Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-05-06
Wednesday, May 6, 1855.
BRANFORD,S FIRE.

They Want a Fire Deparrment-The
Fires origin still a Mystery-A
Pull Altogether In Fighting the
Flames-The Excitement.
BRANFoRD, May 5.-No one seems to
know Just where the fire broke out in Gates
Brothers store this morning. The
people were reused by the violent ringing of
the great bell at the Branford lock works;
also all the church bells lent their assistanc
to the noise, and the whistle at the lock
works was blown continually for some time.
The burned house was owned and occupied
by Gates Brothers, who bought the property
from Charles F. Bradley. sister of the
firm kept house for the brothers on the Sec
ond floor The lower floor was u sed for store
purposes and contained everything that a
good country store could be expected to have.
A younger brother slept in an attic room.
About O'Clock he woke up and found the
room full of smoke He ran down to the
second floor and there the flames were lick
ing the staircase. He aroused his brother
and sister, but they had no time to save any
thing and they had to rush into the street in
their night clothes. All the men in town set
to work to prevent the spreading OF the
flames The store was situated just north of
the pOSCO1nC0. Inc DrdALOru 1OCh WO1hS 10
but a few rods away. The men put forth all
their efforts to save the near buildings.
The next house to the store is that of Mrs.
DIR. Hall, widow She was alone in the
building. Dr. link has an Office on the
lower floor of her house. The house caught
fire a dozen times. The heat became SO in
tense that high fence had to be put between
the two buildings and the work of saving the
Hall homestead was not stopped. Little
could be done to save the store.
A line of men was formed between the
store and the cistern and five wells of the
lock works and the buckets were passed from
man to man. At one time it was thought
that they would have to telegraph for the fire
engines OF New Haven; but. small hand
engine was brought up and stream
was put upon Mrs. Halls house. With this
help and that of the line of men her house
was saved. Between the residence of Mrs
Hall and the lock works were the houses of
John Williams, Patrick Hart and Henry
Beach. These are only few feet apart, and
if the fire had reached them it would have
taken them and the lock works, too There
was no breeze to spread the fire.
One boy while trying to help remove the
stock from Gates store was injured by an
explosion flying piece of something
struck him in the head.
This morning an insurance agent tel
ephoned to New Haven that the fire was
probably incendiary and originated IN
small store room in the rear of the building.
At nine o'clock the evening before all was
right No one is known to have any ami
mostly against Gates Brothers. They lose
about seven thousand dollars, as the insu-
rance covers but part of their great loss.
The house was insured for four thousand
dollars. The house of Mrs. Hall was dam
aged much by water and much of her furni-
ture was injured by removing it from the
building She in her fright packed some
deeds of property, bonds and a gold watch
in tin box. These she could not find yes
terday morning. The citizens of Branford
now have petition in circulation for regu-
Tor fro doDartment