Worcester morning daily spy. (Worcester, Mass.) 1888-1898, 1898-02-07
10 HORSES BURNED.
Disastrous Fire in F'innigan's
Stable on Franklin Street.
An Oil Steve in the Harness Room Starts
the Trouble Only Two Horses
Rescued Alive.

Sixteen horses persisted as the result
of small fire In the stable Of NJ. J.
Finnigan wholesale liquor dealer, at 81
Franklin street, early Sunday morning.
Eight OF the horses were smothered, and
the remainder were so badly injured. it
was thought best to end their suffering
The fire originated from an oil stove
in the harness room of the stable, and
quickly spread to the loft above, caus-
ing a Sitting smoke, that drove the poor
brutes confined in the stable mad. Some
of the horses broke from the 1asteningS
and ran wildly about the barn, while
others were suffocated by the smoke
and gas in their stalls.
Peter Clements, the night man, says
they have had the oil stove In the har-
ness room for some time, but he had
never had trouble with it before. He
is up good part of the night engaged
in cleaning harnesses, and at about 6
o'clock was engaged in feeding the
horses, when the stove took fire. He
threw blankets over the stove in the
endeavor to smother the flames, but
without avail. Seeing this plan was
useless, he attempted to carry the blaz-
NIB SLONt OUT Oh QOOFS, ne Iluatty SuCA
ceeded, but not without sustaining 5eve-
raj burns, as well as having his NOUS
tacale and eyebrows partially sanged.
Before he could get the stove out of
doors the flames had spread to the
hay loft above. He Immediately turned
his attention to getting the horses out.
Several of the terror stricken animals
were loose, and although Clements
labored manfully to rescue the animals,
1t was without avail. AS soon as he
would get one near the door 1t would
break away and dash back into the fire
and smoke.
]. P. Mcdonnell, whose stable is but
about 20 feet from the Finnigan barn,
said that he was at work about his
tween $50 and 6 o'clock went into the
other stable. At that time everything
was as usual He was preparing to
| leave his office at about 615, when he
saw the flames issuing from the barn
next door. He called to John Byren
one of his men, who was in the room
| above, that F1nnigan's stable was on
| fire, and sent him to notify Hose g.
Meanwhile he tried to call Hose by
telephone, and had raised the central
! office as box 46 struck. The fire de
| paTtment was soon on the scene and
had the fire under control
There were Is horses in the barn, in
! CluulllS MI. II llulSdl b lEUlleI. topeeu-
| mont" which was kept in sort of ad-
dition in the rear of the stable proper
and not exposed to the full effects Of
the smoke. This animal and a draft
| horse were the only ones in the lot that
| will live. At Merrigan's stable. where
! the horses are at present, it is thought
that both will come out all right.
Among the horses lost was a promis-
ing four-year-old colt that has given
promise of considerable speed, and W
A. Atkinson's driving horse.
AS soon as the condition of the horses
which came out alive was noticed, DR.
j. B. Cosgrove was given charge of the
animals. He ordered seven of them
killed, and another horse that was not
| thought to be in as bad shape as the
others, died during the day
The barn is owned by the Timothy
I Delaney heirs. The contents are in
sured through the agency of A. C. Nun
roe for $500, in the American of Bos-
ton, Franklin of Philadelphia and the
Liverpool, London and Globe. The loss
is estimated at about $4,000.