The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-31
Wires Became Crossed at Spen-
Ger and as a Result Eevery Tel
ephone in the Town Is Burned
Out
GROCERY STORE ABLAZE
BUT LITTLE DAMAGE DONE
Switch Board at Central Ex-
change Set on Fire But Quick
Work by Operator in Charge
Prevented Serious Damage Be-
ina Done
Special to The Spy.

Special to The Spy
| Spencer, Oct 30.-Spencer subscribe
ers of the New England Telegraph &
Telephone Co. service were given quite
scare this morning when every tele-
phone in town was put OUT of bust
ness, by the connection Of the feed
wires of the Warren & Brookfield
wires of the Worcester Consolidated
Street Railway Company, and the big
cable of the New England Telegraph
& Telephone Company in front of the
Methodist Church.
The connection of the three currents
| resulted in the destruction of all the
local telephone connections. The first
severe shock was felt in the S. s. Wig
gins grocery store on Main Street.
Here the tar roof over which the
wires of the Telephone Company runs
caught fire The fire at the S. S. Wig
gins store did not result in much dam
age to that place. The current carried
the fire direct to the central office
where it did all sorts of mischief.
At the time of the contact of the
wires Joseph Dermody was in charge
of the Office as night operator. There
occurred nine explosions, and all the
local lines were blown out The toll
lines were intact, the shock not affect
ing them. The switchboard took fire,
but by the prompt work of Mr.. Der
mody the fire was quickly extin-
guished.
A broken feed wire was the cause
of all the trouble. The first explosion
in the central office occurred shortly
after 6 o'clock this morning. A little
later the fire was seen on the roof of
the S. S. Virgins store and the fire
alarm was sounded from the box at
the gas house.
Mr.. and Mrs. Lecomte of Maple
Street, Spencer, celebrated their golden
wedding today, at their home. They
attended mass at st. Mary's Church at
8 o'clock and renewed the VOWS they
pIigkted so years ago in a little town in
Canada. When The Spy man called
today the happy couple were among
their children and they enjoyed the
ceremonies of today as much, if not
more, than the one that occurred in
Canada so years ago. Mrs. Lecomte
is IL years of age and her husband is
Il. At 0 o'clock Mr.. and Mrs. Lecomte
and their children and grandchildren
attended mass. The church was pref
tily decorated for the occasion and
there was special music for the cere-
nony. The organist was Mrs. c. L.
Cartier of Holyoke. A hymn was sung
by Miss Adelina Bedard, Miss Victoria
Bedard and Miss Eva Bedard-all
grandchildren of Mr.. and Mrs. Lee
comte. The ave Maria" was sung by
Mrs. c. L. Cartier of Holyoke. After
the mass the party returned to the
home of the Lecomtes, where break
fast was served. The celebration was
attended by four generations of the
Lecomte family. Mr.. and Mrs. Louis
Lecomte have been blessed with 10
children, of whom are now living and
were present at the ceremony today.
They are Mrs. P. Toupin of North
Brookfeld, Mrs. ]. Carue of East
Brookfeld Mrs. Eva O'Coin and Mrs,
F.. Bedard of Spencer and Mrs. c. l..
Cartier of Holyoke. The couple re-
ceived many presents and tonight they
We're presented $507 in gold by their
many friends. Later in the evening
they were presented S100 in gold by
their five children. A very enjoyable
evening was passed singing and play
ing whist.