New Britain herald., 1917-05-09
SUSPICIOUS BLAZE
 IN CENTER OF CITY
Baths in Rear of Stanley Build-
 ing Are Badly Damaged
OTHER PLACES MENACED

|
 Authorities Puzzled by Origin of Blaso
 and Rapid Spread of Flames-No Loss of life As Establishment Was Closed Early.
 Numerous lives were endangered, including those of guests at two hotels and occupants of rooms in several lodging houses. the city's busi- ness center threatened and loss ostimated all the way from $500 to $1.000 caused by fire early today that suited tho lower north end of the familiarity known 'ice chast'' or ''re- frigerator'' building in the rear of the Stanley block at 32e-340 Main street, owned by Morris Schupack and occu- pied by Louis .Rabdnowitx for Russian and Turkish baths. living partments, rooming suites and the Hotel Deville annex. Starting in the ofiice of the Rabinowitx bath establishment, the cause being undetermined despite rigid investigation by Ire and police department oimci&is, the flames had gained great headway prior to dis covery, caused a brilliant illumination noted in all parts of the city, a suf-
 
 dressed persons to ice to places of battle by the nremen. From four water lines. tons of hre-quenching liquid were thrown into the wooden building. Only by quick and clever work wore the Aremen enabled to prevent the flames from spreading throughout the building and into the rooms of the Hotel DeVille annex. So terrific was the heat that glass crrmpled in fantastic shapes while curtains in distant windows were charred.
 No One in Baths.
 That there was no loss of life Is attributed to the fact that 1t was an "off night" at the baths, they were closed at o'clock. and the quick work of the fremen and police de- tails. Had the baths been occupied. the omcials believe. those occupying the sleeping booths would have boon caught nke rata in . trap. MT. and Mrs. Rabinoy1ts, occupying apart ments over the omce. were awakened by the s,s1rooa&1ng smoke and. al- though partially Ovescogae. eseaped to tho serset scanGily s1G1 tithoue aid.
 IL was about 13:14 this nornfne when Francis Crowley of Erwin place. about to enter the building, discovered the flames and dense clouds of smoke. Rushing to police headquarterA he notined Sergeant William c. Hart. Chief Dame, at fire headquarters, was just being notified when Policeman William F. Murphy sounded box at Main and Commer- cial streets. Engine companies 1. 2. l HY D. r . ~ AYSA 1 responded. The flames had gained much headway and caused widely spread illumination as the apparatus pulled out of headquarters nearby. Four water lines were hurriedly laid while flremen and members of the police detail searched the building for those suspected of being overcome by smoke. For q time, 1t was feared that the flames would spread to tho Hotels DeVille and Bassett as well aS to the Stanley block, occupied on the third and fourth floors by lodg- ing houses
 No Insurance Carried.
 The James swept through the front part of the building, occupied by the baths, charred the woodwork and de- faced the swimming pools,- bath and I0k4I4AA8 xOOAAASs . 44O 00S<ASAASAAAASAAS AS considered a practical loss, although a ; definite estimate can not be secured. It was today reported by the members of the Rabinowitz family that no in surance was carried. The loss to the building itself Is believed to be fully ] covered. Mercantile firms in the stan ! ley block occuped the basement of the building for storage purposes and there is believed to be- . substantial l water loss to stock. Inventory will have to be taken before the amount is definitely determined. l Whether the fire was of incendiary origin or of defective wiring. explosion l of an all-night lantern or some other cause has not been determined. Chief Dame considers that there is some- 1 thing to be explained as to how the | flames gained such headway before discovery. There Is theory that some I person under the influence of liquor visited the scene with the expectation of taking a bath, found the place closed. forced entrance In to the of- flee and dropped a lighted cigarette or pipe on some of the furnishings. No signs of anyone hurriedly leaving the location were discovered, as far
 as the authorities have been ablo to
 discover. It was only recently that 8
 son of the owners of the bath estab-
 lishment was arraigned in court and
 convicted for assault upon patron of foreign birth. It was testified that the assault was because of alleged loss
 of money left in one of the lockers.
 Efficient work by the firemen is
 considered largely responsible for the
 flames being confined to the north end
 of the building and prevented from
 sweeping through the railways and
 wooden partitions of the Hotel De-
 Vile annex. the rooms being largely
 occupied with. some of the sleepers unaware of the naarnesa of danger m :.