The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1906-09-05

A two-alarm FIRE at an early hour this
morning did considerable damage i'm one
OF the buildings Of the b. f. Smith Co.
on Mason street Pawtucket. but the ex-
cellent work OF the department was again
shown In the face that the flames were
kept confined 10 the structure I'm which
they started and therefore the loss was
not nearly as great as IL might other
wise have been.
II was Just about O'Clock this morn
ing that Charles T.. Thurber, who lives
on Mason street looked out OF the win
dow OF his bedroom and was startled 10
see great mass OF flames pouring out OF
the doorway OF the Benjamin F. Smith
Co. engine and boiler room. The building
in which his plant is located is not many
feet away from the home OF Mr.. Thurber
and II was only a fraction of a minute be-
fore he had succeeded in sending In an
alarm which was done from box 273 locat-
ed at the Dexter street crossing.
A quick response was made and II was
not more than three minutes from the
time when the flames were discovered
that there was a stream on the fire. At
this time IL looked as though the entire
plant might be destroyed and Chief But
ler realizing the danger Immediately sent
in a second alarm which soon brought the
entire fire fighting force OF the city onto
the ground.
There was a fierce battle for few
minutes because the flames were eating
into some dry lumber which made most
infiammable material, but In about 10
minutes they were under control and then
81 was only a matter of time before they
were entirely extlnguishd.
No one about the premises had any idea
OF how the fire started. but apparently it's
beginning was In the vicinity OF the boil
ers because when first seen the flames
were coming out OF the boiler room door
Just TO the left OF this room Is the en-
gine which drives the plant and In the
second story OF the structure was stored
a lot OF lumber the room being used as
dry kiln and the heat for this was sup
piled by the furnace and boilers which
operated the mill
BY the time the firemen reached the
place the fire had got into this lumber
and IL was here that the hardest fight
was made because IT was difficult TO get
a stream into the space between the piles
However the fire was confined TO this one
building which was a two-story structure
IN lower part being OF brick and the up
per OF wood.
Mr. Smith stated to the representative
OF the News Democrat this morning that
he could give no estimate OF the damage
until he learned how badly the lumber In
there was something over 10000 feet OF
lumber there and the loss on this would
be considerable. He did not think the
boilers or the engine had been very Sc
riously injured and he stated that IL he
could get new main belt which was
probable he would be able to start the
mill by Thursday morning. The loss is
covered by insurance.
BOARD OF ALDERMEN.
i. There was an adjourned meeting OF the
beard OF aldermen last evening. It's pur-
pose was 10 make the preliminary can
vass OF the voting lists which the law
demands shall be made a certain number
OF days before they are used IL is not
n very ardous duty, and although II is
required by the laws, It's performance is
something In the nature of "A, joke.
II certainly does seem iudicrous that the
members OF one branch OF the city gov
ernment are Obliged to come together I'm
regular session TO simply vote TO approve
lists prepared by the city clerk, lists which
they have never seen and lists which as a
matter OF fact have not yet come from
the printers. But II Is made necessary
under the law and this was the occasion
of the meeting last evening,
small docket OF business was also
transacted In addition TO this.
The board was called to order at s:15
q clock. Acting Mayor Wood In the chair.
and Aldermen Thayer and Bennett absent.
the records OF the last meeting were
read and approved
A petition from the United Irish societies
TO hold an entertainment In Music Hall
Sunday evening, Sept g. was referred TO
the committee on police and licenses Sim
ing petftions- Afbee- for license at
Music Hall for the season OF 1867: Lyon
and A. Gauthier for trans
fer Of victualing house licenses; Lloyd
Carr for a victualing house license,
The monthly order OF bills was ordered
paid.
on recommendation OF the committee
on police and licenses the Danghters OF
hold a masquerade ball on the evening or
Sept. Is.
Sewer assessments on william street.
amounting 20 s42925. made by the commits
sioner OF public works. were approved.
The voting lists as prepared by the city
clerk we're approved
The appointment OF George c. Stacey as
special constable was approved.
A resolution sppropriating the sum of
5000 for working and Improving Lakeview
avenue was approved.
A resolution appropriating the sum Of
1900 for working and improving Birch
street from Prairie avenue TO Crane was
passed.
There was no further meeting and the
board adjourned.
MAIN STREET CLOSED.
Commissioner Of Public Works Barclay
pas given permission to the Rhode Island
to Dexter streets today. A. an early hour
this morning force OF men was set to
work making excavations and tonight
large gang will work all night laying the
rails for the double track and placing the
Fwltches. which are made necessary un-
der the rev arrangement at this point. II
is probable that by daylight tomorrow
this work will have been completed and
Commissioner Barclay stated that by the
end OF the this week he expected that
practically all OF the work In connection
with the new rails between Broad and
Garden streets will have been completed.
II will take another week 90 finish the
work OF laying the new pavement and
setting the curbing.
NO MEETING TONIGHT.
Although this Is the night for the regu-
lar meeting OF the board OF aldermen ~
ls not likely that there will be any such
meeting, because all the business which
would naturally have come up tonight was
attended 20 last evening ~ II probable
that the city clerk will have considerable
difficulty In findlng a quorum when he
takes his place tonight
BODY IDENTIFIED.
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