Connecticut western news., 1910-07-14
Ann Linnehan is
 Now Homeless.
Continued from 1st Page.)


 came in convulEive sobs from the huddled figure in his arms. Her clothing appeared partially saturated and an odor of kero- sene, suggested a possibility that the old lady may have been using it for lighting purposes and accidentally caused the blaze.
 She was taken to the home of Mrs. Mary Devine and her needs were looked after, but in her then weakened con- dition no questions were asked her as to the cause of the fire, and she made no explanation.
 Removes ansOId Landmark
 The Linnehan property is one of the old landmarks of Canaan. The story and half house and it's ell, built upon a triangular plot of ground on Church street, stood within few feet of the Central New England railroad, near the crossing, and for over 40 years has sheltered members of the Linnehan family. It was there, in the side yard, where some 30 years ago Grove Knicker- booker shot and killed his friend, Frank Linnehan, brother of the woman who Tuesday had a narrow escape from an awful death. They were boy friends, Knickerbocker and Linnehan, and when the gun with which he had been hunt ing accidentally discharged and ended the life of young Linnehan; it shadowed the life of Knickerbocker, and the shadow thus settled in youth, never lifted and its corroding worriments in later years ate his life away.
 The old house stood there amid a number of fruit trees that in years past had yielded prolific harvests. Of late years the premises had grown rank with weeds and the mark of neglect shown about the place. Poor health and the decreptitudes of 70 odd years had con- fined Miss Linnehan most of the time to her home. She led recluse life, alone in the cottage on that triangular patch, surrounded by the furniture of gener- ations past, many pieces possessing added value as relics of the antique, but all were destroyed in the hot fire which Tuesday morning plotted out every vestige of the old house with its contents, Ann Linnehan narrowly escaping with her life.
 Many Speculative Theories
 It was a mystery to those who saw the fire, how this decrepid woman es- capped the flames. There have been times, it is said, when she could barely totter from room to room. She was cared for by sympathetic neighbors, who brought her food from their own homes and kept an eye on her, so far as 1t was possible. There were days at time when she was visible to none days when alone in the house she remained and brooded, doing what little work she felt like doing, and allowing the rest to go undone. She led 8 hermit-like ex- istence. Neighbors often looked askance toward the house whenever the old lady was missed longer than usual, and 1t was no uncommon expression that "Some day Miss Linnehan may be dead in the house and no one will know of it until it's over." These and similar fears gave her neighbors more than an ordinary interest in the woman's g affairs.
 II haven't had anything to eat for two days except little piece of cheese l'' Thus murmured the old lady soon after her removal from the premises where sae was found in stage of almost com- plete exhaustion and her weakness and general appearance seemed to verify her claim, although neighbors say this seems incredible, as she was taken in food only q day or two before the fire.
 In the absence of direct information from Miss Linnehan herself, who alone is capable of telling how the blaze originated, all was speculation the morning of the fire as to it's actual cause. Theories wore numerous. She may have upset a lamp, in trying to light It, and thus have started the fire, or may have been using kerosene in the filling of 8 lamp, or an oil stove may have exploded Nearly every theory advanced connected kerosene with the cause of the fire. Pre- sumably from the condition of the woman's apparel when she was found. As soon as she has recovered from the nervous condition brought on by the ex- citing scenes through which she evi. dently must have passed, an effort will be made to induce her to tell the story of her experience and the causes which led up to the fire. Until she does make statement, all theories are purely speculative.
 Burned Like a Torch
 The house burned like a huge torch. Fortunately there was no wind at the t'me or other houses might have been endangered. The first notice residents of Church street had of the fire was when someone ran through the street