Connecticut western news., 1911-11-02
WAS A FAKE FIRE
But the Bremen Got There, With
 Bells On.


 Bells On.
 At just $40 o'clock, Friday night, when almost everything was still and most of our honest people were in the land of Nod, or fixing to get there. an alarm of fire was sounded by the frantic ringing of the Methodist church bell. Those who had gone to bed got up hasti- ly and rushed to the windows to see, if possible, where the confiagration was raging those who had not yet retired ran out into the streets, and were not long in discerning a distinct and con- stantly brightening illumination ln the neighborhood of the railroad station. and there was general stampede in that direction, @ number of persons shouting Fire" as they ran.
 The High School dance was in prog ress at the time, and a number of the members of Canaan Hose Company were there, tripping the light fantastic when the solemn bell began to ring. For the time being it broke up the dance. The brave firemen abandoned their fair partners in the middle of a two-step and rushed from the hall. as in duty bound.
 By this time enough other firemen, who can't dance, had reached the hose house and started for the fire with the chemical engine. ca turning the corner near Dempsey's drug store they found the confagration was monstrous bon fire, on the depot park, which was con- suming big heap of packing boxes soaked with kerosene. The boys went at it. nevertheless, with as much energy and enthusiasm as if the depot itself were on fire-as many persons thought it was-and in just two minutes from the time the bell began to ring, the fire men had a stream of chemicals squirting on the flames. Two minutes later the hose cart appeared on the scene, capably manned, and the purpose of the 'in- cendiaries" was accomplished. That very few citizens. was to see how long it would take the firemen to assemble and get their apparatus to a fire, with no fore-knowledge of the affair; aud the conspirators were more than satis- fled with the fine showing of their fire 
 Although, in the main, taken by sur prise, the company demonstrated that when emergency arises they may be depended upon to render prompt and efficient service.
 The experiment. was not without its humorous features. A card party was in progress at E. l.. Roberts house, and Med" declares that on the first stroke of the bell Henry Ives gave jump that upset the card-table and scattered kings, queens and jacks all over the room, and grabbing somebody else's hat. leaped through the front window, taking sash and all with him.
 Barber Joe Ganci, a member of the Hose Company. had gone to bed. but hastily got up and started for the fire with only one shoe on.
 Fireman Harry Holt remarked Tn the early part of the evening that if a fire should break out while he was at the dance he would have his boots handy. as they were in the postoffice. When the alarm came he forgot all about his rubber boots and never went near the postoffice.
 Persons running up the street heard others, at the windows along the road exclaim "My God it's the depot. '"
 Some of the dancing fremen had their good clothes soiled and did not return to the dance after the fire was out.
 It is worthy of special note that at the roll-call, after the fire, eighteen firemen answered to their names. out of total membership of 23.