Norwich bulletin., 1909-10-23
MYSTERIOUS FIRE IN WESTERLY
Starts in Telephone Booth British ClubLoss 500 Insured Benevolent Ministry of Workingmens Club ID. A. R. Chapter Erects Tablet to Mark Historic Site-Repubcan Clubs Annual Linner.

Early Friday morning when Dr. M
 H. Stanlon was returning from a visit to & patient in White Rock, he dis covered smoke coming from the Pot fer r-Langwcrthy block, III High street and sent in the fire alarm from box 57, When the firemen arrived the main stairway was filled with smoke and there was difficulty in entering the building. The fire was located in the third floor of the brick block, in that portion occupied by the British club. Before it was fully extinguished an immense volume of water had been lyourned into the 5u ldi lg, and the re- suit was a tntal dama se to the build ing by fire. smoke and water of about S2,000.
 The damage was confined mainly to the north section of the building, be- longing to the estate of the late Jo- seph H. Potter. there being but little damage to the half owned by Mrs. George N. Burdick and Dr, H. A. LangWorthy. On the second floor and directly under the Briti.h club rooms aged by fire, smoke and water, and water damage was sustained by pr. James M Crowley. dentist; A. N. Will lis. ir sUrance. and Miss Lida Thomas, hair specialist The stores of Jere Purtell, shoes; the Mills tea store, the Westerly Ice Cream parlor and fruit store or the ground floor also received water damage. It is estimated that the loss, aside from the building, will total s3,000. making a total of ,s4,5OO, all of which is covered by insurance.
 The fire started in the telephone booth which is located near the bar of the British club. all of which is sep arated from the main hall by wooden temporary partition. The fire was practically confined te this room, and the contents were destroyed, the four sides being chared, the fire burning through to the corner of one of the didectly below. No fire reached the raof or exterior of the building. All the furnishings of the British club are damaged by fire. smoke or water, and the loss is practically total.
 Just how the fire originaed is mys- terious. The auditors were at work up- on the books until after midnight, in preparation for a report to the quar- terly meeting, which was to have been held Friday evening. So far as known the auditors were the last to leave the club room, and when they left and ex- tinguished the lights and locked the door there was no sign of fire, and so far as known there was nothing of combustibie nature in the club room.
 There is an ugly rumor to the effect tha some one must have entered the club room after the departure of the auditors, and that the fire was the work of an incendiary. In substantial ton of the rumor it is said that gall lon jug containing about a pint of kerosene was found by the firemen in the Etrtically burned telep'une booth. and as gas and electricity were used for artificial light that there was no legitimate use for kerosene in the club room
 The Potter-LangwoTthy block is large three story brick structure and was completed about three years ago. It was built on the site of the old Potter-Langworthy wooden building, that had been burned.
 This new building is supplied with an automatic sprinkling system, but which is not operative, as the tenants of the building declined to assume pos sible loss by reason of leakage. As to result the owners disconnected the wa ter supply from the system.
 Soon atter the fire a sentry, was placed at the door of the British club, and none but members were admitted. Later a paddock was placed on the door and all were barred admission.
 E. Howard Clark had three pianos rented in the building. one in the quar- ters of the British club, one in the rooms of the Young Mems Soicial club, and the other in the Westerly Ice Cream store. Ire one in the British club room is destroyed, and the others were damaged by water. Purtills shoe store and the tea store were closed on