New Britain herald., 1916-12-26
BURNED TO DEATH TRYING TO SAVE FRIENDS LIFE AT
 HOTEL BRONSON BLAZE
John McCarty of Win- sted Victim of Spec tacular Blaze in North End Hostelry.
OTHER GUESTS MAKE
 ESCAPE IN SAFETY

ESCAPE IN SAFETY Thrilling Rescues by Bremen, Bring
 ing Men, Women and Children
 Prosecutor and Building Inspector
 Confer Regarding Owners Failure
 to Provide Fire Escapes.
 Attempting to rescue a chum, whom he supposed to be either asleep or overcome by smoke in his room on the third floor, John Mccarthy, 48 years old and married, of Winsted was burned into a unrecognizable charred mass by a two-alarm fire which swept and partially gutted the Hotel Bron- son at Main and East Main streets early today. Miss Nellie Bransfield of Hartford, a dish washer at the hotel, John O'Brien, an employe, and Eli George, a lodger, were partially overcome by smoke and in such a seri- ous condition from exposure that they were taken to the New Britain General hospital for treatment. Nearly 100 guests and lodgers faced death, many being taken to the street by f1remen and members of the police detail in thrilling rescues while others escaped by means of ropes and fire escapes of the spider web' type into the zero 2 weather scantiIy clad. The four story hotel building, owned by P. s. Me- Mahon, was swept interiorly by the flames, the loss being estimated in ex- cess of S7000. It is covered by in surance.
 A big kettle of grease on the kitchen range in the basement is credited with being responsible and for the flames gaining much headway before discov- cry It is also credited with being responsible for the explosion which led to discovery of the fire and which blew out the heavy windows of the dining room on the second floor, many feet distant, as a small boy bursts an in Hated paper bag.
 Caught on the third floor with es- .cape seemingly blocked by a curtain of fire that was sweeping up the stair way, nearly thirty men and women faced death, being saved only by mem bers of Engine Go. No. 1 and a water line. The flames were checked while the scantily clad and panic gripped crowd was led to safety down exten- sion ladders or aided down the rope fire escapes.
 All of the city's fire apparatus was brought into use, seven water lines be- ing in use and one being held in re- serve. Absence of enough firemen to raise the extension ladders in quick rJu fofa necessary to call policemen and spec tators to assist in the work. There was a slight delay in getting Engine Go. No. and Assistant Chief William J. Noble to the scene, the west end circuit being out of commission be- cause of a broken wire, caused by the 1sshigh wind earlier at night. They were Finally called on the telephone by Ser geant T. M. Herting at police head quarters.
 Benjamin Bennett, night watchman and clerk at the hotel, and Super numerary Policeman Dennis O'keefe, patroling an East Main street beat, were standing shortly before o'clock at the outside door leading from the hotel office when the explosion came and a mass of flames shot up the dumb waiter shaft The former had
 
 attending to the range fire preparatory to calling the chef and others of the hotel help assigned to work in that department.
 Box 42 Main and East Main streets, was sounded at 3:4S by Supernumer- ary O'Keefe. A second alarm was sent in by Chief Robert M Dame, who with Edward Woods, his chauffeur, and John Schmidt of Hook & Ladder Co. No. l, a callman riding in the chiefs car to night alarms, were the first on the scene. Chief Dame saw the glare of the flames and sparks shooting from the roof where the air shaft terminates as his automobile rounded into Main street from head nuarters Engine Go. No. 3 was the first on the scene with Engine Co. No from headquarters and Hook and Ladder Go. No. 1 soon following. I'm mediately following the arrival ot Chief Dame, the big aerial truck was sent for and arrived under horse power Scantily clad forms at the windows. swinging from ropes or at tempting to descend upon the marrow and infrequent fire escapes indicated that all of the ladders would be need ed. The dining room and stairWays were a mass of flames. Engine co Mo- 1 was assigned to fight the fire from the third floor while other de tails were sent to the roof, othe1 floors and the roof of the old part O. the building.
 McCarthy's Body Found.
 Living on the floor of room 31 burned to charred mass with cloth