The Newtown bee., 1891-01-09
WESTPORTS FIRE.

w Olt1 ~ l.
The cry of fire rang out in the quiet
village of Saugatuck, Monday night at l
o'clock and the people were awakened to
find that the blacksmith shop owned by
F. j. Hedenburgh of Bridgeport and oc-
cupied by Jim Daley was one mass of
flame. Poor Jim, half drunk, sick with
measles and hair nearly singed off, was
dancing, barefoot and disrobed, in the
snow, just escaping with his life. This is
the long expected result from the man
ner IN which he lived. For time, it
looked as if Saugatuck was to have a
more disastrous fire than that at the de-
pot, year ago this week. The wind
was blowing freshly from the north and
in few moments, the old hay press
building put up during the war to press
hay for Uncle Sans horses, standing
only about eight feet south, was lighting
up the sky for miles around. Capt James
Hubbell of Hubbell & Bradley immedi-
to Westport for a fire engine and the
crowd saved what they could of the rig
ging of the celebrated yacht WaterWitch
now Wintering in the harbor, whose sails
spars, yards and rigging were stored in
the building. Some of the rigging was
saved, but all the rest was destroyed. Di-
rectly south of this building stands the
two-story tenement of Capt Hubbell, on
ly about 10 feet away and, about half
the distance south of this house, are the
large coal sheds of Hubbell & Bradley,
adjoining their large three-story store;
along the dock, frozen in, the schooner
Sarah Buckley. Every interest was now
centered in saving the tenement house,
for if this took fire all was gone and ex-
element ran high. The tide was low,
ice lay along the docks, no engine had
arrived and it seemed as if nothing could
avert the terrible loss. Providence, some
say, just now steps in. The wind changes
directly to the west and the flame, heat
and cinders are blown out over the river;
the extreme danger is past. Compo en-
CINE soon came upon the scene and,
shortly after, Pioneer hook and ladder,
but little could be done, as the buildings
were all down and water difficult to get.
These lessons make the people all the
more eager for the introduction of water
into the village. Its necessity is appar-
ent to every thoughtful mind and it is
hoped that, with the opening of Spring,
we may see the pipes going down thro'
our principal avenues and streets. For
tunately, the property burned will not
cause much regret, as these buildings
have long stood a menace and nuisance
to respectable property around it. 1t is
hoped that no shop will again be erected
for the tenant who is disgrace and ter
ror to the neighborhood.
The building boom that struck the
town some months since seems on the in
crease. Nearly every week brings some
new building plan to the surface. They
are mostly homes for the mechanic and
laborer and indicate the most healthy
growth that can come to country vii
age. There are thousands of dollars in
,he savings banks, owned by those in
own renting houses in town in which
hey live, that will, before long, be
lrawn out and be used to buy lots for
ZONES. They receive per cent. from
he investment in the banks and pay
o 10 per cent. for their rents. There
hould be % to 30 houses built, this year |.
nd probably will, if capitalists will aid
little with loans.
Speaking of savings banks, Westport
axes the lead, paying its depositors 5
,er cent. This is not an advertisement
or the bank, for the savings bank of
Nestport is for the deposit of Westport
avings and Westport can furnish all
hat are required. Westport may go slow
tut, when she gets there, she is sound.
Three men from New York were in
own, Monday, consulting with the board
Il trade in reference to advantages and
Westport could offer them
o locatNa shoe foctory here. They en-
10y about 60 hands and move to in
rease the number to 100. 1t is reported
hat we can secure their location here, if
ur bait Is large enough. The members
+ the board VINO met them seemed IA
orably impressed and will bring the I
natter up at the next meeting, using
heir best efforts to add another factory
o our growing list. May success attend
heir efforts The visitors inspected the
arge and growing plant OF our enterpris-
az satchel manufacturer, J. D. Wood,
pent an hour in his elegant Office talk
az over business In relation to Westport
. manufacturing town and took din /
er with Landlord Underwood. 1t is
eediess to say that, after being shown
Trough the extensive factory Of Mr.
vood and listening to the history Of the
ntchel business In Westport, they re- /,
lived an Inspiration to 60 and do like
Tise. Westport Will prove = good place
, Which Y ~ "