The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1906-01-29
Saved LIVES OF
|MANACLED BOYS
apprentices Were Rescued From
Burning Building.
CONSTELLATION THREATENED
lucky Change Of the Wind Saved Hlst'rc
Sister Ship Of the Famous Constitution
From impending OsstructIsa
CONSTELLATION THREATENED

A thrilling rescue OF manacled sailors, a
ucket brigade 1900 strong and heroic
york In saving boxes OF ammunition from
he midst of flames were some OF the
leeds Of the marines. sailors and naval
pprentices during a fire which destroyed
even buildings at the naval training sta
ion at Coasters Harbor island last night,
ausing a loss OF 100000.
When the flames broke out in the ma
hine shop adjoining the detention build
ng, ~ boy prisoners were staying there
unconscious of their danger.
Physical Instructor Joseph Kirby, real
zing their danger. went 10 their rescue.
With the aid OF several others.
He could not see them. but they an
'wered his call. All were in handouts.
When Kirby reached the detention
building the smoke nearly blinded him.
supported by "a line of men. Kirby made
lis way TO the spot where the boys were
n confinement and passed them back one
by one TO the men behind him and so
put onto the sea wall
In passing over the sea wall two OF
he manacled boys jumped overheard to
save themselves. and over he went after
hem. They were good swimmers under
ordinary circumstances. but Kirby knew
hat their shackles would greatly hamper
hem in their efforts 10 keep afioat. He
iucceeded In reaching them and bringing
hen into the dock, where the trio were
helped out by comrades.
Forming human life line, Kirby's as
sstants brought all the confined men ~
safety
SEVEN BUILDINGS DESTROYED.
k.,rgf
detention building. machine shop, paint
shop, paymasters storehouge. carpenters
shop ana two small storehouses.
The fire was discovered about $3.50
clock by Private John Kelly OF the ma
Irines. A hurried investigation disclosed
that the fire was making rapid headway.
house at 1926. and In less than Ave minutes
nearly 1000 men and boys were on their
way TO the scene. Their number was
constantly added to I'LL II reached 1Jo0 offi-
GERS men and apprentices.
The regular hrehghting methods OF the
station were put In use, hve lines or men
being formed 10 rush buckets. The fire
was at that time only in the rear end
OF the carpenter shop but It was observed
by Capt. Sawyer that, as active and as
eager as his force was. they would soon
be overwhelmed. In fact, after the station
force had been fighting the fire ten min
utes. IL had spread from the carpenter
shop TO the gymnasium. and IL seemed
Imminent that not only that building
which was OF brick, $50 feet long by 90
feet wide. but others, would be destroyed
Then Capt Sawyer called up fire de-
asked for aid. Chief Engineer Kirwin win
had a box alarm sent In al 9:35. and In a
few minutes steamers /, 4 and and hook
and ladder l were on their way to the
station.
With the wind west, IT looked Just after
the fire had broken out az II the old fris-
ate Constellation, which rests on a bed OF
mud at the end Of a long pier at the sta
tion, was In danger, and the idea OF NOV
ing her 10 n safe berth was being con-
Itemplated when the wind changed, and
the shower OF sparks and flying embers
which 1t was thought would envelop her
later were blown off down the bay. where
they fell harmlessly into the water
Early many OF the men gave their at
tention TO the saving OF property stored
I'm the buildings. particularly n large num-
Der OF cutters and whaleboats that were
In the gymnasium. Getting out those on
the second floor was impossible; Il was
though that several OF the ~ or more on
the lower floor could be dragged out.
| All but one Of the boats. were DESTROYED.
They were mostly whaleboats used by
the seamen apprentices in drill They
were, though. the beet that are made.
and their loss will add greatly to the ex-
tent OF the damage.
AMMUNITION REMOVED.
Several boxes or ammunition were
stored in one OF the buildings adjoining
the gymnasium and this was taken out
by the marines who reached the scene
early. The effort was a heroic one. and
when the officers learned that the car
tridges were out of danger they were
much relieved.
At this time the paymaster's office and
storehouse were burning fercely. but the
men and boys managed TO make their
way into the building and remove MANY
OF the stores. The safe was opened nv
the paymaster, and all the money and
official documents were removed ana
placed under guard OF marines
The fire-hghting forces were increased
during the night by details from the tor
pedo station and from the naval war COL
lege.
1t was not till midnight that the fire
was under control At that time tho
gymnasium building was merely a n,Ie
OF brick or the carpenter and machine
shops adjoining II at the north nothing
was left but the walls farthest from the
gymnasium building. These two buildings
we're OF wood, two stories high, and aboI,
lc0x50O feet. The prisoners detention
building. which was the smallest struot-
ure OF the group, was wholly destroyed
and three coal sheds were also IN ruins.
There is not much doubt but that the
Are. which broke out In the machine shop.
caught from shavings being in contact
with the steam pipes.
Ten OF the cutters which were In IN.
gymnasium were destroyed They are