The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1915-12-14
Flames Nearly Destroy
Building in Fire Closely
Following One of Monday
in Same Place Tenement
Houses Endangered In
cendiary, Say Under
writers.

Breaking out again after fremen
had considered the flames subdued, q
blaze THAI gained heasdway early this
morning at the bridgeport Mattress
Co was one of the most dangerous and
stubborn fires that the department has
had to contend with in many months
Re-enacting the scene at the great
blaze that threatened the business dis
trict only a-week ago. a ponderous ele-
vator at the top doof of the factory.
separated from its cables by the heat
of the flames, plunged in q fiery mass
to the basement OF the building
Hair Il dozen dremen, caught be-
tween the blaze on the top or the
building and the furnace Ike base-
1ne11t, stimulated to destruction by the
blazing elevator, just had time to es-
cape a trap in which lives might have
been lost warming cry from As
sistant Chief BeardsIey gave them the
knowledge OF their danger and they
had a minute or two in which to leap
down a stairway
The warehouse of the Hadley F'urni-
ture Co. adjoining the building. was
saved from the flames
Tenement houses near the burning
building were made immune by show
ers of water, but their sides were
scorched before the main IRE was ex-
zingufshed.
LET0ElX
East washington avenue
The factory is in the building at one
time known as the rag shop WHICH
furnished many thrilling scene IN
the days gone by. The FIRE yesterday
was sparks caused by friction in IA
picking machine In the shoddy depart
ment, falling on a bale of cotton useN
in nlIing the mattress.
The fremen worked until 4 o'clock
In the AFTERNOON in an endeavor to
subdue the fire, which was a snoul-
derfnex one the flames having cFept be-
tween the walls of the factory build
ing. At o'clock in the afternoon the
Aremen were sent back to their house
as it was believed that the last spark
of fire had been extinguished-
Shortly after@4 O'Clock this morning
the watchman at the plant saw great
flames leapiDE out of the second story
windows Of the factory and he sound
ed an alarm from box No. 326 at East
Washington and Housatonic, avenues.
Engine Companies and 4, Chemical
Co. 1 and Truck NO. 2 responded and
a line of hose was played upon the
second story Assistant Chief Boards
ley then ordered line OF hose carried
up the blazing stairway in order to
combat thes flames in the interior tef
the shop
Firemen had reached the top Of the
staircase on the second floor when, a
sudden gust Of wind drove the flames
into their faces and they were forced
to retreat to the sidewalk. Again the
hremen charged up the stairway and
again they were repulsed but not,
daunted. and they returned the third
time.
In the meantime the flames swept
up the elevator shaft and the top floor
OF tehf actory was a roaring mass of
names which eventually licked their
way through the roof of the building.
The elevator was on the third floor
of the burning building and suddenly
a loud crash was heard as the heavy
vehicle crassed to the bottom floor
heap OF burning material, which soon
turned the bottom floor into what re-
sembIed furnace. The heat caused
the wire cable attached to the e1eva-
tor to break
The firemen were now between two
f7res and their lives were inaperi1ed
when a large portion of the roof fell,
in. The warming of Chief Beardsley
eaved many Of the men from serious
injuries
The warehouse of the Hadley Fur
r,ftt1resCo- adtoins the mattress factory
building on the east side and damage
to furniture by water is estimated
at $500
Two 1z-famf1y tenement houses at
Main street and East washington av-
enue, about IL feet west of the burn
(Continued on Page Sd