New Britain herald., 1917-07-12

ance of MT. Harris was immediately summoned. Standing at the door of the bathroom he passed buckets of water to Mir. Carlson who valiantly tried to eXtinguish the flames. Their efforts were futile for the smoke be- came denser every minute, finally driving the two men from their posts, MT. Carlson being overcome.
 Almost sim ultaneously with Mrs. Harris discovery Mrs. F.. B. Wick wire and Miss Emily Brandegee, re- turning from the library, noticed the flames shooting from the roof of the house. Rushing to the homes of Rev. $. A. Fiske and L. W. Gwatkin, they told the men of the discovery. The bell at the Congregational church was rung for nearly ten minutes. By this time the whole town was up and at the scene of action. Telephone calls for assistance were also sent to the New Britain fire department.
 A bucket brigade was formed and water was carried from the we'll near i the barn, every possible attempt to eXtinguish the flames being made, but to no avail, as the fire had gained steady headway. Furniture was car ried from the lower floor and placed in the yard out of danger.
 Knowing that the house was doomed, the volunteers turned their attention to the barn and other houses in the immediate vicinity.
 At o'clock, responding to the call for help, the flying squadron of the New Britain fire department arrived. As it was too late to use the che1ni- cals>~ members of the department joined with the volunteers in their work. Men were placed on the roof of the barn and on contiguous build ings, wet carpets and water being used to prevent the sparks which were flying through the air from causing any damage. Several tim es it appeared as though the barn was to meet the fate of the house but with heroic efforts the flames which broke out intermittently on the side of the building facing the burning house, were Quenched.
 The last burning partition fell at about 0 o'clock and shortly after the chimney of the fireplace catupulted through the air to the ground. Two individuals standing in it's path were nearly pinned under the red hot bricks, lodging just at the right mo- ] ment At 10:30 the fire was prac- tically out and the scene deserted eX- cept for those few who came late and the former inhabitants of the home who kept a strict vigil throughout the night to prevent another outbreak. Citizens, who reside on Berlin street may be thankful that the weather was entirely in their favor | last evening. There was not q. breath of wind and the fact that there was 1 a slight rain carly in the evening, | which dampened roofs of the houses, saved many home from being part | ly or wholly demolished, as sparks and burning embers from the fire car
 ricd and were found a half mile away.
 Many theories have been advanced as to the origin of the fire but seem insly it will have to be placed among
 those, the reasons for which will nev-
 CT be asCertained. Some think that : because the electric light wires were
 in the attic defective wiring was the
 reason. As there was no stove or | other fire producing cause in the attic l in which the fire started it's origin
 will probably remain a mystery. 1 According to a statement given out | this morning by MT. Harris a new house will be erected in short time | on the site of the former home. Ii
 will he a modern two-story structure | The usual talk which is the after
 math of a fire in this vicinity was ] again in evidence this morning and