Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1860-01-25

and opened the scuttle door to the cellar; saw
nothing; wenteinto the back part of Mr.. SIS
store and found the floor burning. Thought
there was oil on the floor; saw no basket, or
box, or anything of the kind near. EXamin-
ing the place the next day, with others, they
found a barrel of tar under Mr. Stones store,
and small pieces eff shavings scattered, and tar
also on the stairs thought this was the cause
of the fire found in the store; thought it origin
ated in the stairway in the cellar. Shavings
and tar were scattered from the tar barrel in
the cellar up stairs to the fire on the floor the
door into Mr.. Stones store was open then; if
tar and shavings had been scattered and the
shavings had all burned out, the appearance Of
burning tar would resemble the fire in the
floor.
II. G.. Eudns office boy of DIR. H. w. Bux
ton, in house next south of Stones block
within ten feet of it-Saw smoke escaping
through the chink of Mr.. Knowlton's door;
went out and saw some men there; said they
were from New Worcester; had smet the
smoke it was about 10 45 o'clock; Mr.. Tew
came, and told the men to go of and cry fire.
| j. G. Kendall, insurance agent.-Efiected in
surance on the stock in Knowlton's grocery
store, last May, for Sl700, in Massasoit Office
in Springfield. He described the appearance
of the fire, same as others preceding him.
John B. DEXTER, Senior.-Went first to the
back door of the block and found the bolts
had been started, but not enough to open the
door. Think the incendiary went out by that
door.
Samuel Eddy, Jr.-Was first one at the par
tition door between the two stores went from
Stones side, and found the door open.
Nathan S. Cobrn, an employee Of Stone
Saw young Stone pick up the matches, &c,
and thought the fire was set in the cellar stair
way from the grocery store.
j. W. Jordan, dealer IN Stoves, 9c.-Was first
one at the fire. Went into Stones part and
picked up chips and matches lying where spots
were burned. The chips were from hopping
boxes.
John Flaherty, choreman an Stones store-Usu-
ally sweep the room, after hopping boxes, into
the soleleather room adjoining, and put the
chips up stairs. That night left no chips on
store floor.
Alvan T. Burgess, one of the first at the fire,
and from appearance should think the fire was
set in the cellar doorway. From the situa-
ton of things, should say the fire could not
have taken from carelessly leaving matches or
any combustible matter near where the fire
was first discovered. Think the fire had been
burning half or three quarters Of an hour be-
fore discovered by any one.
Solomon Macon, formerly partner of Knowl-
ton in the grocery store, sold out in December
last. Effected an insurance for Sl700 at Mas
sasoit Office in Springfield Assisted Mr.. Day,
President of the Insurance Company, in ar
irving at the amount of the loss, which is
$40. AT the present time has no interest in
the store whatever. Think the value of the
goods in the store at the time of the fire was
about $1,000. Thinks the fire must have been
sci in the cellar doorway.
This inquistion then, at five o'clock, adj
journed to meet again this morning at ten
o'clock.