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Show FIRE AUTO'S NARROW ESCAPE Chief Canfleld of the fire department depart-ment experienced a real fire bcotc this morning at about C o'clock. An alarm was turned in that Ihe Eccles block, at the corner of Twenty-fourth htreet and Washington avenue, was on fire and when the chief approached tho building u few seconds Inter, he had renFon to think that the building build-ing was doomed to destruction. He says thut a flarao of fire fifty feet high was shooting from the lop of the building. Strange to say, however, how-ever, no fire could be seen in any other part of th building and the was not even smoke to be sren. A hurried climb was made to the top of the building, where It was discovered discov-ered that the flame came from tho burning soot in the large chimney. The most serious trouble was that which befell Captain Hlnton and Chauffeur Firgeson on Adams avenue, ave-nue, between Twenty-third nd Twenty-fourth streets. Station No. 2 had responded to the alami, but when Chief Canrield saw that the fire was nothing but a burning flue, he dispatched dis-patched Hlnton and Furgeson to Twenty-third street and Adams avenue ave-nue to Intercept the department and nrpvont them from makinc the run down the hill. It was so early that It was quite dark and Ihe machine was running at a moderate rate of speed Suddenly the nuto went into tho air, barely escaplni turning turtle as It came down. The meu held to the machine as it struck the ground and swerved across the avenue, over the curb, onto on-to the sldwaJk and back again to the street. It wag a miracle that the men were not thrown Into the street and the automobile smashed A hurried hur-ried examination disclosed the fct that builders on the new Maule resl donee had left a pile of dirt in the center of the right side of Ihe avenue. ave-nue. The dirt pile was covered with snow and could not be seen by the chauffeur. The machine ran fairly astride the embankment. It was high ejiough to raise th vehicle clear of the ground and hurl it Into tbo air. The machine rau fully 200 feet arter It struck 'be mound of earth beforo Furgeson could get control. The only damage done was the springing of the front axle. Chief Canfleld is considerably wrought up over the carelessness of the builders in leaving the pile of earth In the street, and he says ha will make a slrenuoii6 complaint. Ho declares that tho contractors will have to pay for the repairs of the city automobile. oo |