Norwich bulletin., 1916-08-03
WESTERLY BREMEN AT STONINCTON
Aid Fighting Blaze Which Does $sOOO Damage at Ferci nand Wheeler Pace-Palmer Street Crossing Ordered Guarded Day and Nght-Body of Arthur s. Savoy Sent to New Orleans.

Chief Engineer Samuel G. Cottrell of the Westerly fire department, re- ceived a call for assistance at a fire on the Centre farm, in the town of Stonington, located on the Mystic road, about four miles from Westerly and perhaps an equal distance from Mys- tic. The farm is owned by Ferdinand Wheeler and is one of the largest in the town. Fire was discovered in the large barn about 1920, Wednesday morning. Among the first to arrive was Charles P. Williams, of Stoning- ton, who went Lo the fire in one of his high powered automobiles. In the absence of MT. Wheeler he assumed charge of the situation and immedi- ately telephoned to Westerly, Pawca- tuck and Mystic fire departments. The powerful triple combination LaFrance machine from Mystic, equipped with pumps, chemicals, hose and ladders, was the first to arrive. making the run in five minutes. The big machine was driven down 8 rocky COW path to pond in the border of marshland. line of hose was quickly laid, the pumps started and in short order there was a strong stream of water on the blazing barn.
 In the meantime. the fire had com muniCated to a carriage house and to the milk house, in the direction of the large farmhouse, but the stream of water from the Mystic apparatus checked the fire and saved the house from destruction.
 The Cyclone motor apparatus, with hose and chemical, bearing Chief Cot trell and a working crew, made the run in seven minutes, and was the second apparatus to arrive at the fire. Then came the motor hook and ladder truck from Mystic and the P. s. Bar Der motor hose and chemical appara- tUs from PawcatuCk. As the West erly and Pawcatuck apparatus are equipped for hydrant service, they were of no service at this fire, but the f1remen assisted in the hose work of the Mystic pumping machine, and in the handling Of ladders. The fire men cheerfuly recognized Charles P. Williams IS Chi6f-engineer for the time and he directed their work with efficiency. He took occasion to thank the fremen for their prompt response to call for assistance in behalf of MT Wheeler, who was delivering garden truck at Watch Hill, while his barn was burning and his residence en- dangered.
 It originated in the barn, and one of the WOrkmen, who was engaged in the barn at the time, was of the opinion that the fire was caused by the fric- ton of block, in a tackle that was being used, causing a spark that ig- tlIItu the nay ACLllS Nnl61 w lIIdluS added: 'I guess the fire was caused by the friction from Q cigarette"
 The barn contained about twenty tons of new hay, which was destroyed and also some farming implements, but the live stock was not in the barn. The carriage-hOuse and the milk-shed contents were mostly all re- moved. The three buildings are prob ably burned beyond repair, and the loss will probably reach S8,000. There was insurance on the burned prop erty
 The Ferdinand Wheeler place is To- cated at what is known as the Put nam Corners, and almost directly in front of the large farmhouse, near the called the Whitfield Tree. Putnam the old blacksmith shop stood there on site of the present Wheeler house. was in the upper story, wherein a school was the Centre Westinghouse. This on to several owners to MT Wheeler. present one, and the old cellar can bIe house with steep roof. It was at homestead farm of 100 acres, pur- chased from Joseph Miner for 800 Spanish milled dollars in 1765.
 SeIectman Joseph F. Chesebro, of L. zIS