Waterbury Democrat., 1902-12-26
Both Went Up In Smoke At
 Marlboro To-Day.
CIGAR STUMP WAS THE CAUSE

Thrown Into Corner by Some One Who Attended Basket Ball Game-Fire- man O'Brien Perhaps Fatally In iured-City Records Saved But 25,- GOO Volumes, Many of Them Rare and Valuable, Destroyed. -. .
 Marlboro. Mass. Dec 26.-ln place Of Marlboro's finest building, her city hall, the fire which swept through the stfuc- ture after midnight had left heap or ruins Against the broken walls were piled the mass of debris into which had gone the fine furnishings of the city offices, the equipment of the armory or a company of the state militia, and perhaps more important than all else. the entire property of the city's public library. The total loss is estimated at between $300,0O0 and $5O0,000, the diff ference in figures being due to disagree ments as to the value placed upon the contents of the library. There were 25.O00 volumes in it and it was consid- cred one of the best in the state out side of those in the largest cities.
 Michael O Brien, call fireman. who was struck by fragments of a falling
 
 feared he is hurt internally and may not recover. It is believed that the fire started in the coat room on the second story from the stump of a cigar thrown away after basket ball game yesterday.
 As it was midnight before the fire was discovered the total destruction of the building is attributed to the/fact that the fire had gained such headway before it was seen.
 The flames were first seen by Mi chael Daley, drug store clerk. They were coming from the second story windows. The first alarm was soon followed by general call. the serious nature of the fire being apparent. Marl- boro depends upon high pressure wa ter system for fire service and very quickly streams were being poured in to the building from all sides. The fire gained headway in spite of efforts to check it. The flames ran up the tower in, the northwest corner of the building and worked their way back across the structure. Three-quarters of an hour after the discovery of the fire the roof fell. After fine collapse Of the roof the walls began to crumble and it was by the fall of the front wall that Fireman O'Brien was in jured. Several other f1remen were slightly injured by flying bricks.
 The important records of the city, with the exception of a few of the auditors books. were in vault on tn" first floor and it is believed that none of these things were harmed. Work was begun today to reach. the vault and open it. < =
 The basement of the building was nsed by the police department, water department and the overseers of the poor On the first floor were the off ces of the city clerk. city auditor, city treasurer and tax collector as we'll as fhe chambers of the board of alder men and the common council with the public library rooms. Among the 25.000 volumes, many were of rare value and can never he replaced. The library also contained a valuable art collection and large number of curios On the second floor was public hall The third and fourth floors were used as an armory by Company F. Sixth regiment. NJ. V. NJ. The officers and men of Company F lose their effects and much valuable company property was destroyed.