The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-12
PAWTUXET.

Shortly before $40 this morning. as
Stewart Massard OF the Rhode Island
Yacht club was taking a preliminary ,ouk
around to determine what sort OF a day
was promised. he saw a bright red glare
| against the southern sky which indi-
Gated fire. He started TO fire his cam
non TO give the alarm but on second
thought made his way to the vYllaSs and
warned several members Of the voIun eer
FIRE company.
An alarm OF fire was rung from tho
Baptist church bell and In a short tire
the hose wagon was speeding to the s.enc
OF the FIRE. which it was at first feared
was located In one OF the big summer
residences on the Neck. II was dnaJy
located in a small summer cottage owned
by John Blaisdell and located on Buffers
wharf which Is owned by DR.. Sayer Has
brouck
The little building. which is about
1Sx25. was a roaring mass OF flame and
the roof had already fallen In before the
arrival OF the firemen. The flames fan
ned by the strong westerly wind, made a
beautiful spectacle which was all the
more enjoyed as the element OF danger
from sparks was left out. the only build
Ing In range being Sabin's point light
house, about a mile OF shore
80 strong was the wind that n fence
at the edge OF Dr. Hasbrouck's barn and
barely three feet from the burning house
was untouched.
The building was so nearly DESTROYED
thanks 10 the wind, that the fremen did
not deem IL necessary TO put n stream
onto IT, They tore the building apart.
however. and saved as much OF the wood
as was possible
The building has been used by Mr.
Blaisdell for his solitary dwelling place
both winter and summer for many years.
About two years ago. In the winter he
was driven out OF bed by gale which
sent waves across the wharf and 20 feet
over the cottage and forced him TO run
Tor high ground with his precious violin
under one arm and his clothing I'm the
other. Since then he has only lived there
during the spring. summer and fall
months. moving to the city I'm the winter
The building was flled with the rigging
from his yacht at the time OF the fire and
much Of IL is totally destroyed
Several anchors OF the mushroom type
and small iron cannon were rescued
The usual combination OF rats and match
es was assigned as the cause OF the FIRE
At the Baptist church Sunday, Rev. r.
Il. Bartlett announced that on Tuesday
there would be ladies' missionary meet
ing at the parsonage. Wednesday even
ing "A supper will be served by the ladies'
Aid society. at which nearly every known
variety of fire will be served and Thurs
day evening the regular prayer meeting
will be held at the church.
lie stated that he hoped that the mem
bers would put forth a special effort 90
attend this meeting. as it was OF i'm
portance equal 10 the Sunday service.
Conductor Amos Kent of the Broad
street line noticed n strong small of
smoke I'm his car Saturday morning and
thinking that perhaps some careless in
dividual had neglected TO throw his cigar
stub away went through the car IN
search OF the offender. No smoker was
found but the smell OF smoke grew strong
er and he traced IL TO the corner near the
door. whore well dressed man was seat
ed The passengers. too. began to smell
the bad odor and they too fastened sus-
picion on the man az the door. who de-
MED that ne had been smoking
lie agreed To take of his overcoat and
as he did 80 he found 10 his amazement
that the entire lower part of hts under
coat had burned away and that sparks
we're eating their way into the upper
part OF the garment The conductor ex-
tlnguished the sparks with hts gloves and
the passenger. admitting the charge ~
being warm baby" sat down 20 think
over his narrow escape.
Before the snow and the rainstorm
which followed ~ came yesterday. the
cove was covered with skaters and some
of the bolder of them skated far down
the cove over the treacherous black ice |
covering the swiftly running current. |
They returned without accident 20 the re- ,
lief of the spectators. who prophesied
all sorts Of accidents.