Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1917-09-28
WHEATON HOUSEDES=
TROYED BY FIRE
Hremea POwerless TO Fight the Flames
on Account Of Lack of Water Pressure
Spark from Chimney Sci Fire to Roof.
Loss Between $4,000 and $4,000
Policeman 0rigine Touchette Receives
Scalp Wound from Failing Brick

Fire caused by spark from the
chimney completely destroyed the
home of Waiter A. Wheaton, Oak
Hill, Sunday afternoon. The house
was owned by his father, Edgar NJ.
Wheaton, who estimated his loss at
between 5000 and 1000, partly COW
cred by insurance. Due TO 3 lack OF
water pressure the Putnam fire de
partment was unable 10 fight the
flames but was able to save the barn
nearby. A brick from the falling
chimney struck Policeman Origine
Touchttte on the left side of the head
infiicting q scalp wound. He WAS
taken TO q DOCTORS office where the
wound ~as dressed.
The fire was discovered shortly after
O'Clock tby Mrs. Geneviese Letters,
Grand View, who notified the central
telephone office. The operator notified
neighbors and sent out an alarm. The
alarm box was pulled by Henry Ma
hue. Mr.. Wheaton was in the cellar
OF the house and had just made = fire
10 the steam heater. The first he knew
that his home was on fire was when
Emmett O'Brien, son OF Mr.. and Mrs.
John O'Brien, neighbors Of the When.
tons, rushed into the cellar and told
him that the roof OF the house was
sblaze. Others had seen the fire from
q distance and were on hand almost As
soon as Mr.. Wheaton knew that his
home was threatened Among the
first ARRIVALS was Carl Weeks, who
Immediately began untying the horses
In the barn and others led them out
until ali seven were tied In the woods
nearby.
The fire department made quick
trip up the steep hill and soon had
line of hose attached To n nearby by
drant When the water was turned
on there WIS no pressure and u stream
OF less than ten feet came out of the
nozzle. So weak was The pressure
that the nozzle man could stop the
flow OF water with his hand This
lack Of force was due TO Putnam rely.
ing on gravity for pressure and the
Wheaton house standing on level
with the standpipe and less thnn Il
hundred yards away.
When the department arrived the
roof was oblaze. Had they had sufli
Client water doubtless they could have
saved all but the upper story. 1t was
+ situation that has been predicted
time and again and one that will be
repeated should other fires toccur on
Oak Hill or Grand View.
Being unable TO light the fire the
firemen and others looked to saving
such household effects as possible, The
work OF many men and boys made
possible the salvage OF the personal
effects on the ground floor and some on
the upper floor. Firemen we're seen in
hazardous places in the upper story
and many thought they were riskine
their lives TO effect small saving.
The only person injured was Police
man Origine Touchette. lie and Il
number OF Others had just started oul
of the back door carrying furniture
when there WAS shout of warning
The chimney topped and felt Most
Of the men lodged back into the house
as the shower of bricks rained down.
The policeman was struck on the head
10y brick and received a scalp wound.
lie Was created bs doctor aud went
home.
There were some narrow escapes
when the burning northwest corner OF
the house fell but no one was injured
Mrs, Wheaton and all of the children
except Bradley Wheaton were AT sun
day school Bradley was playing about
The ynrd.
The house destroyed was one of III,
oldest ina the city ltvas built by T.
=, Lyon who sold io Af Wbeatar
IN lAe6 fl has been nnadeled lron
time To time and KEPT in good repair
Some years age sir " heaten removed
10 farm ia The southern part Of lh'
city and bis son Matter and famia
moved into The house made vacant.
Mr Wheaton is head Of the " hea
ton Building y Lumber Company, IN
slncern lhat WAS such heavy loser il
the big ire Of 1919, ~ hen the plant o.
= shool street and several dwelling
houses were destroyed.