The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-10-17
MANSION BURNED
 ID THE GROUND. The PaIatiaI Waddingham House in West Haven Completely Gutted
 Last Night.
THOUSANDS AT THE SCENE
FIRE STARTED AMONG SOME
 PAINTS IN THE KITCHEN.

Before the Department Arrived There
 the Mansion Was in Flames-FiTemsn
 Didn't Have a Chance-PrOperty Re-
 gently Purchased by T. Fl. LinahaD-
 History of the Famous Residence-
 Arrests at the Fire.
 The Waddingham mansion on Elm street, West Haven, was entirely de- stroyed by fire last evening.
 While Burnam McDermott, of Fourth avenue, West Haven, a sixteen-year- old boy, was standing near Maple street and First avenue at o'clock last eve- ming he heard an explosion and saw flames breaking out of the windows of the house and pulled box 42, located on that corner. The entire West Ha- ven fire department responded, but as the fire had undoubtedly been burning for some time they could do nothing to quell the flames.
 Thomas H. Lnahan, the owner of the building. with his family, was at the scene of the fire for a short time last night. He said that it was impossible to state just what the loss would be, but that he was fairly well insured. The insurance is all in companies rep resented by J. c. Kerrigan, and al- though no definite amount can be giv- en- the insurance will amount to be- tween $S5, 900 and $40,000. This is in small policies in the several compa- nies.
 MT. Linahan said that it was his in | tention to occupy the mansion within few weeks. There was need of some new decoration by reason of the build 1 ing having been so long unused, and 1 that force of six painters had been at work for about ten days. They had nearly completed their work, after which force of carpenters was to be- gin work within few days. He said that he was first informed of the fire by gentleman on the car while com l ing into the city to have chat with MT Kerrigan with reference to further improvements and alterations other than those already begun and partially completed. Mir. Linahan remained near the fire until late hour last night.
 The cottage formerly occupied by the Waddingham family was in great dan ger of being destroyed, but owing to the efforts of the firemen it was saved. This cottage is occupied by the fami- lies of Timothy Whittlesey and John H. Bradley.
 The fire was discovered burstinG out of the east wing of the building an6 seemed at the start to be confined tc the lower floors, but it quickly gained
 headway and enveloped the entire
 building. The building was of stone
 and brick but every particle of wood
 work in it including the floors, roof ant
 walls was eaten up by the flames.
 Charles Schenck, the painter of 4;
 Williams street this city, had been do
 ing some work in the mansion and thu
 general impression last evening wa
 that the fire started in room whert
 some paint and oils had been left. On
 story pertaining to the origin of tn
 fire was that just before the painter left one of them was seen to empty tn
 ashes from his pipe near where som paint and oils were and that they start ed a small blaze which In time reachet
 the woodwork.
 . There were several gas explosion causing blue flames to leap from tn windows. There seemed to be no one i the building at the time the fire start ed and William Wood, of No. 2's hoo
 and ladder, one of the first men on tn , scene, stated that the fire had gaine r such headway before the alarm wa 2 sent in that it was impossible to chec - it. The fire quickly burned out the in :, terior of the building. and at $40 tn \ roof fell with loud report.
 The top of the high tower on tn , north side of the building fell with
 crash which was heard for many block ! away at SIS. The large arch whic encircled the drive way on the sam i side quickly caught fire and burned
 the ground, as did the conservatory at
 joining the south wing. There was
 large portico fronting the private drive 1 way which also fell with a crash abol , half an hour later.
 4 One of the West Haven Bremen s speaking of the fire said that the d.
 partment was greatly handicapped
 the water company only giving the
 fifteen pounds pressure when their col = tract called for fifty pounds. On a.
 count of the fearful heat and the veal , ness of the streams they were unable 5 pour much water on the flames ? Numbers of houses in the neighbo , hood ignited from the flying spark is but the blaze each time was discover' '. and put out before any serious damal
 was done The roof of Oscar Beebe
 house on Smith street caught fire did Temperance hall and the roof 1 Frederique R. Lewis, the real esta 2 dealer, on Center street. A spark S ; fire to the roof of the house occupied
 Gustave Dendell at 12 Smith street al
 burned a large hole in the roof. but .e waa finally extingulshed. All t houses on Smith and Center streets b 4 tween Third and Union avenues, we 2 in danger from the sparks, but by car 5 full watching were saved. The sight W