Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1859-08-22
City ann County sntelligemee.

The investigation of the jury of inquest on
the late burning of the State Reform School at
Westboro', was resumed on Saturday morning
last, at the Town Hall, in Westboro', two of
the Trustees, Josiah H. Temple and Farley
Hammond being present. Judson S. Brown,
another Trustee, arrived in the afternoon, with
Messrs. Hutchinson and Lynde, from Fitch
burg. Mr.. Temple was the first witness called,
in continuance of his testimony commenced
on Thursday
j. III. Temple, Trustee, resumed.-Have
made an examination of the loss of property
at the fire, real and personal have examined
the ruins, and also the original bill of costs of
the structure, and do not think the loss on
buildings will exceed $50 800; have called the
wood work of the new part total loss, and
one-half Of the old part, and also called the
brick work about two-tnirds lost. The per-
sonal property destroyed will not exceed
$1,000. The fire department were thoroughly
devoted to saving the property, and did all
men could do. The entire cost of the new
part, when ready for use, was $54, 700; the
expense of heating and gas pipes, recently put
in, was about $500, which probably are not
injured. Consider it questionable whether we
as Trustees, had power to introduce a new
mode of ventilation. The cost of alterations
in lighting and heating made last year, was
about Sll 900, which was paid from the ordi
nary appropriations, without any special
grant from the Legislature think the Trustees
have the same power to change the mode of
ventilation that they have to change the mode
Of heating.
o. +. Vinton, sworn.-Resde in Westboro' ;
am an engineer of the fire department; think
| arrived at the fire little before O'clock.
,Nf
fire; examined the reservoir, so as TO know
where to place our tub; after exhausting the
two reservoirs in 'front.' a line was formed by
the engineers to the pond, so that only one
stream then played upon the fire do not
know of any other way in which water could
be got; inquired whether water could be got
from the towers, and learned That it could not
do not know whether the fire could have been
stopped if there had been an abundance of wa
ter in the reservoir in front Of the buildings
should think it very doubtful There was one
ladder used on the west side, sufficient to
reach the roof; i'll front there were two short
ladders dashed together; one very long, and
three short ladders were all noticed l took
two carpenters into the old part, and found
doors and hinges were fast, and could not be
easily removed, but they said the hinges
might be broken, and the doors removed with
out injury, which was done. Had there been
sufficient supply of water in the two reser-
voirs in front of the buildings, SO that four
streams could have been played on the build
mgs, the chances of staying the fire sooner
would have been greater. Heard propositions
to break through the roof, and cut through the
chapel, and so cut off the fire should think
there were not sufficient ladders to go to the
roof.
j. H. Fairbank, sworn.-Am chief engineer
of the Wesboro' fire department; have one
company III the tower arrived at the fire at
ten minutes past e; worked in front of the
buildings; there was no one man that had the
general oversight of the fire. The fire had
reached the chapel before the arrival of any
engineers from the neighboring towns when
L first arrived, we had plenty Of men, engines,
and water; should have played ON both sides
and cut OIL the fire in that way do not know
that anything more could have been done
without ladders, even if we had had supply
of water in front Our company have sup
ply of ladders, but they were not taken up
went on to the roof over the hospital, and en-
deavored to break hole through the roof, but
saw the fire coming out of the ventilator on
the chapel, some distance ahead the water in
the east wing | should think sneld out fifteen
minutes, after we commenced playing. There
was great lack of ladders should think the
fire had extended two-thirds of the way across
the north side, and nearly across the east
wing; had there been plenty of water and lad
ders, the fire might have been stayed sooner
the chapel might possibly have been saved.
AT the time the first engine arrived from
abroad, the fire had extended nearly over the
whole length of the part burned but if there
had been plenty of ladders and water at the
time the engines from abroad arrived, some
thing more might have been saved do not
think more of the buildings could have been
saved, but might have been, had there been
plenty of water and ladders when the West
boro' tub first arrived, meaning to be under
stood that we could have held the fire in check
until assistance came from abroad.
Josiah jackson, sworn.-Am an engineer of
the Westboro' fire department went to the
fire with engine; agree in general with the
statements of Messrs. Vinton and Fairbanks
There was but one ladder to reach the roof
which was on the back side. When ] arrived
the fire had got past the front entrance in the
new part; Westboro' engine arrived about six.
Alarm was given at the village Is or 20 minutes
before six.
Israel II, Billiard, sworn--Am third fore
man of the Westboro' fire company have
charge OF the hose; fire was breaking through
the roof on east wing, when we got there first
went into new part, front entrance, second
story, and played, but not on to the fire could
not stay on account of heat and smoke think
when we cut a hole through the chapel roof, if
we had had water, we might have saved the
| chapel We cut three holes in the chapel
roof, and played till the water gave out had
four orfive hundred feet of hose should think
it was five to ten minutes before we could get
to the roof for want of sufficient ladders.
| With the spliced ladder we could reach to a
window In the main building, from the top of
which we reached the roof of the chapel by
stepping upon a mans shoulder.
| Trial Montague, sworn.-Am fire plate
worker in Westboro made the short iron
| pipes which enter the round chimney from the
ventilator. A six inch tin pipe would cost
about torty-two cents per foot. The system of
| ventllatlng is the usual one for ventating pub
he buildings; am one of the engineers of the
| fire department agree in general with the
other witnesses; think the fire might have
been arrested sooner had we had water and
ladders; do not think we could have saved
| the chapel.
Thomas II. Fayerweather-Am constable of
| Westbor0 had charge of four bows beonging
the Institution; Credon and three others made
some disclosures about P. M. of Monday no
other person had access to him-no induce
ment to confess told him on Saturday that if
he set the building on fire he had better own
| up; do not recollect that toIG him it would
| be better for him had no other conversation
with him on the subject till Monday, when l
went in on Monday afternoon he said he want
cd to see Mr.. Starr, to tell him about the fire.
lie said he put some stuff into the place did
not put any portion of his bed in, but ripped it
open and set it on fre-and set it up against
the flue. He said they had been talking of
burning it before, as he wanted to 20 to the
county house, where he should not have to
stay so long; said he had been punished and
he determined to have revenge said nothing
| about the pxfpuf If fl,o firo All -.