Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-12-20
THE FIRE PEND
Caused Big Loss 10 the Platt
 MIl Co Last Night.


 iicient headway to wipe out the prin- cipal business blocks in Benedict street was discovered last night about 7:30 o'clock in the elevator of the Platt Mill Co by Joseph Ellery, the company's watchman. An alarm was sent in from box 412 and an- other from box 312. The companies responded promptly and when Chief Engineer Snagg arrived and saw the seriousness of the situation he called out the whole fire force and after several hours hard fighting the flames were finally subdued, but not before the long two story frame structure, about 130 feet long by probably fifty feet wide, with it's con- tents consisting of all kinds of grain. were a total loss. The building adjoins the Apothecaries' Hall com pany store rooms, which IS filled with inflammable material and 1t was miracle how the fire was kept from eating It's way through the roof and starting blaze in that structure. The firemen kept close watch on that particular spot and used water in abundance both outside and inside the building. The firemen remained on the ground until after 6 o'clock this morning when they left thinking everything was safe, but they scarce ly had time to sit down and bestow a thought on the experiences of the night when they got telephone call that the fire had broken out again. Back they went to the same old spot and gave 1t another drenching. remaining there long enough to make sure that there could be no mistake about it this time.
 The loss is estimated at various amounts, some putting it as high as $55,0O0, but Mir Camp said to-day that he hoped 1t would not reach that. although he admitted that he didn't know whether it would or not.
 Men were working at the elevator putting in oats until quitting time and couple of hours later when the watchman was going into the stable he noticed the reflection of light on one of the windows and looking around he saw the blaze in the cupo- 10. He lost no time in extinguish- ing the smouldering fire in the en- zine room and promptly sent in the alarm. At that time the fire was burning merrily and half the town were heading in that direction. It was the biggest crowd seen at a fire since the big conflagration of Feb 2. 1902, and their presence caused the firemen considerable an- noyance and gave the policemen lots to do. So many are financially in- terestcd in that particular locality that one would think half the busi- ness men in the town were in the surging throng. It Is quite close to the Farrel Foundry and Machine Co. Plume < Atwood, Randolph X Cloves The American Ring Co. the New England Watch Co, Heminway's silk factory. Tracy Bros Co. John Mraz, carpenter and builder; the Manville Bros Co; the Waterbury Lumber & Coal Co: the J. E. Smith Co, lumber: Thomas Heaton, build CT; Waterbury Crucible Co: the F. C. Bushnell Co. wholesale grocers.
 At a distance nobody could tell which of these plants was burning and the smoke was so dense at times one would think all of them were contributing to the burning. and this had something fo do In attracting such an unusually large crowd to the scene.
 The firemen did good service. and If the aldermen. who were in session at the time, could have seen the perilous position many of the boys occupied, they would probably have thought better of the proposition to give them an increase in wages. The only accident that amounted to any thing happened to William Powers of chemical No 2. who received an ugly cut on the right hand while grappling with the nozzle of hose. The wound was dressed by Police Surgeon O'Hara.
 Considering the nature of the fire snd the chance 1t had to spread. the damage Is not heavy. No adjoining property suffered anything to sneak of and the stable and other buildings of the Platt Mill Co suffered no dam age. the fire being kept fin the build- ing used for grain storage. The property was insured. but Mir Camp said to-day that he was sorry there was not more on 1t.