On this day. . .1903-Box 4 at Third and Market was struck at 2:21 p.m. Arriving firemen were taken to the fourth floor offices and laboratory of Colonel Henry C. Demming, chemist in the Dock Building at 15-17 N. Third Street. Fire of unknown origin had started in a storage closet partially filled with carboys of nitric acid. Due to the excessive heat these containers broke and seeped nitric acid through the ceiling into the offices of Snodgrass & Rudy, attorneys. Heavy vapors hampered the efforts of the firemen. The fire itself was of minor nature. Extension ladder work speeded up ventilation. At 4:15 p.m. Box 4 was again struck bringing the first alarm companies back to the Dock building. Workmen were removing debris from the first call had discovered fire in the flooring and in partitions of the storage area. Overall loss was $2,500.
Posted on: Thu, 15 May 2014 10:45:01 +0000