The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1927-04-07
LAUNDRY DAMAGED
BY FIRE MONDAY
Manager and Dry Cleaner Sc
verely Burned-LOss Esti-
mated At $500.

Two men were severely burned
about the face and arms and a two
year old baby barely escaped burns
and probably death in fire that bad
ly damaged the NJ Way Laundry
Monday evening about 1880 o'clock,
following two explosions, the first of
which was caused by static electricity,
it is said, and did little or no damage.
The fire originated in a dry clean
ing vat which contained approximate
ly so gallons of dry cleaning fluid,
the base being gasoline, and when the
first flare came from the vat it was
closed and apparently the flames
were smothered. At least five min
utes lapsed between the time of the
first and second explosion, the cause
of which has not been definitely de-
termined, but which originated at the
end of an eight inch sewer in the
south end of the building, which is
40 by 40 feet, and was Of such large
proportions that its force and flames
carried it to the north end of the
building and pushed the wall out
about twelve inches, cracking it in
several places. The building is of con-
crete block construction.
The two men who were severely
burned are William johnson, one of
two brothers who own and manage
the laundry, and W. R. Tanner, of
Charleston, West Va, a dry cleaner
in the wrecked establishment. These
men were caught by the second ex-
plosion, and were two of probably a
dozen people who were in the building
at that time, the others escaping
that they were not in the paths of the
flame, which followed along a side
wall to the north end of the building
and then made a sweep across the
front end of the building for a dis
lance of about Is feet, when they
turned and swept diagonally across to
the point where they originated. The
8 flame was about four feet thick, said
Mr.. johnson, and he and Mr.. Tanner
were standing close together and far
enough away from the wall that the
flame passed by them when it Travelled
to the north end of the building, how
ever when the flame made the diagon-
al sweep the two men were caught In
its path. Both men were severely
burned, and their faces are swollen
almost beyond recognition. Both will
recover, it is said.
Eugene Johnson, two years old
last November, son of Mr.. Johnson
was sitting on a table in the laundry
at the time of the explosion and for
a time was forgotten by the older
people, but very fortunately and
miraculously was snatched from ir
front of the flame by Miss Eleanor
Baker, of Crellin, an employee at the
laundry, who, after starting for the
door, remembered the baby and re.
turned to save it in the nick of time
The NuWay has been in operation
only a short time, and was equipped
with the finest laundry machinery
that could be procured. 1t is thought
that the machinery has been damaged
to only slight extent, and that 3d.
500 will repair the building and cover
other losses. Insurance covers the
entire loss.
A future occurrence of this kind is
improbable, because dry cleaning ane
work in which gasoline will be usec
will be done on the exterior.
! Repairs to the building and machin
cry will be made Immediately, ane
within a few days time the laundry
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