Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-08
GRILLE HOUSE BURNED.
Family Escaped Just in Time-Barn Fire on East Clay Street.


 Fire on East Clay Street.
 Shortly before o'clock this morn ing fire was discovered at the resi- dence of Mrs Ellen Grelle. 449 East Main street. and an alarm was rung in from box 16, corner of East Main and Cherry streets. The firemen lost no time in getting on the ground and once there it took them but short time to subdue the flames, but the work was not performed before the fire had done considerable damage al- most all the articles of value in two rooms being destroyed and the rest of the apartment deluged with water. The fire did not reach the second floor, but the water got in there and soaked the carpets and other furnishings. The building was occupied by Mrs Grelle and her seven children. her father. Michael Donahue. the Misses Rose and Mary A Donahue and MT and Mrs H. l.. Christie. MT Donahue told a Democrat reporter to-day that he thought the fire was caused by the explosion of lamp in one of the rooms. The lamp was extinguished before the family retired. but he is
 
 have remained in the wick and crept down into the oil He can assign no other cause as to the origin of the fire. It was discovered by one of the girls. who alarmed the rest of the family. all of whom hurried out and took up temporary quarters in the bakery, To- cated in the rear of the house.
 The worst feature of the fire is the fact that there was no Insurance on the building or the house furnishings. so thatthe family will have to bear the entire loss.
 Mir Donahue. who will be S4 years old next June. and has resided in Wa terbury for the past siNty-five years says that the experience was the most exciting, he ever figured in during his whole life. but after it was all over and he saw that no one was injured, he did not bother his head about the damage to the building and furniture. Those who were there at the time state that MT Donahue was one of the liveliest persons about the place. and the rapidty with which he passed from one point to another would lead one to suppose that he had not gone far beyond his majority.
 While the fire is a serious loss to IHe ld1llllN. Sllll cOIS1utflIS t1le ll1lle , it broke out, it was fortunate that the damage was not greater and that none of the occupants were injured.
 Chief Snagg estimates the damage to be from $7OO to S1 900.
 The barn in the rear Of the resi- dence of Mrs Willis Johnson, 32 East Clay street started to burn about 10 o'clock last night. An alarm was sent in from box 42 corner of South Main and West Clay streets. The depart ment responded promptly and quickly subdued the flames. The damage was slight. The fire started in a woodshed attached to the barn. This is the see ond time within q few months that the barn has been on fire Two horses one belonging to Teddy Biggerstaff and the other to Frank Frisbie. were in the building when the fire started, but were taken out uninjured.
 Was the burning of the barn on East Clay street last night the work of fire fiends? It looks that way. though to be sure. in the absence of positive proof it is pretty hard to tell. What appears rather suspicious is the steal ing of an oil can from the back steps of one of the houses in the immediate
 
 not known until this morning. wher the can was missed. Mrs Weed. who resides at D Clay street. the house fronting on the street where the barr is located. started to clean her lamps this morning and when she went Ou to the back steps where she had lief the oil can the night before. it wa: not in its accustomed place and a dili gent search about the premises failed to discover it. and the supposition i. that some one carried it away. poured oil on the wood in the shed attached 10 the barn and then touched q matcl to the infiammable liquid. The au authorities should inquire into thi case and ascertain what there is il 1t. That barn was set on fire befor and the opinion seems to be genera that it was the work of incendiaries The indications point that way thi time. too. and in consequence no effor should be spared to determine whethe this is true or not.