The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-01-28
But Loss Turns Out
To Be Small.
FIRE IN STATION |.
Matron Sawtelle and Pris-
oners Make Quick Exit.

There was hot time in the Waldo
street police station about IL o'clock
last night. Fire was discovered in thu
basement of the building shortly before
that hour, and it was only by dint Of
hard work on the part of officers who
were in the station house that the in
mates We're taken out before the sitting
smoke made it almost impossible to live
In the building
Mrs. Dora B. Sawtelle, matron az
the station house, occupies apartments
on the second floor of the building and
was in bed when the fire was discov
cred She was taken out through a
window and down a ladder. as the
smoke was so thick in the corridoy as
TO prevent passing out by the usual
way
Mrs Sawtelle exhibited wonderful
nerve, leaning out of the window with
out a cry until a ladder could be placed
to take her out of the rooms that were
SO filed with smoke IS to make 1t al
most impossible for one to breathe,
After being taken to a place OF safe
ty, Mrs. Sawtelle remembered that
there was woman who applied for
lodging during the evening, locked in
her quarters. Capt. Peter Sinclair OF
Ladder ], ex-Officer Michael Kennedy
and George j. Mclean went up the lad
der and finally located the woman.
Mary Ellen Donahue Is the woman's
name, and she took matters as though
nothing out of the ordinary had oc-
Cured when she was released fr0m her
somewhat uncomfortable quarters
Mrs Sawtelle and the woman were
taken to the Waldo House. where the
matron spent the night, while Miss
Donohue was sent to the Door of Hope
In charge of an officer.
There We're six male prisoners In the
cell room on the first floor, and the
first thought of Lieut.. johnson and
his assistants was for them. The
| prisoners were taken out ana placed
under guard in the stable until the
trouble was over There were 20 wan
derers In the dodgers room. but these
men We're liberated without trouble.
Lieut.. Johnson, Sergt. Drohan, Off
GERS Hurley, A. F. Roach, Merrill, Pi-
per and Driver Wilson were in the
guard room when the fire was discoy-
cred. Lieut.. johnson and Officer Mer-
rlll being in the booking room almost
over whore the fire was burning.
prisoner was brought in and booked
at 1910 o'clock, but no one smelled
smoke.
Offleer Matthews who Is on duty at
the theatre, was first to discover the
Dlaze when he came to the station
house after the performance. AS he
approached the building he noticed the
smoke and Immediately after entering
opened the door leading to what many
years ago was the boiler room He was
greeted by cloud of flame, and hastily
calling out to his brother officers that
the building was on fire, he slammed
the door together and started to assist
In liberating the prisoners
Officer Merrill ran TO box II at the
corner Of Main and Foster street and
sent In an alarm, remaining at the cor
ner to direct the apparatus. Meanwhile
the officers in the station house were
working with q viii and the prisoners
were hustled into the stable, where
they remained until utter the cell room
became inhabitable
The fire started in q part of the
basement that has been unused for. al
least ten years. and the only theory
Tor its origin is spontaneous combls-
tion, or possibly defective electric wiz
ing. The adjoining building has ra
Gently been wired for electric lights
the wires for which pass through this
cellar. 'ii9
There is an old coal bin in this
apartment that has been used as a sort
OF catch all for rubbish. and il was
here that the fire conferred and was
neld, getting no farther than the adj
jacent partitions. Dense clouds OF
smoke filed the building, however and
u almost an impossiblity to remain
inside the structure
Mrs. Sawtelle wanted to return to the
station last night, but finally decided
TO remain In the hotel Chief brennan
and Major Il. I. Raymond and Cant.
u. A. Matthews were notified and APP
peared on the scene shortly afterwards
to find their respective Offices in
rather damp and smoky condition.
The prisoners locked in cells on the
street floor of the station are. Frank
Grant, l6 years old. charged with stub
bornness; Bernard MeKenna, 81: Har-
ry MARITIME, 49, Of Holyolze; Joseph
Moore, II, Of Providence, and James
Powers % years old. of this city.
charged with drunkenness.
Mary Ellen Donahue. a female lodg-
err and 20 male members OF the tramp
fraternity were also quartered in the
building. Within an hour after the
fire was dicovered, the prisoners and
dodgers We're back In their respective
apartments.
The building Ia damaged but little.
There are a few holes In the floor ana
several windows broken out, but the
damage is comparatively small and
covered by insurance.
When the ! o'clock detail arrived this
morning nearly all of the water and
smoke had disappeared from the build
ing. Officers who had clothing in the
lockers near the entrance found upon
opening the locker doors that water haA
penetrated into the interior and several
dress coats were more or less damaged
but were not in any case spoiled.
Patrolman Fairbanks was detailed 10
board W the windows and make the
place as comfortable as possible under
the circumstances.
Chief brennan, who was called froIH
his bed after the fire was subdued by
the fremen thoroughly inspected all
all parts of the building and he said to
a Spy man at O'Clock that he could
not account for the origin of the fire.