Waterbury Democrat., 1902-02-03

By far the most disastrous fire in the history of Waterbury was discov- cred about 6:2O o'clock last evening in the block occupied by Reid & Hughes. Bank street dry goods merchants It had gained considerable headway be fore an alarm was sent in and the flames were shooting in all directions when the big gong at the Connecticut Lighting and Power Co.'S plant gave seven screams which attracted eyes towards the center. The firemen re- soon as Chief Snagg saw the situation he sent in a general alarm. Streams of water were poured onto the burning building. but they seemed to add to its fury. and the fierce wind which was blowing at the time drove the tongues of fire across the street, and before some people realized what was up the old American building across the way was ablaze and small pieces of burn ing timbers were whirling in all direc- tions giving things the appearance of sharp shower of fire and birthstone.
 At this juncture, realizing the seri- ousness of the situation. Mayor Kilduff and Chief Snagg held a hurried con ference, and concluded to call assist ance from outside towns, and immedi- ately the mayor put himself in com munication with the authorities at Naugatuck, Watertown, Torrington, Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven. All the towns mentioned re- sponded, some of them coming equipped with the best apparatus they had, and considering the magnitude of the confagration and the difficulty the combined companies had in check ing it's progress, it must be plain to all that had it not been for the aid re- ] ceived from neighboring towns the en- tire city in and around the city would have been wiped out. Mayor Kilduf also communicated with Governor Me Lean regarding the calling out of the militia and the governor wired Colonel Geddes to call out Companies G and A.
 After the receipt Of the communi cation from the governor an alarm was sounded calling out the militia. Col onel Geddes assigned the soldiers to different places about the burning dis tricts for the purpose of saving prop erty which had been carried out of the burning structures and also to keeE back the surging throng that had be come so large and impatient that il was thought best to take steps to con trol them.
 The wind was blowing at q rapid rate and by 9 o'clock, despite the he roic efforts of the great army of fire nen, the flames worked their way from the starting point across t South Main street, opening up an ave nue in direct line from Reid Hughes store to Brook street, and go street to Leayenworth street, eating III the Franklin house and all the magnif cent buildings along the line, includin: the plant of the Waterbury American The collapse of some of the large brick structures made q tremendou noise, the dull thud caused as the. came to the ground being heard ol the outskirts of the city. This wa especially so when the New Englan, Engineering Co.'S and the Boston Fur niture Co.'S came down.
 Viewed this morning. the scene i one long to be remembered. Banl street, both sides. from the spot wher Reid & Hughes building stood to point almost opposite Center street is in ruins. The street Is impassabl to teams. and men and women wh venture past given point are met b. a soldier, with rife in hand, wh promptly shouts sHaltr' If the per son has any rights inside tho line h Is allowed to go ahead and if not h is turned back Almost all the build ings within the point mentioned ar blackened masses of charred and burr ns tmhsrss uith giant iron pillar