The Newtown bee., 1890-06-13
Newtown's Station Burned.

Newtown's Station Burned.
 Last week Thursday evening, in the midst of one of the most brilliant and in- teresting electrical storms ever witnessed here, the handsome Newtown station of the Housatonic road was struck by one of the flashes of lightning which almost constantly illumined the heavens. About II o'clock, just as the BEES press finish ed the edition of 2300 eight-page papers, the shrill and prolonged whistle of the night freight from Bridgeport aroused the inhabitants who, excited by the cry of Fire and the reflection of flames on the leaden sky, rushed to the depot, half clad many of them, in the rain and dark ness. The trainmen had been unable to subdue even for moment the flames which burst forth in the office and spread with great rapidity. The baggage and express room was opened, but nothing of value was there and the train proceeded. William II. Hubbell, who was one of the first on the scene, had narrow escape. He entered the baggage room and was looking for property that might be say ed, when he was startled by the crash of the door as it banged shut. At the same instant, the flames burst through the par tition and swept over him, scorching his face, the back of his hands and his wool en clothing. He rushed for the door, but, as he reached it, it swung open and he sprang out. A crowd quickly gather ed at the fire from the Street and Hook, the latter having been hastened by the ringing of the bell, but they could do nothing. The flames, as they burst from all parts of the building, curved around the overhanging caves and rose, mingled with smoke, straight into the air, made picture worthy the brush of an inspired artist, the somber sky and the brilliant play of lightning forming grand back ground. As there was no danger to Phlo Nichols's lumber yard, or the Creamery, the crowd quickly dispersed after the building had fallen in, about II 30. A small part fell upon the track, but the greater mass leaned to the west and fell in the driveway to the Cream cry. Tine rails were bent and twisted by the heat, but the platform remained in tact. save in front of the station and the telegraph pole at the south end of the building was not burned down. As soon us the heat would permit, w. F. Banks, the telegraph operator, gathered up the broken wires, and, although it was al- most impossible to touch one without re- ceiviug shock of greater or less force, had them grounded and ready for use as soon as an instrument could be procured from the Street. After notifying the general offices at Bridgeport, he strung the wires until a full circuit was obtain ed and the entire road brought under the control of the dispatcher. Mir Banks re- mained at his post all night and all the next day and greatly aided the company in many ways. No trains were delayed, for the section men under Jordan strengthened and re-laid the rails and cleared the track in time for the 10 d m train. Although the wires were prop erly grounded and all possible precau
 tions taken, there is no doubt that tho electricity with which the air was sur
 charged followed the wires into the of l flee and set fire to infiammable material
 The loss of the railroad company is abou
 $5000 on the building, besides the de
 struetion of all books, papers, reports
 and tickets, for there was no safe in th'
 office. To duplicate the reports from in | f..r points Is . wearisome task of days an, weeks; but Agent C. B. Taylor is har,
 at work and makes encouraging progress
 The central office of the telephone wa
 in the depot and this loss is about $50C
 the switchboard alone costing $50.
 temporary office was fittsd up in corne
 of the second floor of the Creamery an
 the wires strung and run in there, Err day afternoon. Mir Taylor also had hi } office there until a temporary building } l4x20 feet, could be put up south of tn } depot foundation. No tickets were pro } vided until the middle of the week, whe : Mr Taylor took possession of the built ing. The telegraph office will remain
 the Creamery until the new depot is bull
 This, for which Journalist and Artis
 Julian II. Sterling is already drawin e plans, will bc similar to that at Leno, : Mass, and will be built on the found; - tion of the burned depot. It will be yer I similar to the depot which was so we L liked by Newtown people, only T few T Q terations being made and 1t will be finisl d ed as soon as the timber can be put t'
 gether. The burned building was one
 the prettiest on the road and had bet
 built only nine years. The cost, inclu
 ing land and foundation, was $s500. Fl ' building was 2sx70 feet, built of hal s- wood, with vauIted and trussed ceilii < 12 to h feet high. The steep slate TO 'i and wide, over-hanging caves gave 1t ; T appearance which accorded we'll wi
 it's surroundings, while the interior T s engagements had been carefully plann .. and were admirably adapted to the nee |. of its patrons. Col Stevenson recogfiiz Ie the needs of Newtown, particularly {, X this season of Summer travel and visito {. and will spare no pains to make the n
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