The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-02-21


OF its ever being occupied again as n real
depot, and the chances are the work of
building the new one viii be greatly hur-
ried in consequence.
The fire was n good one. The lurid glare
OF the flames, which not only reared high
but reared with exceeding alacrity, were
easily discernab from many miles
around, and resulted In attracting about
the greatest crowd Of onlookers seen in
these parts for many a year. Even old
timers declared that the Barnaby fire was
not in IL, and as for that other memorable
blaze in the Calendar block even the
firemen were willing 10 cry quits.
1t was a glorious fire to watch. That is,
however undesirable as IL may seem TO
glory in the ruin OF another's property
by that agency, it would be difficult to
imagine anything OF the sort to excel 1t
for attractiveness. In the first place,
here was every inducement to make il
popular. There are two towers of COM
manding presence with plenty of we'll
seasoned wood work inside OF them to
feed fire and when the little blazes be-
gan 20 shoot through windows and crew
ices it resembled pyrotechnics with which
Paine's "Last Days of Pompeii" sank into
insignificance in comparison. Beside
that there were root constructions which
seemed to be especially designed for the
purpose, and the course of the flames
indicated that fire and nothing else would
be a satisfactory agency of solving a
much mooted question.
Fortunately the wind was moderate, 1t
being between west and northwest. and
sparks were not as rule blown very far.
There were several little blazes from that
cause Just the same, the most important
being that on the building occupied by
the Tilcen-Thurher Company on West
minister street. Some awnings on the
back side caught, but a few well-directed
efforts by members of Chemical No. 2
soon subdued that. "Srarks" were not
wanting, nevertheless, and they came
down in the shape OF burning tim bers, as
we'll as life-siZe embers, on every side.
Some of them were very obstreperous, as
Ladderman John Mckenzie OF Truck 1
can testify, for he got a ''dandyn on the
head which came near doing hin. The
FISH store opposite the burning
depot also came in for n share OF
attention and here Chemical No. 2's
boys put in little good work again,
quen ching incipient fires which
would undoubtedly have resulted very
seriously. There were accompanying re-
ports, too, like those Of small Fourth of
July cannons. Everybody thought, OF
course, gasolene, naphtha, or railroad
torpedoes were exploding. Nothing of
that sort occurred, however, or if IL did,
pen was a perfectly natural letting of of
penr-up hot air. There was a room, or
perhaps only piece OF brick or stone
heated TO pitch beyond which il could
not go without exploding.
There was at first great danger from
electric wires being broken and dropped
on some unsuspecting fireman or police
man, but thanks to Agent y. +. Adams
of the Merchants Electric Company, as
we'll as other authorized persons, the cur
rents were shut off from all electric light
and power wires, Mr.. Adams having re-
Gently been authorized to so oificiate
John Mcdonald, who has charge OF the
trolley wires for the Union Railroad Com
pany, was also on hand and ran the risk
of pneumonia, as well as frozen feet and
cars, in his endeavor 10 protect the lives
and ears of others. lie had plenty to oc-
cupy his attention before the ire was out.
Wires would fall and no matter how
handsome they looked with their ice de-
corations, they were liable to lie danger
ouS.
There was a great deal Of talk about the
water pressure beng insufficient. Even
Fire Marshall Ira Winsor spoke of 1t, and
as his eagle eye catches everything of that
sort there must have teen something in
1t. 1t was noticeable that several steamer
streams were hardly more than those
thrown by garden hose.
What would have happened II the wind
had been strong is beyond conjecture
OF course the greatest attention was
paid 10 the front, or Exchange place,
side of the fire, but there was some lively
work being done on the track side. 1t
was here that hose and Truck / put in
considerable effective work and prevented
the ire from retarding the sched-
uled running time of trains.
On this side, also. were exposed the
boilers in the Worcester division, part of
which furnished heat for the depot and
trains and there was considerable specula-
tion at one time whether he boilers would
explode or not. They did not, however.
Captain Swan of the protective depart
ment was mourning the loss of eight rub
ber covers which his men bad spread and
which made 'ood for the lire.
superintendent Gardner was seeen and
he stated that fortunately no baggage
was lost so far as he knew, but in his
efforts to look after the interests OF the
travelling public he met with.a mishap in
the shape of fall. The platforms are
not IN iuXtaposition, SO to speak, and in
the dark, with the smoke blndng him,
he fell over one Of the raised platforms.
He is heavy man and the fall was nat
urally bad one.
Agent a. Phillips OF the Adams Ex-
press Company was on hand early. He
ordered the removal OF trunks aud other
baggage, bat it was unnecessary, the fire
kindly remaining away from that end OF
the structure, thanks 20 the brick wall
separating 1T from the other portion.
Chief of Police Baker, when he realized
the importance OF the tire, was,ed no time
but ordered out the police. AS a result
nearly the entire force of 275 men was on
hand, two men only beside the reliefs
being left at each station. Most OF che
men did duty, many OF them having been
called out of bed, all night The crowd
was SO orderly, however, they had little
to do besides looking on ana shiveriGg.
Policeman John A.Mdrtin wss the second
TO respond, arriving on the scene at 1920
o o'clock.
Railroad Hall, as the station was for
merly called. was designed ty Thomas A.
9e1t ana was built in lslS lt was an eX-
ce,lent example OF the Eomanesque order