The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-05-26
WooDlI0NT,S BLAzE.

Three Houses and a Barn Burned-Narrow
Escape From Death of "a Family-Wood-
mont Cottagers and Residents May Take
Action to Secure Some Sort of Fire Pro-
lection.
The fire in Woodmont spoken of
yesterday, which threatened dire de-
struction to Woodmont was extinguish-
ed after three cottages and barn had
been burned to the ground, and several
persons had narrow escapes from being
burned to death.
Summer residents of Woodmont
speaking last evening of the conflagra-
ton, said it would not be surprise
if some night there should be terribly
destructive conflagration at Merwin' s
Point, where the houses are thick and
close together. There was nothing to
prevent conflagration if the wind
blew gale and other circumstances
favored. There should be some sort of
fire extinguishing apparatus at Wood
ance and size as to demand it. A great
deal of attention was being paid to
sanitary matters but nothing has been
done as to protection against fire.
Yesterdays fire broke out at 2:15
o'clock a. m, in the cottage at the cor
ner Of Day street, overlooking the
sound, known as "The Castle" and
owned by Frederick Baldwin. 1t is To-
Gated facing on the Bathing Beach
near the end of the Woodmont electric
road, THE Castle was temporarily
occupied by Mrs. p T. Hayes of Wa
terbury, and her five children. Mr..
Hayes was in Waterbury. Mrs. Hayes
was awakened by the crying of her
three-months'o old infant, to find that the
house was full of smoke. She imme-
diately gave the alarm through a win
dow, and the other four children, the
eldest of whom is fourteen, began to
cry ALSO Mrs. Hayes and her children
were shortly afterwards rescued from
their perilous position by r. Reagan,
Michael Reagan, J. A. Hall and George
Burleigh, and taken to Reagan's cot
tage, where they were safely sheltered.
They escaped in their night clothing.
The cottage was soon burned to the
ground, and all Mrs. Hayes personal
belongings were consumed in the con-
flagration. These consisted of two
trunks and four vallses full of cloth
ing, diamond bracelet worth $3.50, a
gold watch and chain worth $500, and
$1,000, and was insured. The fire origi-
mated in the cellar which was full OF
fire wood.
The flames communicated with the
next house, which also belonged to Mr..
Baldwin, and was unoccupied. This
was also totally destroyed. 1t was par
TALLY insured.
A barn at the rear was next envelop-
ed in the flames and this did not stand
long before the fiery element. The barn
with its contents, consisting of house
moving tools, represented further loss
to Mr.. Baldwin of $4,000, which was also
only partially insured.
The next building to go was the cot
tage of E. F. Swift, worth $1,000 The
insurance on the cottage was $500, and
a good share Of the effects was saved.
In the Swift cottage were two old la
dies, one of them Mrs Swift's grand
mother, and they were with difficulty
rescued.
J. A. Halls barber shop in the rear
and a bathing houSe were badly scorch-
| ed, but bucket brigade had been form
| ed. and at this point succeeded in pre-
venting the spread of the flames.
| There are 210 cottages in the row, and
| if the wind had been from the south
west instead of from the northeast
every one of them would be in danger
of destruction.
| The Milford hand engine arrived at
o'clock. but the fire was then under
| control
Burt Hotchkiss, thirty years old, o.
Bangor, Maine, employed by John III
Hall, was so badly injured that he wa:
brought to the hospital In this city fol
treatment He is employed by Johr
Hail. He was ruptured while leaning
out of window and throwing water OF
/ the flames.