The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-04-03
AN INGENDIARY FIRE
CAUSES $4,000 LOSS
POLICE ARREST NAN ON sUS-
PICIoN.

+ Au hau afoupie WIN Agent and Was
Discharged-Fire Was ON the Old
HaIstead & Harmont Stefan like
a Serpent About the Various Build
ings-Firemen Have Hard work to
Keep Fire from Adjoining STRUCTURES
Bsrned Property Owned by sIiddle-
town Savings Bank-Everythin,s
Practically Covered by Insuranee.
Fire early yesterday morning damag-
ed the various concerns which occupy
the old Haistead & Harmount property
TO the extent of about $4,000. The fact
that the fire was undoubtedly OF in
cendiary origin, and that a man has
been arrested on suspicion Of having
set it makes bhe affair all the mors
important.
On Saturday afternoon R. L Brem-
ner, the agent of the valvoline Oil com
pany. where the fire started, had some
words with Wilbur Cornelius, an en-
ploye, and it is claimed that Cornelius
struck him and also drew a revolver
on Mr.. Bremner. Some Of those pres
ent interefered and took the revolver
away from Cornelius. Cornelius was
discharged and went away vowing. it is
claimed, to get even with the agent.
/ 6n0fbar p,a N o f,.iayI ~ rs<,yx, <1s,.rx I,
who was employed at the same place,
left at the same time on account or
Cornelius discharge. Mr.. Bremner
went to police headquarters last even-
ing and complained to Captain Cowles
about the affair. A warrant was issued
but as Cornelius was not seen satur-
day night it was held until yesterday
morning.
| Officer aPtrick Welsh Of the DixwelI
avenue station, who knows Cornelius.
was given the warrant to serve. and
seeing him on the strees about Gao
o'clock yesterday he placed him under
arrest Cornelius resides at 81 Hamil-
ton street, and he tells very plausi-
BILE story about his Whereabouts at the
time the fire started. He also claims to
know nothing about it. He was helas
lon d charge of breach Of the peace
and was later released on bonds. The
police are now investigating the matter
Fire Chief F'ancher says there is no
doubt but that the ire was set by some
one.
Qsd ~
Officer Winchell was walking his beat
on Water street he saw blaze in the
office of the Valvoline Oil company,
which is at the rear of the o. w. Hum
iston building He ran to box 80 and
rang the alarm. Chief Fancher arrived
! in less than five minutes and as the
fire had eaten its way into the main
building he sent in a second alarm
The department was quickly at work
on the fire and fought it with a will.
O. w. Humiston is the successor of
the Builders Supply company, and his
place is located on the ground floor Of
the three-story building at rs, so and 81
Water street. Lewis Hawthorne about
two months ago took possession Of the
second and part of the third floor Of
trance on Water street from No, so to
! 8s. Warner & sperry occupy a part Of
the third floor also.
AT the rear Of the main building is
( the Office Of the Valvoline Oil company
the proprietors of which are Messrs
Nichols & Harris. Just off from this
is a large barn. Extending between the
first and second floors of the main build
ling to the left hand side was an addi-
ton which was occupied by c. CoWles
& Co.
The fire started in the center of tha
yalvoline Oil company, which is the
Irear building. Running like q serpent
| ii entered the main building, after de-
stroyillg the one i'll which it started.
Here the tirelnen fought 1t and kept it
from becoming general although it
burned in places not only the building
itself but the various additions. Luck
lily the wind blew the fire away from
the nearby buildings, but had it been
blowing in the opposite direction they
would have been destroyed. The build
ing occupied by the New England Lus-
tire company and the large barn We're
1.-TWO Of the buildings Threatened. The
fire found it's way into the engine room
Of the Warner & Sperry Co., but the
principal damage there was by water.
Mr. Hawthorne gives rough esti-
mate OF his loss as $4,000. Mr.. Humis-
ton said last night that the Builders
supply Co. had left considerable of their
stuff in storage with him, and that
the damage to this and his own stock
by fire and water would likely be at
least S2,000 The principal losers are
Mr.. Hawthorne and the Oil company
All the other losses to the various oc-
cupants except these are slight G.
Cowles & CO. had some goods in stor-
agee which were destroyed.
The property is owned by the Mid
dletown Savings bank and L. G. Hoad-
ley is the agent. 1t is understood that
practically the entire loss to everything
is covered by insurance. The firms
in the main building all deal in win
dows. blinds, doors, cabinet work, etc
An oil wagon was near where the fire
started, but before the fire could do
any more than scorch it 1t was moved
away.
TT, o