Waterbury Democrat., 1902-04-21

to Both Alarms Last Night-Al- though Fire Seemed to be Burning Fiercely in the Old Rink Building it Failed to Get on the Outside Samuel Root Says Repairs Will Be Made and the Business Will Go On
 as Before.
 The property populariy known as -he
 Fink commanded the attention of tDa
 ire department for few hours iast
 evening Fire started there about
 o'clock. Immediately the cry went up
 that the rink at last was doomed
 Crowds congregated on all sides to get
 what many expected and many hoped
 was the last long lingering look at the old rink. Flames twelve feet high and
 as many feet wide darted from the
 west side of the entranc. of the old
 building while the bell was tolling the alarm and for half an hour afterward
 that part of the burning structure de- handed all the attention of the fire de partment Everybody expected !he last of the rink had arrived. After fires innumerable of all kinds and sizes, despite Se repeated statement of the owners th4t the building was fire.proof, it was apparent that the rink at last was doomed to the devouriDg element. All around the entrance and along the west side the fire darted at intervals, but i'll the Chinese laundry, which was situated immediately at the west side of the entrance, the flames were dane ing q merry step which seemed to defy all the efforts of the fire department.
 Exclamations arose from the large crowd every few minutes expressing passing emotions of anxiety and ex- pectation. Anxiety that the building would not be destroyed expectation al- ternating with the evidence of the fire men's work and the renewal of the flames in some unexpected quarter along the west side of the building.
 In half an hour, however. it became too apparent that the rink was to be saved for another siege another time, that the hopes of many were doomed to disappOintment and that Building Inspector Chatfie1d would have to make his report on the condition of the build- ing as he found it last week. In an hour not q spark was left and the fire departed after having done a good nights work. The people were again convinced that the old rink is fire proof.
 The origin of the fire was in the laundry kept by Charlie Hong. How It started is not known, but it is sup posed to have been caused by dumping ashes under the flooring Official opin- lon has 1t that the continued existence of the building is not attributable to it's tenants. at least some of them. Most or them. it is saidg dump their ashes either on the floor or under the floor ing, and why q fire does not take place there every day is mystery to those acquainted with the condition of things which they claim envelope it.
 The owners of the property have not estimated their loss, but it is believed that it will not pay them to make re- pairs. Many of the stores are complete Lydestr0yed and the whole interior is charred and probably dangerous for oc- The damage to the building is protected by insurance. but the store keepers are not so fortunate. Austin < Woodruff, painters and decorators .lost all and were insured for only S1.0UO, n account of the high insurance rates n that building. Hong, the Chinese. ilso lost all. His customers will Le he principal sufferers, as he had not much property belonging to himself. The Salvation army suffered mostly through water.
 Attorney L. F. Root said this morn ng that notwithstanding general re- port the rink is again in the ring and will be doing business in day or two. That attack last night said he, twas another item of evidence Q show everybody that the rink is fire 1roof.' Samuel Root, his father, and he principal owner of the building, could not be seen.
 The lease of the property expires lext October. The building is owaed y the Roots and the ground by Elisha 4eavenworth. It is said that Mir Lea will not renew the lease
 Samuel Root said he could not esti- mate his loss. He vii, make some repairs and in short time he expects 1 the rink will be doing business at the old sta@d.
 COLuMEiA'S GREAT EVENT.