The Bridgeport times and evening farmer., 1922-03-04
Officials
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7 Firemen Overcome In Yesterdays Blaze At Republic Restaurant In Hospital - Insur- ance And Fire Adjust CTS Inspect Buildings.

1 With seven firemen still confined in local hospitals as the result of in jurieS sustained while fighting yes- terday's S10,O00 fire in the Studio building in Fairfield avenue, Fire de- partment officials and insurance com pany representatives today started simultaneous investigations to dis cover the cause of the blaze, and the exact amount of damage created. At the present time an overloaded fur mace is believed to have been respon- sible for the conflagration, and esti- mates of the tCta1 damage range from between S75,00 to $150,000. It will probably be several days or a week before the final reckoning of damages is made known.
 After looking over the ruins of the Republic restaurant this morning, Chief Daniel E. Johnson expressed the belief that an overloaded furnace started the fire, but could give no es- in the cellar, swept through the main dining room on the ground floor, and up into the rear partition of the Studio building proper. There 1t was practically halted, by the valiant ef- forts of the firemen.
 The cellar of the Fox Piano com pany's store was hit by fire and water, but the ground floor was untouched by fire except for small portion of the ceiling in a rear room which had been used as a piano display room.
 The c. and G. bakery, operated by the Barker Bakery system. of BoS- ton, Mass, was practically unharmed by fire, but a stock valued at $3,901, stored in the basement. was ruined by water.
 The building adjoining the rear of the Studio block, a one story struc- ture housing the maining dining room and kitchen of the Republic restaur- ant, was totally destroyed by the flames. The roof is still standing, but the entire interior is a mass of char red and blackened tinberS and furni- ture. Groceries, including some im- ported stock, stored in the basement, were ruined by fire and water.
 The old building at 69 /Elm street, immediately in the rear of the restau- rant was damaged to some extent by smoke and water, but the fire was kept almost wholly from this struc- ture.
 Leon Shoe, proprietor of the Re- public restaurant vii suffer a loss of approximately S60,000 according to his own statement. Shoe estimates to- tai damages of SS0,0OO to the restau. rant, and claims to carry $20,O00 insurance policy on the establish ment At one time the eating place was insured for $3o.ooo. but poor bus mess neceSsitated a cut of $1O. 0OO in this item of expense.
 The restaurant owner, though sadly discouraged by the conflagration which ruined his business, stated this morning that he will repair the damage, and expects to reopen the place this fall. MT. Shoe is of the opinion that the explosion of an cleo tric light bulb instead of an over heated furnace, was the cause of the fire. Several Chinese who made the basement of the restaurant their sleeping quarters. lost their personal effects in the blaze.
 Groceries owned by Shoe. and stored in the cellar of the Republic, were totally destroyed with the excep- tion of a small quantity of canned goods. Shoe figured this loss at $S,00O.
 Officials of the Fox Piano company were unable to give any approximate estimate of their loss, this morning. Fire did no serious damage to the stock. but water created havoc with pianos, photographs and records In the cellar of the Fox store, piano rolls and a piano were soaked with water. at a loss of S3,000. On the main floor a stock of records valued at s10.OO0 was hit by water and dam aged to the extent of s2,500. This loss may be raised after thorough inventory has been taken; Over 100 pianos were stored in the building, any many of these were soaked with water. one S3,5e0 instrument which was ready for delivery to Police Com missioner John c. Stanley was badly damaged as were also three other pianos valued at s2,500, S1,500 and S1,25O, respectively.
 Damage in, the and G. bakery will not run higher than S3,000, and is confined almost entirely to stock. The Studio building proper was in sured for S22,000 against fire, and S2OoO policy was carried on the build (Continued on Page Four.)