Evening journal., 1919-11-12
S350,OO0 LOSS BY
FIRE And WATER
Continued From Page one)

box, made his way back 10 the slure'
The two pollcement were then Joined
by a watchman employed by the Kresse
Company, who was in the street, he
having run from the building when he
heard an explosion.
Firement hurt by Collision.
The district flremen responded The
I Delaware truck, In charge of James
lIammerer pulled up I'm front Of the
/ burning structure I'm Market street,
and as he did so the Friendship Fire
/ Company's chemical apparatus came
| tearing down Market street az high
speed. Harry Chapman, operator OF
/ the chemical machine, swcrved his car
10 one side, but 10 skiddcd on The slip
perry street and both machines crashed
I together. Luckily, the immense truck
had stopped. James Mackey, a mem
ber OF The Friendship Company. was
tossed from the chemical apparatus and
fell directly beneath the truck. 10 was
necessary 10 jack The truck up 10 re-
lease him, he being iammed 10 the
ground by the wheels. Harry Spring
bitt. OF the Friendship Company. was
also injured as was Chapman. The
first two men were rushed 10 the
Homeopathic Hospital I'm the police
ambulance. 10 was found that Mackey
had sustained serious injuries. his legs
being lacerated and his body cut and
bruised. Sprngbitt had his shoulder
dislocated, while Chapman was knocked
unconscious. Mackey was the only
one who remained at .he hospital.
The impact OF the collision practical
ly destroyed the Friendship chemical
apparatus. Il was said this morning
that 10 was beyond repair. Those who
Witnessed the accident were amazed
that no one was killed. The heavy
bumper on the front OF the Delaware
truck was smashed and while not put
out OF commission, the machine will
have TO undergo repairs
Fire Chief Hyndman. who was one
OF the FIRST to arrive, directed the fire.
men TO combat the flames IN The eel
lar which were not visible, owing 90
the clouds Of dense smoke that rolled
from the structure. Assistant Chief
Cannon was Of the opinion at that
time that the fire would be confined TO
the cellar. but when he went TO the
roof OF the Crosby and Hill Company.
adjoining. he was surprised TO find the
entire interior OF the Kresge Building
seething with flames.
Chief Cannon. 70 avoid confusion and
10 place the fire apparatus at the vari-
Gus fire plugs as quickly as possible,
started calling the other fire com
panies by phone. Firemen were sent
to the various plugs 10 direct the other
companies and I'm this manner they
worked quickly and without a second
and general alarm being sent In. Every
fire apparatus in the city. with the
exception Of the Brandywine Company,
was called and remained in service un-
tiI late this morning.
The nremen were handicapped by the
interior Of the Kresge store being di-
vided into bins. OF rooms. with wooden
partitions. When they arrived at the
store, the smoke was Peuring from the
cellar windows Of the store in Market
street The only entrance 30 the base
ment was through cellar doors IN Ship
lev street. These doors were attacked
by the fremen and after they had
gained an entrance 10 was necessary
for them 10 chop through two other
doors. Once inside, the line OF hose
they carried was stopped by a wooden
partition 20 feet from the cellar door.
10 was these bins, stocked with goods,
that prevented the nremen from reach
ing the heart Of the fire In the begin
ming When the flames had eaten their
way into the center Of the store, they
made rapid progress between a metal
ceiling In the store and floor above
which was occupied by the Prudential
Insurance Company, the Peoples. Credit
clothing store and others.
The flames burst through the Kresge
building roof about 6 o'clock. The
roof fell in with a crash, sending show
ers Of sparks in every direction. The
nremen were still unable 20 get into !
the cellar. the smoke pouring out from
the building, and preventing the men,
who wore gas masks, from entering.
The only thing that could be done
was 10 pour tons Of water into the |
structure. Eleven lines OF hose were
playing on the flames within a short |
time The Delaware truck that had |
figured I'm an accident. was |
pressed into service and it's water |
tower was used 10 good advantage.
10 was this water that caused great
amount Of damage TO the Crosby and |
Hill store. and the adjoining store. the /
water rushing from the cellar OF the |
Kresge store towards Sixth street. Tie
cellar OF the Crosby and Hill Company |
held Christmas toys and goods esti-
mated TO be worth $4,000. These were |
water soaked within two hours after
the fire was discovered.
When the roof fell through the |
Kresge Building the upper floors gave
way and crashed into the cellar. car
rying with them the safe OF the Pru- |
Dental Insurance Company, from the
second floor.
At the Eureka Restaurant, at Sixth /
and Shipley streets, $500 worth OF but
ter in an ice box in the basement,
melted and was carried down the sewer.
In addition, at least $500 worth Of other
foodstuffs were ruined.
When the first alarm was turned in 4
Police Captain Keleher detailed patrol
men 10 the scene and ropes were at
lnce stretched which aided the flremen /
materially In their work. The police
men remained on duty until after
o'clock when 10 was seen that the fire
was under control and no further dan (
ger Of its spreading was anticipated.
The fremen, while at a loss TO eX-
plain any cause for the fire, are puzzled
)ver the fact that but an hour before
he Kresge fire they had been called
,ut TO an alarm from box No. % at
second and Shipley streets. When they /
lrriVed there no trace OF a fire was