The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1919-05-29
FIRE LOSS HEAVY YESTERDAY
In Blaze Which Swept the Martin
Garage on Liberty Street.

Val dSC VII DtICCl
Fire, which swept the large garage
on Liberty street owned and operated
by Mr.. A. R. Martin, did damage va
riously estimated at from $4,000 to
$4,000 at about eight o'clock yester-
day morning caused by the spontane-
Gus combustion of quantity of gas
cline or gasoline vapor beneath the
floor of the business Office of the gar
age, in which room the proprietor, Mr..
Lee Winters and Mr.. A. Y. Dumire,
the latter two employees of the garage,
were engaged at their various duties
preparatory to beginning the days
work. Mr.. Dumire had opened floor
valve and was transferring gasoline
from a storage tank in the rear of the
premises to the pavement tank at the
front of the building when the explo-
sion took place. He was thrown to
the floor of the room and upon regain
ing his feet rushed through the flames
TO the front door of the building, while
Mr.. Martin and Mr.. Winters escaped
by a rear door. When the explosion
occurred the windows and glass open
ings in all parts of the structure were
blown entirely out.
Upon reaching the street Mr.. Du-
mire's clothing were a mass of flames
but by the aid Of some men who had
been attracted to the spot his burning
clothes were ripped off and he was
taken to the Office of DR.. McComas in
/ Oakland where his injuries were
( dressed, and later in the day he was
taken to the Western Maryland Hos
/ pital in the Bolden ambulance. His
! burns are extremely serious and pain
full, his face, arms, body and portions
/ of his lower eXtremities being involv.
ed. At last reports this morning from
/ the Cumberland institution the in
Jured man was resting comfortably
and hopes are now entertained by his
/ friends for his recovery.
1t required but few minutes after
the alarm was given to have four full
streams of water pouring into the
building and in less than half an hour
the fire was practically out. The
building was Quilted however, and in
addition to the loss sustained by Mr..
Martin upon his building and stock of
goods, all his household furniture and
clothing were entirely consumed.
In the garage were large number
Of cars belonging to both the propri-
etor of the garage and to private par
ties who had stored their cars for the
night and had not appeared at the
time of the fire to remove them. Of
the cars in storage sixteen were more
or less damaged, which will total a
loss of from $500 to $4,000. Mr..
Martin carried insurance totalling
$500 upon the building and stock, but
this amount will not cover his loss by
many thousands of dollars. In addi-
+ WIN many VI MS IcNJIuS ana DOCKS
were destroyed
The repair shop operated in connec-
ton with the garage is now open for
business and the work in this depart
ment will not be interfered with on ac-
count Of the misfortune.
Mr.. Martin has requested The Re
publican to express his sincere thanks
to everyone who assisted in saving his
+ property and also for the many ex-
preston of goodwill and offers of as
. sistance that have been extended him.
As soon as the insurance has been
adjusted and material secured the
/ necessary repairs to the building will
be Immediately made and the inter
rupted business resumed.
During the progress of the fire the
men handling the hose and other APP
paratus showed exceedingly good
/ judgment by directing the water upon
the spots where it did the most effee-
! tive work, and all were willing, as the
Oakland men usually are at time of
/ stress.
/ Two or three Of the volunteer fire.
men were slightly injured by falling
! glass, the most serious being Carl
! Kahl, who received cash across his
I right wrist which required the SER
vices of a surgeon who closed the
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