The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-01-23

R1Ol y VI WIZ VI WV AAOA W. y -
early morning fires today.
The first fire in which the horses
lost their lives occurred in the stable
Of Susman and Feuer, wholesale grain,
flour and sugar dealers. The second
fire which caused damage of $1,000
and drove the tenants into the street,
was discovered in the dwelling at 413
Fast Main street.
Three negroes employed working
abodt the barn Of Susman & Feuer
were awakened from their sleep in
the small Office building in the rear
OF the stable in Center street near
George street, this morning at about
1920. by the smell Of smoke.
They rushed from the office building
to the stable and found great volumes
of smoke pouring from within. Has
tily opening the doors and windows
they tried to extricate a number of
horses from their stalls but found that
out of 16 animals only two still lived.
A policeman sounded an alarm from
Box 331, while the negroes, armed
with a rope, managed to haul one of
the, horses out his stall and into the
fresh air. Chief G. F. Beardsley, with
two engines, a chemical engine and a
truck responded to the alarm.
The occupants Of the first and Sec
ond stories of the structure managed
to escape with little difficulty but more
than 20 persons on the top floor were
forced to flee through tongues of
flame, down smoke filed stairways all
escaping Njury.
The top floor is occupied on one
side by Mrs. w. w. Gore and her
family, and on the other by Mrs
Anna Porter, members Of her family.
and eight other roomers. About $50
William Crawford, a roomer In Mrs.
Porter's home. opened his door Lead
ing into the halfWay burstacf
flames, struck him IN Nhe face which
drove him back into the room.
Crawford reused the family and
fleeing to- the hallway from another
another entrance, awakened the
Gore family across the hall. None
had time to obtain clothing and they
fed pells NELL through the burning
hall to the stairs and street.
In the opinion of Chief Beardsley
the fire was due to lighted match
thrown by some careless person into
wardrobe closet In the hall on the
third floor, setting fire to some cloth
Ing which smouldered for some hours
and then burst into flame shortly after
6 O'Clock.
The structure is owned by Mrs.
HARRIET C. Myers, wife of a liquor
dealer who conducts a cafe nearby.
and was damaged to the extent OF
$1,000. Mrs. Porters loss to house.
hold goods is approximately $500.
Entering the barn they found very
little fire. Beardslee set the men to
work extinguishing the blaze, and
then directed number Of men to
chop away with axes the stalls in,
which two of the horses, still alive.
were wedged securely, as a result OF
their Intellectual efforts to escape.
One animal whose front lhoofs were
Embedded in the wall above his head,
was dragged out with a. rope. It fail
ed to revive, however. Two others
were extricated after the hardest kind
of work, but their condition is such
that a veterinary, who was called to
attend, believes they will die.
The fire was of a most peculiar
nature and was confined to the walls
of the stable just above the horses
heads, where electric wires, which
furnish liellt for the stable, are laid.
Tt caused the bedding and hay to
shoulder. filing the barn with pillows
of smoke, while che woodwork itself
v-as just beginning to burn briskly
when the f1remen got on the scene.
At $50 this morning the occupants
of the house at Alb East Main street,
o. three-story wooden building. .1.cupi.-
cd by three families. 'were arousc1
from their slumbers by fire wEicH~
broke out In the hallway on the top
floor of the house, and driven into -he
street %
1t is estimated that the loss suffer-
ed by Susman and Feuer will total
about $4,000. The horses are valued
ut $4,000 and the damage to the sta
BILE amounts to 5000.