Connecticut western news., 1913-04-10
FlREMEN ON THE JOB
Hose Company Save Burning Barn and
 No Alarm Sounded.

Hose Company Save Burning Barn and
 No Alarm Sounded.
 Just before the noon hour, Friday, the barn on the Edward Fitzgerald property, on Railroad street, occupied by Nat O. Storm, was discovered to be on fire, and ia few minutes after the discovery the chemical engine was on the spot, and members of Hose Company No. were in the building loft, where the smoke was stiflng, and directing the chemical where it would do the most good. Foreman Wigglesworth, who was'in charge, seeing that the fire in the hay and among the rafters had gained too much headway for the chem ical to overcome, ordered the hose cart brought up, add soon stream of water was pouring in, through hole chopped in the roof, which made short work of the fire and got it under control in quick time, and without serious damage to either the building or the contents.
 The fact that the fire was out within 90 minutes after it was discovered. and that IS members of the fire company were on the scene, without an alarm having been given, is 8 oreditable show ing for the company. and reassuring to the property owners of the village who may have had any doubt as to the com pany's efficiency.
 It is estimated that the total damage to the barn will not exceed $l00.
 The fire was not without its tragic features and thrilling episodes. MT. George E. Wood, the efficient chief car inspector of the o. N. E. at this station, who fortunately chanced to be near at hand when the fire was discovered, rushed to the scene. and with character istic bravery followed Foreman Wiggles- worth up the rickety stairs to the burn ing hayloft, unmindfnl of risk or danger, and taking in the situation at 8 glance, proceeded toadvise Foreman Wiggles- worth as to the most effective course to pursue in combating the flames. By that time the nozzle-men had succeeded in getting the hose through the opening and were squirting four-inch stream all around the walls of the loft, and in stead of elevating the nozzle when the stream was pointed in Mir. Woods di- rection. they evidently failed to see him and not only turned on him the full staggering force of the four-inch stream but seemed to become dazed by the re. suit of their own heedlessness, and, hay. ing found the range, actually held the stream on MT. Wood until, with the rare presence of mind of a seasoned fire 1 fighter in an emergency, he got out ot the danger zone by springing nimbly to the opening and clambering down the ladder, drenched and hatless. The more serious ones in the assembled crowd ex- pressed their negative sympathy in terms of well-concealed indignation at even said they would not blame MT. l Wood one bit fine never gave Foreman Wigglesworth another word of instruc- tion in fire fighting; but of course there seemed to look upon MT. Woods plight as an amusing affair and something to laugh at. Such people are always around in case like that. MT. Wood was somewhat vexed at first, by the occurrence, but lost no time in getting home and into suit of dry clothes. Happily he was not injured by tho ex- perience, though 1t is generally agreed by those who witnessed the affair. that he was fortunate to escape as well as he did.