Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-02-22
FIERCE FORTHWITH FIRE.
Conlon Brothers Big stock Reduced to
Ashes and Miller n Peek Save Only n
LittIe-A Total Loss of About S150,0OO
The Origin of the Fire Shrouded in

COnlon Brothers Big stock Reduced TO
Ashes and Miller n Peek Save Only u
LittIe-A Total Loss of About S15O,OOO
The Origin of the Fire shrouded in
Mystery.
About O'Clock this morning the fire de-
partment was called out to fight one of the
most disastrous fires that has visited this
city for some time. The fire was dis
covered in r. X. Browns building in Ex-
change place. occupied by Conlon Brothers,
dry goods merchants. Officer Galley rung
the alarm from box 3. The fremen re-
sponded quickly and when they reached
the scene the flames were already eating
their way to the upper stories.
Three lines of hose were laid in the rear
and four in front of the building, sending
streams of water through the front and
rear windows. 1t soon became evident
that the fire was spreading to the adJoin-
ing buildings and a general alarm was
rung 1t was astonishing how quickly the
people gathered around the scene of the
fire and the firemen had to push through
dense throng on their way to the burning
building. The fire made rapid head
way through tie front part of Conlon
Brothers store and soon the whole build
ing was at the mercy of the flames. The
department used every effort to prevent
Peck, but without avail. The flames soon
communicated to the annex which formed
the rear of Miller 4 Peck's store, contain
ing the cloak, dress goods and silk de-
partmentS and the hopes of saving the
Miller e. Peck building were abandoned
and the department turned its energies to
prevent the fire from extending beyond
the two stores.
About o'clock the aerial truck secured
Il good position and rendered valuable SER
vice in the upper stories. 1t required
great efforts on the part of the fire depart
ment to keep the flames from entering the
building adjoining Conlon Brothers, on
the north, occupied by I. Chase, milliner.
The building is scorched in the rear, but
beyond little damage to some silks and
velvets which stood at the side next the
burning building, Mr. Chase sustained no
| loss. The T. F. Judson store. adjoining
| Miller x Peck's, also escaped without any
serious loss.
The entire stock of Conlon Brothers is
| totally destroyed and the building is in
ruins. Thomas Conlon says the firm had
Just taken inventory and had stock
valued at S62 900. They we've insured for
$45, 900, through William G.. Atwater.
| They employed about forty hands and
will resume business as soon as q suitable
| place can be secured.
The front of the Miller & Peck building
is not badly damaged, but the stock and
the rear of the store is ruined. The frame
| building was owned by c. H. Miller e Co
and the brick building in the rear was the
property of r. X. Brown. Mr. Miller says
his stock would inventory about 800, 600.
There is an insurance of 100000 on the
stock through the agency of Smith Il Root,
and 81, 500 on the building, through the
agency of c. H. Bronson. The firm
employed fifty hands and will commence
| business as soon as possible. The insur-
| ance was carried by twenty-five COM
panieS. About S25, 900 worth of the stock
may be saved.
The fire department was directed by
Chief Snagg, and to the credit of all it
must be said that the work was we'll done.
The fire must have been burning for half
an hour when the alarm was rung and the
flames, fed by inhammable material,
spread with frightful rapidity. Fortu-
natcly it was calm night or it would
have been impossible to prevent the de-
struction of the Judson and Chase stores.
II. f. McReynolds OF the United Gas
Improvement Co was early on the scene
and shut off the gas leading to the burn
ing buildings. Men from the Connecticut
Electric Co also rendered valuable assist
ance 10y cutting the wires leading to the
buildings. The origin of the fire is COM
plete mystery. Thomas Conlon said he
locked the store shortly after . O'Clock
last night, leaving everything secure.
The building occupied by Conlon
Brothers, known the Arcade, was built
in 1915 for hotel, which was conducted
by several parties under the name of
Browns hotel. A. b. Curtis first en-
I a. Il ~, ~.
ing. He was succeeded by Charles Par
tree and later it was conducted by Rufus
Manchester. The place did not pay as a
hotel and it was finally cut up into stores
and offices, one of which was known as
the Book Haunt" and was conducted by
the late William Patton. COnlOn Brothers
occupied part of the store for about six
teen years and later their increasing bust
ness demanded the use of the entire build
ing. They say the building was worth
about SIS, 900.
The Miller 4 Peck building was built in
1912 by Brown Brothers and was first
used by them as a mercantile house. The
firm afterwards became Brown, Holmes &
Co and later Conat 4 Hayden. Since
1856 has been occupied by Miller &
Peck.
Perhaps the democratic fire commission
ers are the best pleased men In town to-
day. Had last nights fire occurred while
Chief Snagg was off duty there would have
been raised an awful howl. AS it was an
excited man rushed into a store near the
center this morning, after taking a hasty
look at the ruins, and relieved his mind by
an all around condemnation of the mayor
and democratic fire board. Now, what
do you think of Beecher, he yelled. Look
at that ruin. Sam Snagg could have con-
trolled that fire in fifteen minutes" When
told that Chief Snagg had been working
faithfully for hours to eXtinguish the fire
he was the cheapest looking man in town.
On the other hand there were those who
claimed that the chief had exercised poor
Judgment. Fair-minded men, however,
say that the work of the department was
was above criticism