The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-02-05
ARSON TALK IN WATERBURY
MR. HUGHES, OF REID & HUGHES,
 CALLS IT RUBBISH.
Declares the Original Blaze in Ills Store Electric Lighting-The ScOViIl House Fire Now Satd to Have Been Caused by Goods Carried There from Burning Buildings.
Buildings.

Waterbury Conn.,, Feb 1.-The talk
 of .ncendiarism as the cause of the
 awful conaagration which swept
 through the business section of the city
 Sunday night is pronounced rubbish
 by proprietors of the buildings where the flames first broke out.
 George F. Hughes, head of the dry
 goods firm of Reid & Hughes. in whose building the original blaze started, said , tonight that the outbreak of the fire was undoubtedly due to defective cleo tric light wiring. The buildings wiring
 had been recently overhauled in order
 to comply with the requirements of the
 underwriters and the work had been
 poorly done. Mir Hughes also said that
 the loss of his concern would total
 more than s15O,OOo, only partially cov-
 cred by insurance The second fire,
 which originated in the billiard room
 of the Scovill house, is now pronounce ed due toN smouldering flame in goods
 from the burning buildings carried and stored there. The ruins on Bank and South Main streets are still burning spasmodically At 3 o'clock tonight engine company No. 1 was called out to play stream on the partially de- molished Pollak building on Bank street, where the flames broke out afresh. The fire was easily extinguish- ed. The c. N. G. men are performing regular guard tours, two hours on and four off. Since Sunday night they have been quartered at the armory, where they declare that sleep is almost impossible, subsisting on light diet of coffee and sandwiches. The destruction of hotels and restaurants has made it very difficult to secure proper food for them. This afternoon Captain H. B. Carter of Company A ordered warm meals from restaurant on his own au- thority.
 Cant bother with soldiers said the proprietor. We are rushed with out of town people at bigger prices than you fellows can pay"
 You'll bother with soldiers or I'll send q squad down here to commander your whole outfit" answered Carter.
 The men of Company A got square meal. The Waterbury American, with the aid of it's neighbors, continues to print it's four page handbll. It saved a portion of the outfit of it's art depart ment in consequence of which it is still able to publish pictures of scenes about the ruins. A large force of men is at work on the buildings of the American, whose owners declare that 1t will be using at least part of it's old quar- ters inside of two weeks.
 The city editor of one local paper is almost crippled as the result of club bing administered by policeman on Sunday evening. The newspaper man tried to pass the fire lines without ! ausing to exhibit his badge. The | board of public safety, which controls the police and fire department is sitting in secret session tonight but at 10 o'clock one of it's members declared l that it was entertaining no charges against either department and that it | was not considering appropriations for | new fire apparatus
 Most of the heavy property owners whose buildings were destroyed have | their intention of rebuilding lt once We are knocked down, but | not counted out" said Mayor Kilduff to night.
 At the order of the municipal authori- ies the National Guardsmen, save for .en volunteers from each company, were relieved from duty at 9:20 D. m