The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-03-08

doors on Canal street. when he saw
smoke issuing from the basement OF the
building occupied by the Brownell &
Field Company, which ex tends from Al
10 81 on Canal street. He mt once arted
to sand in an alarm. but an employe of
T.. ii. Jefferd's market on North Main
street had already done so, and Hose
Company No. ! was on ihe scene imme-
diatelv.
Mhils il appeared for few minutrs
that the fire was under control and would
be confined to the basement, this idea
was soon abandoned and the flames began
to roar up the elevator shaft Of the build
ing, and Chief Steere at once sent in n
second alarm. This, however. was not
dt emed sufficient SD 1ercely was the fire
raging, and Chief Stesre ssnt in the third
alarm. although up TO this time there was
nothing TO TO seen except dense clouds of
smoke, which enveloped every part OF
the building.
Ttis. however, indicated to the fremen
that there was a mass of fire within.
which was shut of by iron shutters and
double walls. and it was therefore diff
cult to throw any water upon the burn
| ing mass. Seven steamers were pumping
| water and thers was a perfect network
| Of hose around the burning building.
| but il was not until the nremen succeed
ed in wrenching of one OF the heavy iron
good was accom- plished,
Water was poured through this opening
as fast as mortal could pour it, but the
building was doomed, and In a short
| time the supports OF the roof began to
| crack, and the burning mass fell in with
roar and the pent-up flames burst out.
This afforded the tiremen tie chance
thsy had been looking for, and tons upon
tons of water were then shot upon the
stething flames, and 1t was not long be-
fore the effect was perceptible, for slowly,
but surely, the vivid glare bsgan TO die
out, and before 10 o'clock the dre was
completely under control During this
time the firemen had been working like
beavers to prevent the flames from spread
ing 20 the Arnold ~ Peck building,
where it was believed that large amount
of combust;bles were stored. Before the
roof had fallen In tho fourth and ifth
| stories Of this builiing, containing a
quantity of the Brownell 81 Field Com
pany's stock, had caught Tire, but it was
checked before other portions of the
building could be reached.
When the danger was practically over
the walls of the Brownsll n Field build
| ing remained, but the interior was CON-
pletsly gutted from ths interior 10 the
roof. and the immense stock was prao-
| tically destroyed.
There is no doubt that the heavy iron
shutters on the building. shutters which
only Openeu on tDo lnslue, ala nuCn 10
| retard the work of the firenien. and the
| fire commissioners condemned their use
very vigorously. A strong detail OF fire
men was kept Mt work on the smoking
| pile during the night and it was exactly
q o'clock this morning when the recall
was sounded.
Ihree firemen were injured. Lieutenant
MiIkie of Hoss oct his thumb severely
ana was partially overcome by smoke lie
begged Fire Com mi ssioner Luther to lot
him return to duty, and after he had re-
covered his request was granted. Lewis
Cornell Ct Hose 10 drove a nail through
one of his fingers and Driver Benson uf
| the same comtary hal one OF his feet Sc
verely crus ed. Lieutenant Horton of
the police TO ce, with large number Of
| officers, rendered great assistance TO the
| fire fighters, and Chief Baker. Deputy
Chief Egan and Captain Matthews were
also on the scene
A cor servative estimate plafes the
| damage at tetween $50 0O0 and 500, 600,
t3O, 90 Of which. ~ not more. the value
| 81 ths uninsured stock ot the BrowneIl 4
| a Field Company. will prove total loss.
| The total valuo of the Brownell ~ Field
| Company kstcck was tetween $lOO.
OO0 and $3.50 uOO on which an Insurance.
| of t1O, coo was carried I'm the agency of
stark weather a. Shepley. 4 he damage to
| the two buildings will approximate $50,
| OOo and the stock Of Arnold. Peck AZ Co.
was dan aged 90 the extent Of $4,000
The building oooupied by Arnold, Peck
4 A. Go. Is owned by tac Beukwith Land
| JoinIany, while the Brcwneli A. Field
| COMPANY building was owned by the
smith estate. The loss on the two build