The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-04-25
TWO ALARMS IN
PAWTUCKET.
Benedict House Block Damaged
$4,000 by Fire.
WATER And SMOKE HELPED.
Blaze Started In the Cellar and by Splendid
Work Of the Department Was Con-
fined There.
WATER AND SMOKE HELPED.

The nrst two-alsrm fre for over two
years. and one in which a greater amount
of damage was done than In all the fires
for that period combined. started shortly
before 8 o'clock yesterday afternoon. and
for a short period threatened serious de-
structioon of property in and about Main
street and Trinity square.
The nre started In the cellar OF the
Benedict House building and caused .
total loss of about $4,000. The Benedict
House Is the largest wooden building In
Pawtucket and is surrounded by other
large wooden buildings. and Is located
right In the heart OF the business center
OF the city.
officer Dwyer rang In the alarm from
box "A. nearly all the fre apparatus OF the
city responding TO alarms from this box.
Before the first piece of apparatus ar
rived at the fire about two minutes after
the ringing Of the alarm, dense masses or
smoke were pouring out of the stores
on the Broad street side of the building.
Several streams OF water were being
directed to the cellar from the front and
rear. so dense was the smoke which
rolled out that some OF the hremen were
overcome Two large tanks of some sort
OF solution In the basement of the candy
store exploded. BY this time the smoke
was finding Its way to the upper part OF
the building and alarm was spreading
among the guests In the hotel who began
TO gather up their belongings Two OF
three OF the girls employed az Mattresses
tainted during the excitement OF getting
out.
Every now and then fames would dart
out from the side. and ClAuf Butler
deemed IL advisable to pull In a second
alarm, and at 6:l5 O'Clock was under con-
troll
,xt.L,. ~ ..t.,,,o. 49, 81. a.. ,io-.,
had been sounded IL looked as IL the
building was doomed and there was much
apprehension felt and the second alarm
was rung In at $50 o'clock. and brought
out every available piece OF apparatus In
the city. Chief Engineer Patt OF the Gem
trail Falls fire department offered assist
ance, and after the second alarm had
been sounded two pieces OF apparatus
from that city were assigned to No. 2
station I'm case OF emergency.
The fire ragged with such fierceness In
the cellar that the place was badly gutted.
Nearly all OF the partitions and support
ins beams were destroyed. and IL was
feared last night that the first floor at
different points might give away. The
loss on building will amount TO several
thousand dollars. n. G. Taylor OF Worces-
ter owns the property and ls insured In
several companies through the agency OF
Starkweather A Shepley.
The FIRE occasloned loss estimated at
Sl2.o 600 n greater part OF which was caused
/ by smoke and water Russell a Caldwell,
milliners and furriers. who occupied the
store at Broad street suffered n loss OF
/ about 1880 and carried no insurance.
The Purple Trading Stamp company
/ carried an extensive stock of merchan-
/ disc, and the damage there will be more
l than 1900 The last store I'm tho block on
I the Broad street slde was occupied by
! the New York Candy Kitchen company.
| and its loss was almost complete with no
| insurance.
Smoke and water caused much damage
! to the furnishings I'm the hotel
/ Smoke found its way 10 all parts OF the
\ building and caused considerable damage
I 10 the furnishings. Mr. Donneily carried
/ only about ttcOn In insurance. and he stat
cd last night that his loss would almost
/ reach that amount.
The firms occupying the Main street
/ side did not sufrer 20 much. although the
/ store OF NJ Moy was considerably dam
| aged. all by smoke and water. In a few
I places, only. did the nre eat through
! from the cellar. the fremen combining the
blaze 20 that portion OF the building
1 The Band of Faithful Workers will meet
| NJ the Randall square INSTITUTIONAL mis-
| sion. 81 Gladstone avenue. Sunday after
4 noon at 4 o'clock. Mr. Russell A. Buxton
viii speak. All are cordially invited.