Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1894-12-28
BURNED LIKE FINDER.
Losses BY This Mornings Fire
Nearly 100000.

Waterbury has again been visited by a
most disastrous FIRE and this morning the
handsome Plat block and the building
snown as the Lawlor hotel on East Main
street are in ruins. With icicles r1ach
rom the top stories to the ground floors
and the buildings present weird spectacle
About $3.50 o'clock this morning an
alarm of fire was sounded from box in
place. The firemen responded
quickly and found that the Lawlor building
by P. II Seery. as n saloon on
the bottom floor. and night restaurant on
The upper floors was in flames on the
ground floor. Chief Snagg was early
on the scene and at once saw that fierce
ire was imminent and sent out a second
alarm calling out the whole fire depart
ment.
The fire originated in the oil tank
in the rear of the store. 1t spread
the whole building with light
nirg rapidity and soon the structure
was developed in flames.
The -firemen We're seriously hampered
owing to the condition of the fire n.y.
drants. The hydrant which stands oppo-
site Browns buildings was found practi-
cany useless and it took the unitrd
strength of three men to open the one at
the corner of Brook and En- Min
streets.
The fire ragged with such fury that the
Lawlor block was Quilted in short time and
some of the occupants barely escaped with
their lives The upper rooms were occupied
hy Rev Martin Lawlor and his nephews.
Murtip. Joseph and Frank McEvoy. who
IS. re- in bed and escaped from the scene
Of the conhagration to the residence of
Mrs Michael 4 Llwlor on Abbott avenue
with very scant clothing. The building
was Quilted from cellar to attic. the floors
falling in and the whole contents of the
-ntir- building reaching the ground floor
The firemen used every effort 10 prevent
the flames from reaching the adjoining
buildings. but the open shutters in the
plgtt block furnished ready conductor
tor the tongues of fire md despite the
forts OF the departm the big Plat
building WAS soon given up to the flames
and volumes of fir. and smoke belched
forth from every room in the building
man who lives across the street say
that when he heard the noise ana looked
ont tue fire was raging in the upper story
Of the Platt buildIng and he thinks tn.
place was burning tor some time before
the fTemen discovered it.
Crowds of people collected around the
scene of the fire and many carried what
things they could get hold of to places OF
safety Robert McGrlth was importuned
to open his store to accommodate some OF
the tenants of tho Platt block and the r..
-ult was that this morning it would bt
difficult to tell whether his place is n 81.
loon. barber shop or a law office
Leanier Whiteman. who had just opened
tonsorlal rooms in the rear OF the burning
block. secured most of his stock anc
stored it in Mr. McGrath's place and quit,
good many of Lawyer d. +. Webster'i
law books were carried into the sam,
place
The Platt block and the Lawlor building
now pr, sent the spectacle of places which
had been left entirely at the mercy of the
danes. The roofs have fallen in aud Their,
Is scarcely anything left in position hui
tie bare walls Rivers of water tbi
morning rushed mAdly onto the street,
from different passtgeways of the structu r.
and the whole place has been wrecked.
Ctiicf Snagg said this afternoon that til
department had been handicapped ON &C
count of the condition of the fire hydnuts
The first thing l did when I reached tin
place." said Chief SnaGg. was to sen,
some of the men into the Plat block 4
close :he iron shutters on the west side o
the building in the hope OF preventing tn
ire from entering there from the LawlO
block but as far ns | can learn the loon
| 4 the Young WOmen's friendly league VIA
un fire at THAI time" The iron shutter
on the side of the building happened to b
| left open and there was nothing to proven
the flames from reaching the Platt block.
There was a good deal of fault findin
on the part of everybody on account o
the firemen not being able 10 control tn
ire before it Quilted the Plat block. II i
the opinion of many that the fire ha
gained considerable Roadway before tn
| alarm was rung.
| Mayor kilduI said il was unfortunat
| that the hydrants were not in workin
order. but he thought it was not Just {
the firemen to do too much fault findinE
1t the fire had gained considerable heaC
wayne said, before the alarm was given
and they were hampered on accom-
of the condition of the hydrants, it is nc
fair to blame them for this. 1t all Shove
the ACCESSIBILITY of having these matter
under one head so that the public woul
know where to place the responsibility
The hydrant in front of Il. X. Brown
building on East Main street is n privat
one. but Chief Snagg said it should be il
spected and kept in order the same as th
ones belonging to the city. The board {
water commissioners were roundly score
on all sides and many stated that Il
different ydrauts should be under col
troll of the superintendent of the fire d,
partment.
President n j. welton of the watt
board was interviewed il reference 10 ii
condition OF the fire hydrsnts. He sal,
The hydrant in front of the property
Il. X. Brown is that gentleman's pro
rriy and we have nothing TO do with i
We inspect all the other fire hydran
twice u year. Every one of them was il
spected last fall and any of them tn
were found out of repair were put In goC
working order. 1t Is only natural tn
I some OF the hydrants would open a litr
hard last might and it is possible that
tn. hurry and excitement the men mig
nave gwen the one at the corner of Bro.
and East Main streets twist in Il
wrong direction and Jared the thread.
pains have been spared by the water boa
to keep all the hydrants in good shap
} No matter what might be allowed to stat
tor IL day or two IN Case of IA rush of wor
these never have be en- and are always Ike
IN readiness for use"
L. ii Seer, was asked il he could ASST,
, ATTY theory as to the origin of the iii
! tie said he could not believe that the ii
, could have originated from the k.rOsel
tank He though the most probat
theory of the origin of the fire was that
yIIe whichsl-ad from the furnace IL Z
cellar and run along under the rafters I
some distance. into the barroom throu
a hole in the floor and then entered I
. chimney. might have become too hot n
. set fire 10 the wood work where It ent,
the saloon. But AZ 1t was we'll protect
II would be difficult to see how this cou
be. Yet as the fire started just at {
point where the pipe passes through {
fiooT, 1t seemed to be the most reasonat
theory MIR Seery knew of.
Tns fremen remPined on the grou
until late this afternoon. Owing to I
dangerous condition of the Lawlor blot
It was decided TO tear down II portion
the front part OF the upper stories.
| a.. NIL IN the east aid. hnvlnu italian