New Britain herald., 1915-03-05

reached the top and was just about to take a pail of water from one of those below him when, without warn ing, the ladder broke With a loud re- port, throwing all of the volunteers to the ground. The many spectators were mortified to see young Day drop and, as he lay on the ground tenn porarily stunned, they rushed over, expecting to find him seriously in- jured or dead. He set their fears at rest by leaping up and continuing with the work.
 In the meantime, the chemical truck from the number 2 Engine house in New Britain had been sum- moned by Fire Warden Ritchie and, upon it's arrival, the hose which it carried was coupled with that of the American Paper Goods Fire Depart ment and, through a line of hose cas- fly 5000 feet long was sent a forcible stream of water which, when directed upon the burning roof of the Colby house, quickly extinguished the in cipient blaze.
 Tn the opinion of the fire warden the thre houses to the west of the burned building would all have burn ed down had it not been for the timely application of the stream of water The bucket brigade could not com pete with the strong wind.
 After, all danger was past hot COL fee, cheese and crullers were, served to those who had assisted in fighting the fire.
 Fire Warden Ritchie is to be con- graduated upon his judgment Tn turning the attention of the volunteers to the neighboring buildings when it was evident that the Oestman house could not be saved. He praised Doc McKeon and Frank Day for "their heroic work.
 Living with Gullongs.
 MT. Oestman was attending an Elks' meeting in New Britain at the time when fire was destroying his home He returned about 11:3O and was astounded upon seeing the con- ditions. He and his wife accepted the invitation of MT. and Mrs. Gullong to make their temporary home with them. MT. Oestman is foreman at the Donnelly brick yards in Kensington.
 Church Fire Just Years Ago. An interesting coincidence in con- nection with last nights fire is that it occurred on the anniversary of the conf1agration which destroyed St. Paul's old church, causing loss of | $15,O0O. That fire broke out just after midnight, March 5, 1913. Pra ctically everything was lost.
 Need of Water Emphasized. The loss of the Oestman cottage again emphaszes the pressing need Of a good water system in Kensington and today the agitation for such an improvement was given added stinl- ulus. As the discovery was made early, it is safe to say that with adequate 1 fire protection the burned house would have been saved. As it was, two, 1 if not three, other houses were saved ] by the Paper Goods action in turning l on the factory water.
 1 Crossed Wires? Although it cannot be definitely as- l certained it is the opinion of many 1 that the fire last night received it's 1 origin from crossed wires in the attic 1 It was said last night that the blaze l was caused by a defective chimney l flue. Mr. Oestman lends strength to l this theory in telling of the fact that 1 about two weeks ago, he heard a l brick fall down through the chim- I ney.
 More Discrepancies. l According to the Middletowr 1 Penny Press, East Berlin voters have l found more discrepancies in the towr 1 report. The paper has the following l to say in regard to the matter: The recent findings of the specla