The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-02-22
SHIP MATES 20 YEARS AGO, THEY
 MEET IN PERIL
Milford Fire the Occasion of Strange Reunion of For
 mer Comrades
NEITHER KNEW OTHER
 UNTIL ORDEAL PASSED
How Destruction of Ancient Building Effected Renew
 al of Friendship

Twenty years ago, Thomas Stanton was first mate and Frank Kelly, sec Abbey, plying between Boston, Hong Kong and Singapore. In 1895 they decided to give up thes sea and try their luck ashore. With their dun mage bags ashore and pay for their last voyage in their pockets they shook hands on the dock at Boston and parted company. Neither heard from the other for the score of inter vening years until fate threw them together again in Milford last Thurs day night Unknown to the other, each sought g, lodging for the night at the town lookup. Just as in tha old sea faring days when one had slept in a bunk above the other, they slept in hunks locked in the cell room in the cellar of the town hall
 They might have awakened in the morning and each gone his way with out recognizing the other except for the incident which nearly cost them their lives. They were awakened shortly after midnight to find the building ablaze about their heads. How a fellow wayfarer, John Tote, with a piece of iron pipe broke 1 through the ceiling above them and made hole through which escape was possible for the five in the locked cell room, has already been told in the newspapers.
 NGXL morning Stanton and Kelly. sat side by side in the office of the Milford selectmen waiting action by those officials Stanton had lost his overcoat, under coat, hat and shoes and stockings. He also lost a set Of false teeth with gold plate which he had taken from his mouth and wrapped in his overcOat. Some char
 itable person at Milford gave. him an old cap, old pair of shoes and an old coat but he had no stockings.
 He also last a pair of gold trimmed glasses. Kelly had lost his coat and
 overcoat and hat. The men in low tones discussed their experiences of Ithe night before. As they looked at each other the veil Of twenty years
 was swept, aside in a wave of recogni- I tfon and recollection.
 Hello, matte exclaimed Kelly reaching out his right hand.
 Well, old pardner, replied Stan- I ton. But he shook with his left hand, l for his right arm is gone at the .lshouIder.
 Since he and his shipmate parted company twenty years before Stanton a heroic surgical operation in which his right arm and part of his right Il side were removed was necessary to save his life Stanton now wears a big silver plate where his right arm I used to be.
 IL l man Kelly is a laborer. The Mil ford seIectmen gave Kelly $2 to sign a release of the town for liability for
 damages he suffered in the fire.
 John Tote was the most badly burn ed of the five received SIG. So did
 Frank Birsket. the umbrella man who lost his kit of tools and his clothing. I Frank Smith another of the wayfar- T CTS received $2. stanton refused to sl take any money or to sign any papers flor the se1ectmen.
 After Stanton and Kelly had talked for several hours the former came to Il this city where he spent Friday night with married sister. Kelly drffted
 out of town as quietly as he had I drifted in. He didn't tell anyone where he was going and it may be twenty years before he and Stanton 4 meet again.
 The cat whose moving awoke the Il sleeping men when the fire started, I will be cared for in the future at
 Holmes confectionery store in Mill
 ford Smith left a. half dollar of his
 money to keep the cat supplied with milk for this week at least.