Morning journal and courier., 1893-04-10
BIG WATERBURY, FIRE.

The LilIey Block ON Bank Street
Nearly Destroyed Yesterday-The
Firemen Had q Hard Fight-Over
100000 Loss.
WATERBURY,, April 9.-The biggest fire
that has visited this city for many years
broke out shortly before 4 o'clock this af-
ternoon in the Lilley block on Bank street,
one of the largest and handsomest build
ings in the city. 1t was of brick, FIVE
stories in height, the front being entirely
of glass and copper. The building was
completed in March, 1890, and was re-
garded as one of the finest in Waterbury.
The fire originated in the Offices of J. A.
Jackson, architect, on the third floor, and
in few minutes made its way to the air
shaft. 1t gained Roadway with fearful
rapidity and almost before an alarm could
be given the shaft was filed with flame
and the upper stories of the block were
engulfed in fire. twenty-five minutes
after the fire broke out general alarm
was sounded and the entire department
was soon on the scene. Meanwhile the
heat had become so intense and the smoke
1 81 tAlCh tAdG LILO uICAACh "OAo NA"SAo
get at the fire inside the building itself
and were forced to fight the flames from
adjoining blocks.
Streams were soon directed on upper
stories, and tons of water were poured into
the building. Thousands of people crowded
in the street below and greatly hsmpered
the work of the fremsn. They were
finally driven back and controlled, how
ever, by large force of policemen. In an
hour the entire top on the block was burn.
ing, and it was with the greatest difficulty
that the fire was kept from the adjoining
buildings. The Masonic temple adjoins II
on the south and the Bronson block on tht
| north, both of these buildings were threat
ened as well as a wooden tenement hous'
in the rear. The occupants of the South
ern New England Telephone company
central in the Masonic building pre-
pared to move out but the Aamel
were finally fought from the struo
ture and moving was rendered IN
necessary. After two hours hard worl
the FIRE was finally brought under contro
and at 1880 the recall sounded. The three
| upper stories of the block were completely
destroyed and the rest of the building
badly damaged by water. Tie lower foo
is occupied by Reid & Hughes, dry goods
Their stock is inventoried at 500, 900 ani
is almost a total loss, the place being
flooded to the depth of several feet. Thu
stock is insured for 81, 1000. On the sec
ond floor Capron's billiard hall, the millin
cry Establishment of Mrs. Weller & Co.. F.
P. Williams real estate Offices, and nu
merous dressmakipg rooms and small Officer
were located.
The third boor was occupied by tn
Herald Publishing company, DR.. Chip
mans dental rooms, the rooms of tn
Young Mems Catholic Literary association
and numerous Offices. Professor BARTLETT
music rooms and studio was on the fourtl
floor as we'll as a number of small Offices
The fifth aoor was leased by Bliss & Har
rington's business college which has bee1
opened but few weeks. 1t was Furnished
at a cost of $4,000 for desks and black
boards. The property of the occupants o
the three upper floors is almost wholly de
stroyed and is total loss. The buildin
itself is valued at $50, 900 and is insured 70
| cas- 0O0