The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-23
A BAD BLAZE.
Three Firemen Injured at
Morning Fire on Front St.

The period Of INSTRUMENTATION
that the firemen and fire underwriters
of Worcester have been enjoying for
the past few weeks, was rudely inter-
rupted early yesterday morning.
An alarm from box Sc at 4.10 o'clock
called the firemen to the Whitcomb
building, 80 and 80 Front street, where
lively blaze was in progress in the
store occupied by the Worcester Public
Market and Packing Company
For few minutes it looked as though
a second alarm would be necessary, but
a closer examination showed there was
comparatively little fire in the store,
although the dense clouds of smoke
that filled the building, gave reason for
serious apprehension.
Peter J. Vayo the local manager, es-
Inmates the loss to his company as to-
tai, and says they will dispose of the
stock after insurance has been adjust
ed, for what it will bring.
The Davis Wheeler Company occupy
room on the second floor, directly
over the market, in which part OF
their stock is stored. This firm will
suffer quite a smoke damage, estima-
ted in the neighborhood of $500 In
sured through Grants agency for
900.
Samuel Letiecq, who has a barber
shop on the second floor, has slight
loss, caused by smoke insured through
the agency of Charles e. Grant for
$1,000
Other occupants of the building suf-
fered an appreciable inconvenience. The
building is owned by G. Henry Whit
comb, uninsured. The estimated dam
age is placed in the neighborhood of
$500. All of the large plate glass win
dows in the front of the store We're
badly cracked by the heat, and one OF
them is about half broken out
The Public Market Company has the
heaviest loss. The stock is valued at
S3500 and the fixtures at $500. insured
for $4,000 through the agency of Currier
& Lincoln.
The fire had its origin and was con-
fined largely to the rear of the market,
where the office is located. According
to the arrangement Of the clerical force,
there are two offices near the centre
of the back part of the market, one
above the other, access to the upper
office being gained by means OF mar
row fight of stairs.
The fire evidently started in the lower
office under or near this stairway, as
the sheathing about the staircase and
lower office is almost entirely burned
away. The woodwork about the upper
room is badly charred, but not to the
extent of that in the room below
From this point the flames spread
along the ceiling almost to the front
of the store The room has recently
been thoroughly renovated and the
ceilings treated to a fresh coat of paint,
which probably accounts for the
flames attacking it with so much vigor.
The stock in the store and cellar be-
meath was unusually large, in anticl-
patton of Saturdays trade, and the en-
tire layout was thoroughly smoked and
wet down. Show cases were smashed,
and taken altogether, the interior of the
store looked, as though, struck by a
cyclone.
The elevator we'll and a stairway
communicating with the floors above,
are located directly in the rear OF
where the fire started and the fire.
men were ordered to direct their at
tentien toward keeping the flames
from gaining these avenues, which af-