The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1893-05-22
OF small fires on the roofs of neighborinR
buildings another alarm was sounded.
Many Wood Buildings

OF small ufeB On the roofs OF neiRhDorlnK
buildings another alarm was sounded.
Many Wood Buildings.
The entire square between Aborn. Sa-
bin. Beverly aud Mason streets is filled
with wooden building with one exec D.
ton. a building directly in the rear Of
the skating rink, which is four stories
high and built OF brick. The energies of
the department were therefore devoted
toward the protection of the buildings
adjoining the skating rink as IL was GER
tain that not even the walls Of the burn
ing building could be saved.
The efficiency OF the department in
this direction was fully tested. and all
the wooden buildings were saved entire,
with only a slight scorching. Tn brick
building which adjoins the old rink was
the seat OF battle, however. and the
powerful streams Of water were di-
rected on n into this structure. 1t
In spite OF the determined resistance OF
the fir, men, had got a strong foothold,
were brought under control.
Deputy Chief Hill on his arrival at the
scene very soon saw the utter impossi-
bility OF saving any part of the old rink,
which was roaring from end TO
80 Nv ASo " VA
the roofs and in the yards Of the neigh
boring buildings in order to prevent this
spread Of the fire. Every roof in the
vicinity " rs on fire several times aud tho
old school house on Fountain street was
barely saved.
The little house next south of the rink
Was only saved ty the un~finching
efforts Of the men Of Hose I who, in the
face OF intense heat, kept streams going
from the roof into the burning building,
at times directing the water TO the out
side OF the house so that il should not
catch fire. How the men ever held their
! osition SO near the flames was the sub
ject of great wonder for the spectators
who thronged Atwell's avenue and the
neighborinR t~horoughfaIes, who were
2roub led by The heat at that distance.
A concentrated Effort.
After the fire had mainly spent itself
in the rink building and the shower
of sparks had ceased, the force was con-
centrated on the brick building on Bev-
erly street directly cas- Of and adjoining
the rink. The fire had taken possession
Of the two upper floors and the fremen
assembled the fire escape On Mason street
and on the ladders attempted to flight
the flames.
Ths bleze shot out of the windows
scorching the faces of the men and they
were obliged 10 fight from the ground.
1t seemed an extraordinary length OF
time before the immense amount OF
water that was poured into the building
had any effect but the flames finally sue
cumbed, after the W upper floors were
Quilted.
The fire was practically subdued and
the greater part OF the force was allowed
to depart from the scene leaving a suf-
ficient force to look after the shoulder
ing ruins md it was not until 5: ~ o'clock
this morning that the recall was sounded.
Saved by Hard Fighting.
Another special act of the fremen
should be mentioned for commentator,
and that was the persistency with which
they maintained their position In narrow
Mason street IN order to save the great
brick building Of the Providence Ware
house company, which at one time
doomed and was saved only by the
persis .ent fighting OF the firemen. They
could only work here by lyi ~ down in
the mud in the street to keep below the
heat and smoke and in this way direct
the streams on the Threatened building.
TIE ire was probably first seen by a
party of young men who were going
homewara up Atwell's avenue at the
time IT broke out.
One OF them. Mr.. Conlon, a compost
tor. saw through the wigdow over the
n ain entrance what looked 10 be a gas
jel burning very high, as IL the burner
fallen out.
A Distinct Explosion.
He called the attic otion of his friends
to the blaze, and SEEING that it was
rushed to tie Adams Ex-
press stable for a key to ring the alarm,
but could not get int the stable. Just at
this time WaJchman Turnbull tried to get
at the fire and while he was pulling In
the box. the young men say there was an
explosion in that end OF the building
which blew out the door and every light
OF gloss in the windows, A tongue of
fame shot across Aborn street nearly to
they stood. compelling them to
run up Atwell's avenue.
Two plumbers named McElroy and
Manchester were In the party, and their
opinion was hat the fire as at first seen
was from the gas jet. The men aid that
the flames s mt to spread over the
building as IL it was bathed in kerosene.
The Firms Burnt Out.
The old skating rink, which was
owned by the later Mill and Power
company, was $50 fleets long by about so
wide, and two stories in hcig q.
The lower floor was Occupied by the
Waterman Machine Tool company and
the Diamond Machine company.
The last-named firms also occupied the
greater part of the second floor, letting
of the room. In the four
story brick bull ing in the rear
the I'VE abovs mentioned firms occupy
the lower floor with Office and shipping
rooms.
The second floor of this building and
haIf Of the third floor vas %unocupied at
the time.
The other half of the third floor was oc-
by the II. /. Telephone and
Elt ctriy company. while the entire fourth
floor WIS occupied by the Reynolds
Je welry company.
The American Tubing CO n pany oc-
the front Of the second floor OF
the skating rink aud it is In this
place the fire is supposed to have
Tue rairpoint Bronze and
Plating company also had space on the
floor.
The Waterman Machine Tool COM
pany, formerly Nicho son e. Water
man. had large stock on
hand. fine modes and machinery
flushed. Their loss will
reach the neiuhborhood Of $tOOOOO