Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-04-30
FIRELAsT EVENING.

Much Smoke and Crowds of People
BIaze I'm the Basement of Simp.
SON BlOck-SeriOus Damage Threat
ened-NIuch Valuable Property En-
dangered-Loss About One Thou
sand Five Hundred Dollars.
A fire broke out last evening at about
8 o'clock in the basement of Simpson block,
corner of Chapel and State streets, under the
Office of Bunnen & Scranton, bankers and
brokers. Smoke was soon pouring up into
Bunnell & Scranton's, also into General
Ford's jewelry store and into the rooms and
offices above, and a very serious fire was
threatened. Mr.. Candee, treasurer of the
Fair Haven and Westvi1le horse railroad
company, who was about closing the com
pany's Office, and Mr.. Pratt, the dealer in
gentlemen's clothing, in the Office next door,
and Mr.. Woodward, an enterprising lad en-
ployed at Mr.. Ford's, first noticed
the smoke, and Police Officers Stormont and
Ahern were notified. The officers telephoned
to 2's house and directly gave the alarm.
The ringing of 26 on the fire bells brought
| out dense throng of people, including many
| merchants and other men doing business in
| the center. Ropes were stretched by the
police to leave clear space about the front
of the building, the water being directed as
far as possible between the partitions In
about fifteen minutes the fire was out, but
the Office of Bunnell & Scranton was deluged
| with water and water leaked through from
overhead into the large stone vault
in the basement at the rear of
Mr.. Ford's store where valuable goods
| just opened were on storage. The bottom of
| the vault was soon covered with water and
the goods were more or less wet down, but
| few of these were badly damaged. Water
also leaked through into the rear of the store
| where improvements have been in progress
| for a week past. The store walls have been
| handsomely redecorated in colors Mr.. Ford
| said the origin of the fire was mystery. As
manager in charge of the block he had had
| the basement bottom under Bunnell &
Scranton's cemented over during the past
week and the premises entirely cleared out
| Mr.. Scranton said the fire was equally q
| mystery. 1t started apparently under
/ the cigar store of Mr. Collins.
| How it originated was great
| mystery. The fire marshal also was unable
| to solve tine riddle. The fire was no doubt
accidental. Bunnell & Scranton's damage is
entirely by water and is less than $780, Mr.
| Ford's damage is less than 81 200. The
| building, whieh is owned by Mr.. Simpson
| of Wallingford, is damaged about $780, Up
| stairs over Bunnell &c Scranton's Mr. Miner
the DENTIST who had just rented the apart
ment and carpeted it, arrived at about half
past eight. He found no damage except by
smoke. A large number of prominent ciIi
| zens called upon Messrs. Ford and Scranton
| at the fire, among them seve
| raj prominent merchants. Mr. Bolton
| of Bolton & Nicely profered the teams of the
| concern, which were all ready for use, to Mr.
Ford, in case the fire should progress SO thai
removal of goods should be necessary, and
| other gentlemen made like courteous offers
| of assistance
The great fire at Benjamin & Ford's was
| recalled to mind by the fire last evening i
occurred little over IL years ago.