The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-12-12
SANDY HOOK NOW DISCUSSING FIRE PROTECTION PLAN
Second Disastrous Blaze In Little Over Decade Alarms
 Residents.
Especial to The Farmer.)


 Newtown, Dec. 12.-For the second time in a dozen years Sandy Hook has been visited by a disastrous fire. In 1904, a fire starting in the rear of a business place in Washington avenue destroyed the post office building, the drug store of that day, the E.. J. Hall Hardware store, and the unoccupled residence of J. J. Lyons, but no fam. fly was rendered homeless, nor loss Of personal property was suffered.
 The fire Monday morning destroyed the household effects of P. J. Kelly, E. |J. Thran and M Kilbride in addition to two dwellings and two stores. MT. Kelly had no insurance and practi- cally lost everything of value except the clothes he and his family grabbed. The Thrall family occupying flat above their restaurant barely escaped with their lives. They have small insurance MT. Kilbride succeeded in saving some furniture but lost all fam fly stores and much clothing. He has some insurance on both furniture and buildings. John o. Pitzschler, the bar Der, also had some insurance, as did the Foresters whose hall was on the floor above the barber shop.
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 All the inmates of the houses that were burned are suffering from shock and exposure, at the home of neigh bors and friends.
 In both these disasters, the same re- liance for protection in the village proved of no value, and the efforts of the Newtown fremen also proved un- availing to- stay the progress of the destroying element until it burned out. The total absence of a wind Monday morning saved the village of Sandy Hook from total destruction.
 There is now the same virtuous re- solve to procure proper fire protection for the future; but it was nothing but talk twelve years ago, and most of the sufferers fear that the discussion for fire protection now heard on all sides will subside in a few days, as in former years, and nothing be done. They are agitating for the formation of fire district, and it is hoped that a bill establishing such body politic for Sandy Hook will be enacted in the General Assembly.
 Miss Florence Gaffney and Miss Ina Egan were week end visitors in Dan- bury.
 MT. and Mrs. w. B. Glover and MT. and Mrs. James B. Nichols motored to Danbury Saturday night, attending the theatre while there.
 On Saturday, Dec. 16, at a. m., an anniversary mass will be celebrated in St. Roses church for the late Patrick Larner.
 David H. Bale of Hawleyville is col lecting the school tax of Lands End district. levied last summer to pay the 3,,oyH for of the school house ordered by the board of school visitors.
 Mrs. John J. Northrop will assume her duties as literary critic for the Editor Magazine Jan 1, 1917 Her work will require her presence in the New. Jersey publication office of the periodical about two days a week on the average.
 A large shipment of new machinery for the Premier Manufacturing Co. has been received. James Cavanaugh of the Glen is doing the carting from the freight office to the factory, under the direction of P. F. Shay.
 The Sandy Hook grist mill is turn ing out for patrons much rye flour this season. Besides, Manager Camp bell finds an increasing sale for the darked flour among the families in town, due to the high cost of the west ern wheat flour.
 Mrs. Frederick Andrews of Flat Swamp district is recovering from a severe attack of qutnsy sore throat.
 Dr. and Mrs. W. J. Mclaughlin have closed their residence in Main street, and moved to Bridgeport for the win ter.
 The Literary society of the High school was formed last week and the following officers elected: President. Mary Murphy; vice president, Alvin Coger; secretary, Paul Smith, and treasurer, Alice Houlihan. The deciding game of pool in @ se- ries of five for the town championship was played on the table of John O. Pitzschler, Saturday night. The con testants were Matthew Rhomoser, head machminist at the Fabric Fire Hose Co.,, and Ex-Representative Mi chael Kilbride. The latter won, al- though the loser was the favorite in the betting.
 John J. Northrop, the secretary of the board of assessors, is busy these days searching the town records for change of title to property. and look ing after property for which no lists were filed. This work is preparatory so that T complete record in the grand levy may be turned over to the board of relief in January.
 Howell Wright, son of Rev. O. O. fern, a&