Evening journal., 1922-12-29
$4,000 FIRE
IN GARAGE
BLAMED ON
INCENDIARY


and the contents belonging tC
Thomas Joyce is covered by insur,
ance. but the loss on furniture owned
by dozen or more persons. stored
on the second floor, estimated al
$4,000 which was destroyed, is
thought not 20 have been insured.
Chief Lstz was confident this
morning that the fire was OF in
cendiary origin. and called atten-
ton TO the fact. that Il was started
under a stairway among excelsior
and oil cans. wholly or partially
filled with the most ihfammable
oils.
The police are investigating a
story in circulation at the fire OF a
man. whose name Is withheld, who is
said to have had a quarrel with Mr..
Joyce last night, and who was later
seen lettering in the building. The
man Is suspected OF having fired the
building. Mr.. Joyce. who lives at
500 French street Is said not to
have returned to the building fol-
lowing the quarrel.
One automobile was taken from
the burning building. but a Davis
touring car. owned by Mr.. Joyce,
which stood near the stairway, was
destroyed.
The fire starting IN a pie OF oil
cans and oil soaked excelsior under
the wooden stairway quickly mount
ed to the second floor and communi-
Gated to the furniture stored in
fourteen locked apartments, or
crates" making It difficult for the
firemen 10 get at il and compelling
them TO chop their way into every
one of the crates" before the fire
was extinguished.
The fire was practically out
within two hours from the time OF
its discovery. but fremen remained
ON the scene and shortly after
o'clock were again compelled 10
throw water on the smoulder.ns
ruins
Considerable damage war also
done 70 the Auto Tire and supply
Shop Az French street. adjoining
the burning building. owned by VII
liam Rsece. This loss is covered oy
insurance.
Fireman Colmus. OF Engine Com
pany No. 7. stepped on an upturn-
ed nail and badly injured one foot
but refused to leave until the hre
was out. He will probably be con-
fined 10 his home for a time.
Chief Lutz this morning denied
that there was any scarcity OF water
IS stated in a morning newspaper
lie said there was plenty OF water
and the pressure good.
Marshal Ainscow said at noon ne
had not completed his investigation
and would not be ready to make an
oflcial report OF the FIRE cause until
after he had conferred with Cap
taln Of Detectives Benson but ne
feels confident the fire was OF IN
cendiary origin.
Marshal Alnscow and Captain OF
Detectives Benson held a conference .
,arlv this afternoon and while
neither official would talk for pup .
lication. Z is said an arrest may be
made this afternoon OF a man sus-
pected Of having set fire to the
garage.
The reports to the office OF the
Bureau of Fire this morning show
that 135.73O gallons Of water were
bumped from the five fire hydrants
in use. 16 pieces OF fire apparatus
were in use and 81 men were actively
engaged at the FIRE. The amount Of
hose used was 1850 feet.
A few minutes after Patrolman
James \. Riley had sent in the first
,larm. Patrolman Harry r. Krauss
carried Mrs. Gracey A. Barrett, 65-
vear-old blind colored woman 10
safetv from an adjoining house at
423 French street.
After seeing that Mrs. Barrett had
reached the house OF a neiShbor,
Krauss returned 10 her home and
aided her daughter-in-law, Mrs.
'atherine Hutchinson and her seven
ehildren to get out.
The younger children, Cora,
years old; Cornelia, 10 years old;
Gertrude. IL years old. and Grace.
10 years old, were asleep in rear
room of the home. which was
threatened by flames which were
sweeping across from the rear OF
the burning building.
Aided by the older children and
Mrs. Hutchinson. the four were car
ried to a place OF safety. The fire
badly damaged the homes OF Rosie I
Hare and Emily Wilson. Nos. 5 and
Z Morris Court. Both women were
a BILE to get out Of the houses before
the fire had gained headway.
A few minutes after the arrival I
Of the first companies. Fire Chief !
william J. Lutz directed that a sec
ond alarm be sent in which brought |
all companies to the scene excepting /
Engine Companies No. 5 and 6. For |
D time the work of the firemen was
by low pressure on the
water supply.
The spead of the flames was
checked when the iemen brought
streams into play from the rear Of
he building working from alleys
.unning off Fifth street and Morris
Court. Several streams were also
played on the building from nearby
-oofs.
The work of the firemen was ex-
remedy dangerous in view of the
act that several tanks of gasoline
we're stored in the first floor. Three
automobile trucks and touring car
m the first floor were badly dam
ged by fire and water.
Is your property insured? c. r. II