Morning journal and courier., 1890-12-05
wALLINGFoRD ABLAzE.

The H. Il. Judd Company's Plant
Destroyed by Fire-Narrow Escapes
From Loss of Life-Dsstroyed i'm a
Similar Manner Less Than Five
Years Ago Loss About Fifteen
Thousand Dollars.
WALLINGFoRD, Dec. 4.-'tFirel Fire!
Flee for your lives" was the startling cry
which broke upon the ears Of the $50
or more employees of the H. L. Judd Man
ufacturing company of Wallingford at
about 4:30 o'clock yesterday afternoon.
The words were uttered by brave little
sixteen-year-old Mike Mcmahon, an en-
ploye of the plating room, as he rushed
from room to room and floor to floor
even at the risk of his own life, apprising
the occupants of each department of the
danger they were in and it is largely due
to his brave efforts that no one was seri-
ously injured in the confagration.
The fire broke out in the plating room
on the third floor, caused by the explosion
of q vat of benzine which is used in that
department tof the factory for polishing
purposes and burned through into the
attic, completely destroying it and the
roof. The gas had just been lighted when
all the workmen were startled by young
McMahon's cry of warming. Instantly
all were in confusion and each one was
making his OF. her way to place OF
safety. The flames spread rapidly owing
to the flow of the ignited benzine and il
was but the work of a few seconds before
the whole floor was in flames.
An alarm was at once turned in to the
fire department, which quickly responded,
and soon had several streams of water
playing upon the flames. In addition to
the work of the fremen the emplayes of
the shop did valiant service in extinguish-
ing the flames, banding themselves into q
sort Of, volunteer fire department. and
working like beavers before the arrival OF
the department upon the scene.
Owing to the almost superhuman efforts
Of the fremen the confagration was con-
fined to the upper floors Of the building.
The third floor is badly burned, while the
attic and roof are completely destroyed.
The building is a three and one half
story brick, about 100 feet by 80 feet, and
is occupied by the H. L. Judd manufac-
turing company, for the manufacture OF
onyx tables, easels, cabinets, etc. The
building is new one, having been erected
in July last, and the various departments
were just about getting into working
order. The firm was crowded with orders
for Christmas delivery, and in consequence
had been for several weeks past running
in full blast until 8 o'clock p. m.
Several narrow escapes from injuries &C
CURED.
One young girl, Mamie Wrinn, jumped
from the third-story window and wal
caught in sheet supported by many will
ing hands on the ground below. She wal
"a L. 81 lao
and tainted from the excitement and from
the pain caused by her wounds. She alst
sustained several severe bruises.
John Cronan was also painfully thougl
not seriously injured by dropping through
from the third to the second floor at tn
time when the machinery went through tn
flooring.
James Doyle, John Cook and Jane
Barry bravely fought their way through
the blazing bufing room to secure tn
clothing of the men and were badly burned
about the face and hands.
Wallingford was practically without an,
| water supply during the progress of tn
| fire, the water being shut off from the othe
factories and also from the private house
in order to enable the fire department t.
| throw as powerful a stream as possible Of
the fire, and it was due to this fact to
not completely consumed.
| The express train due at Wellington,
| about $50, bound west, was held at tn
| station, as was also freight train, OWN
| to the fact that the hose lay across the rail
| road tracks and could not be removed
| Both trains were delayed about three
| quarters of an hour.
| The damage will amount to betwee
| 900 and $15, 900, a large part of whic
is caused by water, the whole of tn
lower floor being filed with manufacture
stock, which was completely flooded, wa
nearly or quite ruined The loss is full
| covered by insurance.
Probably the worst loss will fal
| upon the workmen, who will probably b
out of employment about thirty days
| while the building is being again put i
order.
Several of the men employed at the sho
lost money, clothing, etc. One man, Ii,
ing in Meriden, lost all his clothes and wa
compelled to return to his home dresse
only in Jumper and a pair of overalli
Frank oyer, foreman of the platin
room, where the fire brok- out, lost ne
overcoat, a gold watch and thirty five dollar
in money Mike Bartick also lost eightee
dollars in cash and part of his clothing.
A single coincidence in regard to tn
fire is that the old factory was destroye
by fire, which originated in a simils
manner, less than five years ago. The re
Election caused by the fire Illuminated th
sky and was seen for several miles.