Evening journal., 1921-06-21
LAY THIS FIRE
TO 'BLACKHAND'
CONTINUED from FIRST page)

loss Of life.
Chief Engineer William J. Lutz.
who also made an investigation. de-
clared It as his belief that the fire
was Of incendiary origin.
Whether the fire was an attempt
to cover up a robbery or a resump-
ton Of the Black Hand" activities
in that section is not yet determined.
but the police are working on the
assumption that Il Is another move
OF the BLACK Hand" gang operating
in that place few months ago.
The first knowledge Of the fire by
residents in tho neighborhood was
received when an explosion occurred
in the pool room, blowing out all the
large plate glass windows, scattering
debris clear across Madison and
Eighth streets.
Immediately following the explo-
sion. the neighborhood was brilliant
~ Illuminated by blaze as Of burn
ing gasoline In the pool room. A
strong odor OF gasoline permeated
the neigh borhood.
Residents OF the neighborhood
questioned this morning were slow
to talk for publication, fearing to
incur the enmity OF the alleged
BLACK Hand" gang.
when the explosion occurred an
automobile. containing three or four
men standing near the corner. hur-
riedly ran up Madison street after
picking up a man who came from
West Eighth street around 10 the
front OF the building
When the fremen. in response 10
an alarm from box 2S, Ninth and
Madison streets, struck by Gilbert
McGinnis, $40 Madison street
reached the FIRE they found the en-
tire pool room blazing as though
literally sprinkled with oil. II was
evident that the FIRE had been scat
tered al over the room by the ex-
plosion. as nothing had been burn
ing long enough for the flames te
have spread in the ordinary way.
In addition 10 the flames In the
pool room a pile OF boxes near ar
open cellar window was also burn
ing evidently ignited previous 10 thu
explosion. as there was no possible
way in which the fire from the stor'
could have started the blaze in tn
cellar.
The noise OF the explosion aroused
every one in the neighborhood, an'
help was plentiful.
Among the first TO arrive at IN
fire was Gerald Frugoli. ia Madi
son street. who, knowing there wer
sleeping children on the second an
third floors. broke in the street doc
and groping his way through IN
smoke fned corridor, broke In III
bedroom OF Nick Battaglia on IN
p second floor and after arousing hir
picked up his two small boys an
, carried them 10 the street in spite Z
the protests OF Mike, aged 2 year
} who objected to being unceremon
E ousiy carried out in the crowd will
out his trousers.
|. Handing these two children
I people on the sidewalk. Frugo
e again entered the building an
I arousing Mr.. and Mrs John kno
- on the third floor. carried TO th
street four more children.
The upper floors we're not dam
aged except by smoke and waite
I. as the fire did not get above the fir'
floor.
Robert Collision. OF the Weccacc
, Company. was injured about tf
head by falling glass
/ The stock OF the grocery and po'
z room. operated by Devalos, wa
y ruined. entaiiing a loss Of probab
J.. $500. said to be covered by insui
y ance. Mr.. Devalos left this eff
Y early Sunday morning with the an
. nounced intention Of spending SCI
5 eral days In Camden. n. j.
3 . Little damage was done by fire
the cellar. although smoke, wat'
8 and chemicals 6amaged the stock
fruits stored there, belonging
s Givando Frati. TO the extent Of SO
which Is not insured.
8 The loss on the building, which
owned by S. Lemano. will probab
e amount to 5000. covered by fl
surance.
4 The Brandywine Fire Compal
4 early last night, in response to a st
. alarm. extinguished a blae at No.
Public School. Thirtieth and Mad
n son streets. supposed TO have be-
Is started by boys with hrecrackei
The damage will amount TO abo
IS s25.
le A grass fire burned for sever
10 hours yesterday afternoon along q
20 Philadelphia Pike near the Duncl
g Road. To extinguish the fire. m
with scythcs moved down a lar
10 section Of the field TO check q
i3 spread OF the flames. Before it W
finally subdued a large portion
the field had been burned over al
several sections OF rail fence d