Norwich bulletin., 1909-04-14


trell, chief OF the Westerly fire de-
partment for assistance, there being
no regularly organized department at
that place. While the chief was will
ing TO render assistance, it was deemed
ampracticable under the conditions.
Hope Valley is thirteen miles distant,
and no speedy arrangement could be
made for railroad transportation, Hope
Valley being off the main line and on
the Wood River branch road. There.
fore 1t would be necessary to haul
steam fire engine by horses. the entire
distance, and fourhorse hitch would
be necessary. There would be delay in
getting such q team, and it would be
at least four hours before the steamer
could reach the scene of the fire, and
by that time there would be no need
for service. Therefore Chief Cottren
did not consider it advisable to at
hempt to render assistance.
The Dock engines. the invention OF
Herman Dock of Westerly, were man
ufactured at the Nichols & Lang
worthy plant, but OF late but little
business was being done by the con-
Germ. A number of Westerly people
went to Hope Valley In automobiles
and others left here on the ZIG train
The fire was caused by an explosion
of gasoline in the gas engine depart
ment, in a wooden building, alongside
the main brick structure, and in
brief period the big machine shop was
g mass Of flames and became total
loss. In the rear of the main Building
the boiler house and pumping station
was located and streams of water were
put on the fire, doing effective service
for time, but soon the pressure be-
came reduced and there was but very
little force to the streams.
Within an hour the brick building
was In ruins and all the valuable ma
ob4parw dact ravaH In b fle bUildiDQ
where the fire originated there were
City big Dock engines set I'D ana al
most ready for delivery. and these, too,
were destroyed
A strong southwest wind prevailed
and the fire reached out and swept
the old wooden mill structure near by
out of existence. The old two-story
boarding house owned by the company
was also totally burned. Just beyond
this house was the cottage of Mrs.
George Kenyon, who died there Sun
day, and the body was still in. the
house. The fire fighters made almost
superhuman effort to save this struc-
ture and succeeded The house caught
fire several times and finally the body
was removed. fearing that the house
would be burned.
The buildings consumed by the fire
were the main brick factory, the gaso-
line engine structure the tenement
house and barn. There was fear that
the houses in that section Of the vii
lace would all be destroyed and from
many the household effects were re-
moved as a precautionary measure.
The old Owen mill building on the
Richmond side of the river caught fire
from the floating embers, but was
protected by the fire fighting appara-
tus connected with that plant. For
distance Of a mile houses were endan-
gered and the roof of tho Louisville
mill, half a mile distant, took fire and
was burning briskly when discovered.
It was extinguished, however, before
serious damage resulted. The loss is
estimated at 100000, and is partially
insured.
The protest of the ministers Of West
erly against the holding of wrestling
matches in the adjoining town of Ston-
ingron, although argumenta1iye and
very nicely worded. has evidently had
no effect upon the Stonington authori-
ties or the men who manage these
sporting events in the village Of Paw
catuck. Cards announcing a wrestling
match between Jim Barnes of Spring
feel and Bill Collins, champion Of Con-
necticut, have been posted in conspicu-
Gus places in westerly where the pro-
testing ministers. as well as those who
are not opposed. can readily read This
latter class objects to the protest of
Westerly people. claiming that it
would be well for them to regulate the
affairs OF their own town before die
tating the conduct of matters in a
town Of which they are no part.
In order to better accommodate the
reading public of this section, begin
ming Thursday Of the present week,
there will be a change Of hours in the
circulating department of the Wester-
4 IL, -r~f1T 10
open for business continuously from
$50 a. m. TO Q P. m, on Mondays,
Thursdays and Saturdays, and from
$50 a. m. to .. m, on Tuesdays,
Wednesdays and Fridays. Heretofore
the circulation department was opened
at 10 a. m. and closed from to 2 and
from 70 Z, on evenings when the de-
partment was open.
The building proper ana reading
room has always been open from 9 a.
m. to $50 .. M, and these Same hours
will be maintained.
II is the intention Of the board of
trustees and Librarian Peacock to
gradually improve the already excel
lent service Of the Westerly public IL
brary-
Judge Oliver n. Williams, grand ex-
allied ruler and district deputy, will
install these officers Of Westerly lodge
Of Elks this wednesday, evening:
Louis T.. Barbour. exalted ruler;
Charles S. Collins, esteemed leading
knight; Robert L. L. Mason, esteemed
loyal knight; Joseph Mahoney, esteem
ed lecturing knight; Joseph /. Leni-
han, secretary; John 3. Johns, treas
urer; Daniel J. Whalen, outside guard;
Martin II. Spellman, trustee After the
installation there will be a social sest
sion.
At the annual meeting Of Christ
Episcopal church corporation vestry-
men for the ensuing year were elected
as follows: Edwin Babcock, William
Hoxsie, Orville Stillman, H. H. Bah
MIR. Thomas S. Underwood,
Painter and Paper Hanger.
Work done at reasonable price.
Orders left at 81 Broadway promptly
attended to.
Phone 1884. mar24d
C. {. HODGE,