Waterbury Democrat., 1902-05-06
NEW mILFoRD's BIG BLAZE
Fire Broke Out in Livery and Spread
 Rapidly to Other Buildings.

Fire Broke Out in Livery and Spreau
 Rapidly to Other Buildings.
 New Milford, May 6.-This town last night experienced the horrors Which Waterbury and Paterson experienced only such a short time ago. The bnsi- ness portion of the town is in rulns- The circumstances are even more ad- verse here than in the cities mentioned since most of the buildings are of wood and, furthermore, the facilities for hgnt- ing the fire are bad, so bad, indeed, that the assistance received from Dan bury was of nos great avail.
 The fire started in the livery stable connected with Young's hotel, near the corner of Railroad avenue aud Bank street, and in a short time Bank street on both sides was in a blaze. This is the main business street of the bor- ough
 Before the fire department could reach the livery stable the flames had seized upon the wooden hotel and it went like finder, though not till after the inmates had escaped, some of them in scanty clothing. A high wind was blowing. carrying the sparks far and wide. till the center of the borolgh was like q roaring furnace. Bremen were driven back by the intense heat and everywhere citizens were at work try ing to do something toward saving their own property. Their attempts for the most part were futile, even at places remote from the main fire.
 A telephone message was sent to Danbury as soon as the situation was , comprehended and the response was mi An, were hurried here by special train. Their arrival at first gave new courage to the Inhabitants, who were fighting the fire without regard to whether they belonged to the fire department. But the visiting ffremen soon found them selves fearfully handicapped by the ill. adequacy of facilities
 The most they could 6fo was put the ends of their hose in the Housatonic river and pump water on such bnfId- 1ngs as were within reach. This was so insufficient that the citizens were al- most in despair. yet it served to cause them to redouble their energies. Old men and boys joined ill the fight and even the women lent all the aid they could with buckets and wet blankets and in carrying goods from the threat ened buildings.
 As there is no military company here the only protection for the goods and chattels was what the few constabIes could give. aided by a squad pressed into service by Selectmen Andrew G. Barnes, H. H. PomerOy and l.. :. Rich mond. And the goods once removed to what was considered place of safety II soon became necessary to get them still farther away. Never was seen a more hopeless, pitiful contest.
 As Young's hotel fell in. the vind changed, and Immediately the flames sought their food in new directions They leaped across Bank street and deyoured everything in their path. in cluding the New England house the New Milford house and the New Mil ford Savings bank, together with all stores and residences between.
 Endeayors were made to find the Postal Telegraph and the Western Union operators. but as those offices close at night the operators had gone nome, and when an attempt was made to get them at 10 o'clock it was found , mat they had mingled with the fire fighters.
 To add to the horror at this i1noture the building containing the telephone exchange is on fire. It seems as though the town might as we'll be cut on from the outside world, as it is doomed. no succor being possible and small means of keeping up the tight If all the firemen in New England were here. The loss at this hour is estf mated at $100,OO0. E