The Press., 1898-09-22
Nelson Towne has sold the Wright

place on the upper Hollow road to An
defs Jacobsen.
The fire department will have Hayden's
orchestra Of Rockville for music at their
annual ball Wednesday evening, the Sec
ond night Of the fair. David Bissett and
B. j. Mullins will prompt
George Bassow and family left Monday
for Dalton, Mass. After visit there
Mr.. Bassow will go to the medical COL
lege at Baltimore, Md, where he will
continue the study of medicine.
The annual meeting of the Congrega-
tional ladies' foreign and home mission
airy societies was held at Mrs. G.. HI.
Bakers Wednesday afternoon. Mrs.
Baker was chosen president and Mrs. w.
E. Demond vice president of both socie-
ties; Mrs. VIM. Smith secretary and
treasurer of the foreign foreign, and Mrs.
James Mclaughlin secretary and treas
urer Of the home society; directors, Mrs.
E. G. Dennis, Mrs. w. II. Smith, Mrs.
w. Fl. Cooley, Mrs. Charles Holt, Mrs.
G. Allen, Mrs. VIM. Burwell.
Two Men Burned to Death in the Lookup.
AS Henry Lannigan, an employe of
Rawitser & Bros. mill, was on his way
to his work about 6 O'Clock last Satur-
day morning, he noticed smoke issuing
from the front of the engine house. In
vestigation showed that there was fire
in the detention cells on the other side of
the building. An alarm was rung in, and
a line of hose was laid from hydrant as
soon as the f1remen arrived. The fire
had not gained much Roadway, and 1t was
quickly extinguished.
The fire was easily handled, but during
the brief time that it burned two lives
were lost. Two strong men, in the flush
of healthy manhood, were overpowered
by the flame and smoke. With no OPP
portunity for struggle with grim death,
Ernest Banford and John Marsh died In
the narrow cells of the detention room.
The body of John Marsh, who occupied
the first cell from the entrance, was found
doubled up, face downward, near the door
of the cell. It Is possible that he made
struggle for escape before the end came.
1t was In the cell occupied by Marsh that
the fire started, and his body was badly
burned. His face was charred beyond
recognition. One arm was burned off,
and the other partially. The upper part
of his body was also severely burned.
Banford occupied the next cell, and his
death was caused by suffocation, as the
woodwork of the cell shows no sign of
having ignited. The body was found face
downward on blanket on the floor of
the cell. The indications are that he was
awakened by the discomfort of the smoke
and rolled from the bunk, taking the
blanket with him. His face was pressed
into the blanket when the body was
found. 1t is probable that his death was
comparatively painless.
AS sorn as possible after the fire was
extinguished entrance was made by the
physicians, DIR. G. L. Nichols and DIR. G.
H. David. Hope was felt that something
might be done, but cursOry examina-
ton showed that medical aid was of no
avail. Medical Examiner Newton was
called to view the bodies, after which
they were removed to the engine house
on stretchers. Coroner Phelps Of Rock
vile was summoned, and held an informal
inquest at 2 o'clock In the afternoon.
Just how the fire was caused is a mys-
terry. A stable hole in the floor of the
cell occupied by Marsh shows that the
fire burned longest there, and therefore
must have started at that point. Direct
~ opposite this cell Is small room in
which barrel of oil owned by the Dor
lOugh is stored. During the time that the
oil has been stored In the room there has
been some spilled, and the floor between
the cell and oil barrel was saturated with
the fluid. The theory is advanced that
Marsh lit a match to get better idea of
his surroundings, or to light his pipe, and
when he threw it away it started the
blaze that proved so disastrous. Once
started the oily floor made rapid progress
possible. Officer Helm visited the lock-
up at $50 a. M, with the idea of sending
Marsh home, but was unable to arouse
him. Transfers engaged In moving the
monument to Westford passed the build
ing at O'Clock, and noticed nothing un-
usual. 1t Is probable that the fire was
started between 4 and O'Clock in the
morning The men were put in the cells
at 1890 Friday night for drunkenness.
John Marsh, 40, the elder of the two
men, was hard working farmer, who re-
sided just over the line in Wellington.
| Flo vvaa inducfrio.1c opd IoOvoo FopoiIx,
who were dependent on his efforts. He
did farm work with his teams in the bor-
ough, and the day before his death was
employed by w. D. Head in the hay
field. His family consists of an aged
mother, widow and one daughter. His
funeral was held Monday at p. M, and
the burial was at Wales. Ernest Ban
ford, the other victim, was 26 years Of
age. His life was failure owing to his
unfortunate habits, which is the more to
be regretted from the fact that he was
naturally bright, and might have had a
useful career. He leaves three brothers
and sister. His funeral was held from
the Congregational chapel Sunday after
noon, at o'clock.
=, 1ne damage TO the borough hall, In
which the fire occurred, will not exceed
$3.50. A new floor will have to be laid in
the detention room, and the wood work
on the walls is badly charred. In the
next room, occupied by the steamer, q
part OF the ceiling is also charred, and
, there Is small hole where the fire burned
through.
, Stafford.
Miss Edna Goodell is spending week
with her mother at Springfield.
Mrs. George Francis and Mrs. Ellen
: Weston spent Sunday In Monson.
The Phoenix Wooden company's mill
started up Monday morning on full time.
Mrs. Annette Cotton of Springfield has
, hoon Tho rr,,onA l,a AZ 81 NJ. n a d.