The Newtown bee., 1899-11-10
GRAND CENTRAL BARN
BURNED.
Close Shave From a Gen
eral Confagration.
HOTEL SAVED AFTER
HARD FIGHT.
Horses All Removed In Safety
From Burning Building.


on Sunday night by the wild alarm of
tre and the ringing OF the bell OF Trinity |
church. BY the time the residents of the |
Street began hurrying from their houses |
the sky was lighted up brilliantly and 1t |
was seen at once that the barns connect |
ed with the Grand Central hotel were on |
fire.
The fire was first discovered by
Matthew Daley, hostler at the Grand
Central stables, about 10 minutes of 10
o'clock. He slept in the barns, and when
he retired about 20 everything was all
right. He was awakened by the neigh
ing and paving of one of the horses, a
stopper belonging to DR. Osborne of New
Haven. The doctor had driven from
New Haven that day, and when he left
the horse at the stable requested the
hostler not to feed the horse I'LL later, as
it had had the collie. The noise called
this to Mr. Dailey's mind and he arose to
attend to the horse, when to his horror
he discovered the upper part OF the barn
on fire, and sparks already falling
through a man-hOle In the rear OF the
barn, through which hay was passed
down to the main floor. He at once
opened the main doors to the barn and
shouted fire, and few seconds laGer Tx
Senate HOulihan appeared and the two
succeeded in getting out the nine horses.
Mr. Ii ulihAn stated to a reporter of
The BEE that he went up stairs with his
family to retire for the night about
quarter past nine. About O'Clock Mrs
hOulihan said she thought some one
Knocked at the office door, but no atten-
tion was paid to it. Later she went to
the end Of the hallway and looked out
towards the barn, thinking some tran
sient might have driven in and desired
lodgings for the night. Everything was
quiet, however, and she returned TO her
room. Mr. HoulihRn lay down on couch,
shortly after going up stairs and before
be knew it was asleep. His wife awoke
him 10 minutes later, and he retired. He
says he does not think he had been asleep
10 minutes before he was awakened
again by his wife, who heard the noise
outside, and on going to the window he
discove red that the upper part of the
barn was on fire. He hastily dressed and
with the aid Of Mr. Daley began the
work of getting out the horses.
The scene inside the barn Mr. Houlihan
describes as something frightful. The
horses were twisting into all sorts of
contortions, standing on their hind feet
and paving madly at the floor. Begin
ming at the rear both men paid attention
TO one horse. A blanket was thrown
over the head of the horse and the animal
WAS backed or pulled out, as seemed
best. In coming out with one of Mr.
Osborne's horses, the animal, frightened
by the sparks coming through The hay
passage, in some way stepped on to one
| OF Mr. Houlihan's legs, bruising and
! laming the tendons. He kept at work,
however, till all the horses were out, and
then for some time assisted in carrying
water. But the pain increased, 80 that
he was obliged to leave the fire to retire
| % h; nd Smith RI n ia
aid.
One of the earliest persons also at the
fire was Rev George L. Linsley. He had
ofticiated as usual at his evening service
at Trinity church, and was seated in his
study with his wife, DR. and Mira Henry
l.. SWayne and DR. o. T. Osborne Of New
| Haven. 1t was about a quarter of 10
and DR. Osborne suggested that in 10 Or
10 minutes they had better retire. Mrs
| Linsley went out to rear room to speak
TO the girl, and returned quickly saying
that the servant thought sne heard some
one shouting fire. Mr. Linsley and Drs
Swayne and Osborne went out In front
and everything appeared all right. They
then went in and sat down, but soon
heard the cracking noise from the burn.
ing building. They then went out the
rear door and Mr. Linsley exclaimed +:
"Mr Houlihan's stables are ON fire and
your horses are therel" It did not take
the men long ito make for the stables.
Mr. Linsley having the key to the church,
| went over there at once and soon the
alarm was general. The ringing of the
bell awoke the sleeping Inhabitants and
IN Is minutes time 200 people had con-
Rregated. 1t seemed as IL the entire male
portion of the Street and Sandy Hook
village was present, in addition to farm
era from other sections of the town, some
living two and hree miles out.
Not person there was who first saw
the fire but expected that the hotel would
be burned, together with the CongreRa.
tional church, the residence and store OF
r. Il. Beers, the residence of Rev George
II. Linsley, and possibly the Newtowr
Inn. The fire started In the top of the
barn. When the fire broke out the wind
was blowing toward the hotel, but II
veered around and was soon carrying the
sparks on to the carriage house, south
east of the main barn. The distance be-
tween the end of the shed and the hote
was about % feet and between the barr
and the carriage shed not over 20 feet
Nothing less than Providence saved the
hotel from burning, and the destruction
of business blocks and private houses
this was the sentiment on every lip
There was good work done, az Ia evident
that the hotel did not burn, and this Ia
not eliminating the Providential factor,
The carriage house was the main fighting
ground and several times the roof was on
fire. David Keane, John o. Pitzschle1
and Thomas Carlson took turns on the
roof, and how they managed to stay
there those on the ground could not see.
The heat from the barn came directly
toward them but they kept at work
throwing on the water passed to them
Men on the ground did good work also,
running in with pals in front of the
building and keeping the doors wet down
On the hotel proper good work was
done by Patrick Cannon, who had his
face blistered while keeping the side OF
the hotel wet down with a hose. a
hose was attached to a pump, south OF
the house, and this was kept going
When the shed was burning there was
some fears felt for the hotel. AS soon as
possible, the sides of the building were
pulled off with pixies secured from the
hook and ladder truck.
During the progress OF the fire barrel
under q shed near woodpile caught fire
from spark and was soon burning mer-
rlly, but bold person made dash for ii
and the danger was soon over.
When the horses were first taken from
the stale they were turned loose on the
Sqreet, and Rev Mr. Linsley, DIR Osborne
and others set out to find them. Four
wee found In the yard OF Il. j. Corbett,
on Queen street, and with MIR Corbett's
help they were caught aud taken for the
night TO the barns OF G. b. Sherman. The
other hOraee were found later without q
great deal of trouble.