Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1886-11-02
A BIG BLAZE

And Stirring Thine on State Street
Yesterday-Three Alarms The Good
Work of the Ffremen-A Barn and
an Oil Storage House ON Fire.
Flames were discovered issuing from a.
barn in the rear of Stoddard & Kimberly's
wholesale grocery establishment and from
building in the rear of Wells, Calhoun &
Co.'s wholesale drug store yesterday after
noon about $3.50 o'clock. Box 20, corner of
Chapel and Union streets, was pulled and the
fire department responded promptly. By the
time the fire laddies arrived the whole barn
and the rear building of the same establish
ment were a mass of flames and burning
fercely. Chief Hendrick promptly called a
second alarm, bringing out nearly the entire
department, on seeing the Roadway the fire
had got and the dangerous food for the fire.
The barn, where the fire was supposed to
have first started, was of wood, while the
brick one story addition or shed in the rear
of and attached to Wells, Calhoun & Co.'s,
used by the firm for storing oil, stood within
a few feet of the barn. The flames in the
shed soon ignited the barrels of oil, eight or
ten in nun Der, stored within it.
AT this point ten streams of water from
half as many engines were pouring their
contents into the blaze, but seemed to have
no effect whatever. The barrels of oils
bursted and their contents flowing out the
yard was soon one sheet of fire. 1t seemed
as though big conhagration was imminent,
but the iremen fought bravely for an hour
when they managed to get the flames under
control and confne them to the building
where they started. The heat while the f1e
was in progress was intense near the
burning building. The fremen stood it
bravly. The flames from the old storage
l. a.. L. til toto 4la oiv
only TO again subside and again break forth
with increased and renewed volume. In the
rear of Stoddard & Kimberly's warehouse
were large number of kerosene oil barrels,
but the fremen managed to remove them be-
fore they ignited. The burning oil mix ng
with the streams of water looked like rivu-
lets of fire as they flowed about. The excite
ment in the vicinity of Chapel and State
streets was lively. The streets were blocked
with people, and order was a hard thing to
keep. More than half dozen times was the
fire thought to be under control, but it would
break out into renewed force as it seemed.
A third alarm was sent out, and brought No.
SIS hook and ladder, Fair Haven, to the scene.
The hardest work on the part of the depart
ment hardly saved the flames from bursting
through the adjoining walls and into the
large storehouse on the block, and thence to
Chapel street stores filed with an immense
quantity of valuable wares. It was
not until halfpast four o'clock that
fremen breathed easy for the safety of the
block and the blaze gradually lessened until
about o'clock, when it was subdued.
Chief Hendrick commanded the firemen in
the yard, while Fire Marshal Kennedy held
sway over squad with several lines of hose
on the tops of the adjacent buildings. AS
sistaut Engineer Disbrow was kept extremely
busy at all points.
Shortly after o'clock the lines of hose
were gradually drawn off until the blaze was
entirely out at $50 o'clock.
In the rear storehouse of Wells, Calhoun
& Co., there was quite large amount of
drugs, medicines, inks and the usual variety
of stuff kept in the storage rooms of large
wholesale drug firm. These were almost |
without exception entirely destro, ed. The |
upper stories of the firms main store were
somewhat damaged, was also the stock in |
the rear of the main store, by smoke and wa
ter The firms cellar was flooded with wa |
ter also damaging other goods. Many valuable |
drugs and herbs were badly injured by the |
fire and smoke. The barn of Stoddard & |
was rendered entirely worthless, |
but an adjacent brick shed in which were |
stored quantities of salt and many barrels of |
-four escaped injury. A bay mare owned by !
E. G. Stoddard of the above named firm /
stood hitched close to the barn. 1t was res
,ued by Mr. Stoddard's nephew. A blanket |
was thrown over the horses head and she |
was led safely to the street. The Stoddard, |
& Co. firm damaged to the ex-
,ent of 81, 500, principally on the barn and
contents. The barn and store occupied by
he firm are owned by the Gilbert estate and
we're fully insured.
Many versions of how the fire started were
yiven, the first that explosion of some
jort of stuff in the storage rooms of the drug
irm occurred and another that kerosene
amp had exploded. Neither of these YER
lions, however, met favor in the eyes of Fire
Marshal Kennedy, who has theory that the
ire started between the oil storage shed and
he barn by some unexplainable and myster
GUS agency which he cannot account for.
The heaviest losers by the fire are the firm
# Wells, Calhoun & Co. They estimate the |
lamage to their stock at from 81,
100 to $1,000. Their general car
ying stock is valued at about $50, 1000, |
ntire stock. The firm was insured through |
he agency of Cannon & Burton. Their loss |
distributed among the following named |
ompanies: The City of London, the Con-
ectlcut Fire Insurance, the Fire Insurance
association of England, and Mr.. Burton
bought that fraction was held by the
springfield and one other company. The
uilding and stove shed are owned by Au-
ustus R. Treadway, who eight or ten years
90 kept a store in the building. He is now
q business in Cincinnati. The building and
torehouse are damaged to between So, 600 |
nd So, 600, fully covered by insurance.
James r. Wilcoxon, an employe of the
0 have been the first to discover the
ames. He was in the upper story of his
mployer's store when upon looking out of
he window he saw the blaze. He immedi-
tely rushed down stairs shouting "frs" at
very step, and out onto Chapel street where
q told an officer, who rang the alarm.
w. w. Sperry, of Wells, Calhoun & Co., |
nti ma /
cen by Mr.. Wilcoxon. He alarmed the
Their inmates of the store, and then rushed
D the rear to close the iron window shutters. |
Te has no idea how the fire originated, and
will probably go on record as one of the
arge number of fires which yearly occur
those cause is never explained. The police,
nder command of Sergeant Bishop and
lieutenant Wrinn, did efficient work in
eeping the excited people outside the
opes.
Mr.. Wells, senior partner of the drug firm,
,as in Mr.. Northrop's store on Chapel street
7hen the alarm struck, and looking
ut saw a dense cloud of smoke
ising about over where his store ought to
9. He lost no time in reaching the prem
,es. Mr.. Wells received numerous proffers
f aid from his merchant neighbors in stor-
1g or removing goods, offers which happily
g was not obliged to avail himself of. He |
aid they kept the fire from entering their
/
1g Chapman's hand grenades at the flames.
wo dozen of them were used with the best
feet. At Stoddard's also there was good
lpply, but the flames were not SO menacing
t his back door, and in the excitement of
aving goods and taking care of property
one of the grenades were used. Mr.. Stod-
ard was actively engaged with prominent
uyers as soon as word came that the fire
,as under control A line of hose
hitch operated upon the fire ran
trough E. E. Hall & Sons store, Chapel
5reet and number of ladies viewed the
re from the roof of an addition to the store. |
being the first sunshiny day after
be long spell of rainy weather, Chapel street
7as crowded with shoppers and many ladies
the opportunity to see the fire
teamers work at fire. At quarter past
tx last evening smoke began issuing again
rom the flooring at the drug store, and the
ooring was promptly torn up and the