New Britain herald., 1919-10-20
Garage and Paintshop Are Destroyed o. sons Wood Turning Shop Gutted
ONE MAN BURNED
 GETTING CAR OUT
Bremen Are Hampered When Hose Breaks-Fire Started When Gas Tank Explodes.

Amid sputtering outburst of an acetylene gas tank in John Merce,,s garage in the rear of 55 Pearl street shortly before noon today, propertv valued at over $30,O00 was burned up in one of the ugliest fires the city has known in some months. The surging flames belching forth wrap- ped in a fatal embrace the fragile little frame shed that housed the garage containing a dozen or so cars. This was burned to the ground. On : the second floor of this building was a paint shop conducted by Aaron Johnson and this furnished ready fuel for the raging blaze as it crept up the walls and flooring. It was es- timated by Mr. Johnson that the damages to bis shop, which was not covered by insurance was $500.
 Fire Had Big Hcadway.
 The several companies of fire ap- paratus had arrived by this time and had laid the hose but this soor broke in two places and considerable head- way was gained by the fire. Bv the time the hose was finally adjusted the fire was spreading into the wood- working shop of John Olson in the rear and at the side, as we'll as to the grain StorehOuSa nearby, owned by S r. Strople Thcrc WaG corside ~a bio grain in tho storehouse. and this, of course, provided good fuel fo- tho now welI-aGvlrcctl fire. The Olson shop, however, was tho greater. ally to the fire in tha- the wood. coupled with the wind tha N2a Elowjny readily received the flames aH they entered the shop via the room. MT Olson said that i1 was practically {, loss or $30, 900 little Of which was covered by insurance. Just what was the loss to the gram storehouac could not be determined
 .uto is Destroyed,
 An Empire autonaob owned by MT. Goodwin. employed in the office Of P. G r. Corbia's factory, was the only machine Of fou~ in the Mercer garage that was lost, good work rc- suitinG in saving of the other ma chimes. Principal French Of the Grammar school, had jus removed his machine from the Guiding when the flames envcloDed the entire struc- turc.
 E- v. St.cTk Burned.
 F. v. Stark, sor of Mr and Mrs George 4. Stark, or 14O Maple street
 
 the skin corli1~ of the side of his face and Cons- der2hle hai3. being burned off his head, while ;Cttem pting to remove his automobiTc. The auto mobile was burnt on top and some tires were destroyed
 Former Enginecr Charles H. ThCm- as, of "A Pearl street. rescued his car from the burning buildIng
 \ Buick car w1S also clest royed in the Olson shop, 1t stacding in the eastern part Of tho building where the fam cs wrecked the heaviest dam age to the Olson shop.
 TfTcE'Gn is Injured.
 During the progress of the fire Cap tain Michael Sowrey, of Engine Conl- pany No. ], was burned about the face by coming in contact with an . electric wire
 The fire attracted a large crowd, and SO excessive was the heat that many wero forced to beat q retreat toward Pearl street. X number of trees in the yard were badly dam aged by tne flames.
 Crowd fs Kcpt Bacil.
 Police Chicf WiIHan2 J. Rawlings was Cn the scene early and saw to If that the crowds that gathered were V kept bac{l from fhe burning buildings He handled the crowd very well and had an especially hard job on his hands Tn view Of the fact that many school children were just out for the noon recess. The firemen fought val iantly and many times were in dan ger as they climbed the uncertain timber Of the burning roof of the Ol- son shop one Of the councilm erl present said that this fire was suffi- cfent evidence Of the need of q p}a- toou syst enl. for he Eaid, there were only about four or five men 10 each apparatus. He felt that more men were necessary This was shown plainly by the large number of those ID not mem bers of the department who volunteered their services, When the hose broke some Of these were com v pleteIy drenched. but stood to their posts Master Mechanic Burke di- rected the removal Of the cars from the garage.
 While there continued to be consid- erable smoke for sornc time tho fire was practically under control in 20 minutes. There were two alarms calling out all the companies.