Putnam patriot., 1915-07-16
THREATENING FIRE
Started in Hallway of Central BlOcI
 Monday Night
Most of Damage from Water and Smoke
 Origin of Fire Unknown

A fire that for the time being threat ened confiagration started in the hallway in the second story of the Central block in the heart of the busi- ness section at .1I.50 Monday night. The fire started from an unknown source in a pile of boxes and paper in the south end of the hallway.
 The building where the fire started Is not what would be called a substan- tial structure but is mostly of wood with outside walls of brick. If the fire department had no ot been prompt in esponse to the alarm and done their usual heroic work without doubt the block would have been gutted with a great property loss.
 The place where the fire started was a hard one to reach and the heat and smoke for time kept the firemen at bay. Several lines of hose were soon playing on the fire and it was confined for the most part to the hallway where it originated.
 Harry Levenson, propretor of the Putnam Clothing Com pany, states that he closed his store early but re- turned to the building late in the ev- ening for some papers and magazines. After reading awhile he went to bis boarding place and went to bed and did not hear the alarm. He said he locked the store door while he was on the premises and heard the patrolman try the door while he was within. He states that he did not go to the upper story where the fire started.
 Sergeant Hayes, who discovered the fire and rung the alarm about II 50, saw man come from the store. He door was locked with key but a pad lock on !the outerside had not been locked. The officer thought that the time he was there was about Il o'clock or shortly after.
 Dragon, the tailor, said that he vas in his place of business on the upper floor, where the fire started, until about f0o'ciock. He turned out the gas in the hallway and locked the outer door. He saw no ore about when he left the building
 The hallway of Central block has been utilized many times in the past as sleeping place for wanderers and several have been arrested for sleeping there. Tae end of the hallway was filled with wooden cases and paper and it is understood that warning had been given that the condition of the hail. way was dangerous in the matter of possible fires.
 Most of the damage to tenants of the building was from water. The Put nam Clothing Company were probably the heaviest sufferers. The jewelry store of k. G. Wright and the shoe store of C. NJ. Elliott on the street floor suffered from water In the base
  bitl's repair shop were flooded but no great loss resulted. Dragon, the tailor, had clothing wet and in the office of Searls X Russell the water permeated to a slight degree but no material dam. age was apparent while at the extreme north end of the building Robert Chadwick's watch repairing place was scarcely damaged at all. The damage roughly estimated is between three and five thousand dollars and most of the tenants are insured.
 The alarm from Box 4l always brings out large nnmber of people as it's To- cation is generally known. When the first alarm was followed by a second call just as the town clock was strik- ing the midnight hour it brought out hundreds of citizens who watched the firemen work and stayed about until the ire was under control.