Morning journal and courier., 1889-03-28
THE WEST HAVEN FIRE.

Miles WiIIIams' Loss Estimated at
 $3,00O. Fully Insured-His Res
 Team Saved-FIghting the Flames
 with Buckets and Garden Hose,
 The large fire in West Haven early yester- day morning, report of which was pub lished exclusively in the COURIER, no other morning papers, having 8 word about it, completely destroyed Williams stables and the Union district school house and did much other damage. The CoUR1ER's report press, the indications were that the flames would accomplish far more 'ravage even than our report prophssied.
 The blaze first burst from Miles F. Will liam's barn on New street at 3 o'clock. Night watehman Peter Poppy rang the
 alarm at the horse car stables about a quar-
 ter of an hour after. Forty-fve minutes
 climbed up into his belfry and hurled
 the alarm out over the sleeping village.
 The residents sallied out half dressed, like
 bees from hive. This way and that way
 everyone ran. Buckets and garden hose
 were the only implements at hand and it
 was immediately evident that the barn was
 doomed. The schoolhouse near by was then
 the sole object to be worked upon and Spe-
 cial Constable Hosea A. Brooks sprang to
 the roof with gang of men. The building
 was tumbled to pieces and thus the flames
 were delayed from their mad rush upon
 the thickly settled part where they origi-
 mated.
 No one seems to know how the fire first
 started. Italian Joe was asleep in the barn.
 Joe is 8 well known character. He jumped
 out of a window when he woke up and found
 the barn afire. He was in nude array and
 l,sr co<,A k>sl1 | ]
 ing. He afterwards caught bad cold in his
 efforts to extinguish the flames, and his
 wound is troubling him very much. When
 Joe saw the barn ab1aze he rushed in to save the two horses. One was burned and the other fell into the flames exhausted before Joe could lead him out. Eight vehicles were destroyed in the barn. Williams live stock consisted of six horses, but his wife and son were absent in Wal1ingford with the best pair. Another pair he hired out. His loss he estimates at $3, ,000, and he is insured fol exactly this amount. Others say his loss is about $2, 900.
 The schoolhouse destroyed was attended was insured for $1 ,000. Miss Georgie Futile had charge of the little ones. Yesterday the school board hired and fitted up rooms st Deacon s. L. Smiths on Main street near the postofiee, the house which Judge Blyden burgh has been occupying. It was expected yesterday that the pupils would be at schoo in the new quarters to-day. Clarence E. Thompson is agent for the West Haven prop ! erty of s. L. Smith, who is now at Red ! lands, California.
 The schoolhouse which was burned wal years ago owned by R. Quincy Brown, who ! died years ago, and who conducted 8 popular | school for boys in it. It then stood on Wash ! ington avenue next his own residence, which ! is now occupied by Mrs. Northrop. Mrs. Martha J. Northrop, who lives on tho l corner of Washington avenue and New street ! and whose house narrowly escaped destruc ' tion by the fiery element, wishes to publicly return her thanks to the neighbors and many ! unknown friends who lent kindly aid and by ! whose untiring efforts her house was saved :! She feels deeply indebted to them for theil ! labors, and especially so to young man who ] resides on Howard avenue in this city whose name is unknown to her.
 Much discussion is again aroused over the l subject of having steam fire engine in the borough, and the agitation in favor of one \ will be renewed. There is considerable di l versity of opinion on the subject, however | Some think that the water supply in ths ! borough furnishes head enough with the use | of hose for fire purposes, others favoring aI ! arrangement with the city of New Haven fol furnishing steamers, others favoring doing ! nothirg g, ,:claiming that the having of loca I fire apparatus is an incentive to iucendiarism ! The fire commissioners of this city said yes 1 terdey that the charge of $50 an hour for thu use of fire steamer outside the city is yer! | reasonable one, and that West Haven oficial | probably lsbored under a misapprehensiol ! in questioning it. Various prominent Wes Haveners said yesterday that the non-pay ment of the bill was because of misunder ' standing.