l astrous fire. It is believed however, that it may have happened through the carelessness of some enp1oye. The first fact known concerning the fire is the action of Howard Bodurtha, foreman on the top floor, and living
  heard to cry teFire!'' At that time other employees saw a blaze about machines being repaired on the top floor, among which was a large Franklin car owned by Charles Logan. The flames spread with amazing rap fditys and the two or three of the 12 or l 5 mechanics and helpers about the building, who were on the top floor, rushed for safety down the stair case An attempt to push cars on the big elevator was fruitIess for the flames swept the entire roof. mush- roonaing downwar dss
 Bodurtha is said to have been the last to leave. He is reported to have said that there was only one fire ex- tinguisher upon the top floor, which he is known to have valiAntIy used until his right hand was so severely burned that he required assistance in a nearby pharmacy.
 That total loss of nearly 80 cars stored on the second floor is not recorded, is said to be due to the fact that someone pulled the elevator flush with the top floor and that though the roof burned completely off, two inch blocks and additional heavy oak flooring kept the flames confined to the top of the buiIding except in spots. It is estimated that more than $10o,O00 worth of cars were Stored on the second floor. They | water. On the ground floor, were six or eight cars, which were wheeled to safety outside the garage.
 Witnesses, who were upon the scene as the blaze became visible up- on the outside said there was a series of explosions on the top floor, which probably resulted from the expanded air and gasoline in the tires and tanks of the four cars under repair on the top floor. / l z be inquired into by the fire depart ment is the assertion of firernen, nv- ing in the vicinity and passing upon car at the time, that the entire top floor was enve1oped in blaze and yet the alarm of fire had to be turn ed in by members of the fire de- pertinent.
 John T. O'Connor, assistant master mechanic of the fire department was apparently. the first person outside of the garage staff to know of the blaze. He was leaving his home 3s North Washington avenue, which is directly opposite the rear of the Lo- gan Brothers building when happen ing to look up, he found the entire roof in flames. Fire was belching from windows on the North Washing ton avenue side as well as on the south side of the building. Employes of the garage were rushing from the building with cars.
 O'Connor called to the men that the top of the building was on fire and rushed to box S36 at Main street and Washington avenue where he pulled the first alarm.
 Apparatus from Engine Co 5, En- gfne4, truck 2 and No. 1 chemical arrived after the first bell alarm at 12:03 o'clock. A second alarm at 12:o7 called No. Engine company to the scene. The second alarm was pulled by Chief Mooney as soon as he reached the spot, for 1t was evident that the building would be doomed unless heroic measures were taken to save it.
 O'Connor says that as soon as he had pulled the alarm he heard ex- plosions which seemed to come from the top floor.
 This statement is also corroborated by Capt. B. Reilly of Engine Go. 1, who was. passing in front of the building in a. North Main street troll ley car. Capt. Reilly said today to reporters that he happened to glance through the car windows and was sur prised to see the whole top floor in a blaze. He jumped from the car and ran towards the signal box when he found O'Connor returning. At that time the men were rushing from the building and explosion after ex- 'plosion could be distinctly heard for long distance from the building.
 Both hremen rushed into the build ing to find that they could not get above the second Hoor.s After assur- ing themselves that all the employees were safe they aided in saving books and papers from the office. where three clerks were employed.
 It was not more than ten minutes after the fire was discovered that parts of the elevator shaft housing and the rof fell in. It looked for time as if the cornices, both on the Main street and North Wasfiraetan.