Putnam patriot., 1913-01-31
Another BigFire
Hotel Chickerine Gutted
Guests Have a Narrow Escape

estimated at between Sl5,0O0 and s20,0oU. The occupants of the hotel
 were, obliged tc flee in scanty attire and in some instances were rescued
 with difficulty.
 shortly after 80 Monday morning Joseph Burton was on his way to his
 room in the hotel and saw flames coming out of the cellar near the boil. CT. He immediately gave the alarm and soon the-entire fire fighting force of the city was on the scene. Railroad l locomotives blew their whistles and people all over the city were awakened
 by the din.
 The first thought of those early on
 the scene was for the sleepers in the
 house. The fire ran from the cellar to
 the third story through partitions and
 the house was soon full of dense i black smoke. Those who entered to
 arouse the sleeping guests and employ
 es had difficulty in again getting out
 as they were nearly overcome by the
 smoke and were obliged to crawl upon 1 theiristomachs in order to get suifi- cient air.
 Conductor Clark and crew of extra
 409 northbound drop local bound for
 Worcester, Conductor Mcleod and crew of train A. B. I, bound for Bos-
 ton, Conductor Darcy and crew of the
 yard switcher, and yard clerks Egan
 and Cotton, were the first to rush into
 the burning building and at risk of
 their lives awaken those who were sound asleep in their rooms. They
 did heroic work and soon all of the in-
 mates were out and taken care of.
 The Hotel Chickering block was owned by R. H. Bradley. 1t was val ued at about $25,000 and insured for Sls,O00. The hotel property was owned by Landlord J. T. Mcclellan
 who bought out NJ. M. Dwyer last June. The property of MT. Mcclellan
 was valued at some seven or eight I thousand dollars and insured for $4500. He also lost considerable sum of money and some valuable diamonds. Other occupants of the block all of l whom sustained some less,e although not heavy, were Charles Miron, barber shop, Putnam News Company, C. G. Talbot, Geeson's meat market, and George Rawley's plumbing establish ment. In most of these places some if not all of the property was removed, and while the fire was still burning the newsroom opened up for business in the old Pray meat market on Main street. Willing hands helped in sav- ing property.
 Everything was excitement until it was assured that all the inmates were safely out. Just what happened in the confusion is not exactly known. Landlord Mcclellan did ali in his power to get his guests out and time after time rushed back into the sufio- eating smoke to assure himself that everybody was safe. The last time he went in he was overcome on the third story and fell to the floor where gust of air from an open window revived him so that he crawled to the street below. His only thought was for his guests and his own loss was not con sidered
 k. NJ. Johnson, one of the former proprietors of the City hotel, was asleep in the building. The whistles woke him up and he at first thought that there was a freight car on fire Black smoke coming into his room ap- prised him that the fire was in the building. He .hastily dressed and went out into the smoke-fiiled hall- way. His first thought was for his son and his former partner MT. Hast ings. He went to their rooms and pounded upon the doors. Getting no response he thought they had left so he went out. Failing to find either he again went into the building and sought their rooms. He was overcome and had to be assisted out by the land
 
 found to be all right.
 William Dwyer, an employe, also had experiences in getting out the guests. Had he not been very famil- far with the house 1t would have been impossible for him to grope his way out when he at last realized it was time to save himself, as he was blind- ed and almost suffot ated by the smoke.
 That no lives were lost was due wholly to good fortune. Had not MT. Burton discovered the fire when he did some of the guests would certainly have been suffocated in their beds. The building was wreck Monday morning as thousands Iof gallons of water had been poured into 1t. The fire was an ugly one to handle as the flames crept through partitions and could only be reached by chopping holes. Within a few minutes after the firemen arrived 1t was thought the fire had been extinguished, but it soon burst out at various points. While the building still stands and none of the floors sank in there is in reality nothing left but shell and it will be long time before the building can be again put in condition for occupancy. MT. Bradley in speaking of the matter said he was not decided what course to pursue, but is certain of one fact that l, If he remodels the structure 1t will con- tain but two stories hereafter.