New Britain herald., 1918-05-20
Corbin EstabliShmel on Church St. Gu ted by Flames Wi
 Damage of $3O,0Q
INCENDIARISM, IS
 BELIEF OF OFFICIA

Nearby Resident Awakened by
 @
 tonatiOn and Sees Flames in
 Parts of Frank BuiIding-F1rc1
 Fight Smoke With New Masks
 Use Deluge Set-Assistant Filed
 clan Badly Hurt.
 H. H. Corbin & Sons paper factory at 119 Church street practically destroyed this mornina fire, which was probably set. total losses will aggregate $30, The circumstances pointing to in | diarism are the facts that CarrI Mondanlia, who lives in a tenerI over the store conducted by F. F. Nonno next door, heard a loud ex sion and saw the flames insta spread through the building; window of the box shop was fd open this morning about o'clocl Supernumerary Officer Nathan who has the beat; no fires have burned in the building in oveR month, and no one connected with factory was there since Sunday al noon.
 Tt looks suspicious" said WI Corbin, the owner of the plant, Chief Robert M. Dame, of the f1reI partment, concurred in the opinid
 In combating the fire and conf, the damage to the frame buiIdI filled as they were with highly inf nable materials, the fire depart proved it's worth. The buildings were of frame construction, and and tons of loose paper were a making possible a rapid spread O flames. Some of the adjoining bI ings were of wooden constructions the fire was confined to those onto the main structure. But fo untiring and judicious work ofX f1remen there would have been a serious con1agratfon in that pa the city.
 It was a little after o'clock Mondanlia was awakened by tn port of the loud explosion. His is over DiNonno's store, across th leyway from the box shop. He g and saw the flames spreading thu the building. At that time thd was in that corner where the ele shaft was located. He dressed riedly and by the time he was to go to the street with the members of his family whom awakened, the fire alarm was sounded.
 The firemen received the alarn 4:17 from Box 25. They mad quick response but by the time got there the fire was seen o three floors. The alarm was tl in by some one living on Elm who saw the flames. Seven mi after Chief Dame and the mer ! the alarm. Chief Dame sent second alarm bringing in two companies. The fire was attd from all sides and it was not before ten streams of water playing on it. Engine Compan, 2 had the rear and for the time since their purchase near years ago deluge sets were US get a volume of water. Capt. ter siamesed two lines into ond accomplished good work. Ca Butler of Engine Company No. l the Church street side connectd 1 his pump and it was worked more than an hour. Hosemen and laddermen ha 1 batter down doors that blocked progress Assistant Chief Willid Noble led a force of men mo | lively.
 Smoke Masks Used. There was a dense voIum smoke caused by the burning and the firemen worked under | treme difficulties. New smoke purchased some time ago were Heat was intense at times and a | forced the firemen back. Starting as the fire apparent l under a stairway in an ell part as a loading place and right nj an elevator shaft, it went righ l through the building. The
 mushroomed out in each roor every floor, spreading to the
 of the area where paper boxe 1 loose paper were around. Tho men fought the fire back from
 front of the building and the
 age in the Church street side 1 building was not as great as be expected. An ell between l ings that Daralleled each othe
 a means of communication oa 1 flames.
 l There was a large water res
 on the top of the building fd l protection, but the flames sool
 away the supporting timbers fell into the building.
 The hremen held the fam check, but despite their best effo | fire spread into the connecting
 erty on the east. This buildin occupied by a store run b Nonno. DiNonno carried a large | Ae.