Norwich bulletin., 1918-01-29
HIGHLAND HOTEL AND MoRRrssEY's sALooNlGuTTED
Early Morning Fire Badly Damaged I Railroad Avenue Buiidine-T Teie- l phone Call for Chimney Fire on Laurel Hill at Same Time.

Laurel Hill at Same Time. @ 
 The two story brick building at No. 10 Railroad avenue. owned by John Steiner and leased as a saloon and hotel, known as The Highland house, by Dennis J. Merrissey. was badly gutted by fire which broke out about 1a15 o'clock this Tuesday, morning. The fire had its origin in the cellar, presumably near the heater, in which it is understood wood is being burned owing to the coal shortage, and worked it's way upthrough the building, break ing out through the roof. Frank Dunn, employed as bartender in the saloon, and who was asleep in his room in the hotel, escapel, and the several guests In the hotel, whom Mir. Dunn said are strangers to him, also got safely out Of the burning building. One man came down ladder raised by firemen. Officer Daniel Q'Neil. who was on someone yell Fire" He started down was running up Ferry street to Main street told him it was Morrissey's sa- loon. Officer O'Seii pulled in box 23, Franklin square, near Ferry street. The auto bumper and aeraal truck | from the Central station. the Main 1 street auto and the West Side ehenai- l cal responded. When the firemen ar rived on the scene dense clouds of l smoke were pouring from the windows l and doors of the hotel, and one of the guests was in a second story window 1 waiting for ladder. which was quick ly run ur. He took the situation cool, 1 ly and calmly watched the firemen 1 raising the ladder.
 Through the cellar window smoke l was issuing in dense clouds, and first 1 glance gave the impression that the 1 interior of the cellar was roaring l furnace, One of the half dozen lines 1 of hose laid was directed through ths l cellar window, another was pouring 2 l stream into the ground story, and stil l another was run up through the alley way between the Highland house ant the Uncas hotel, next door, where i did good service.
 l The flames had gained such head 1 way before the fire was discovered tbni
 they shot rapidly up through the cen,
 ter of the building from the cellar anS
 were soon breaking out through tn,
 roof. The flremen ran a line of llosl
 up to the roof and the stream checked the flames.
 By this time the fire was eating it way through the partition that divide
 the Highland house proper from tn
 saloon and stream directed througl the saloon entrance was used witt good effect, in preventing the flame from spreading.
 The firemen were greatly hampere,
 by the dense smoke which hung clos to the ground and enveloped the build
 ing. Fire in the partitions gave then a hard fight for a while. The recal was sounded shortly before, q o'clock ! Just after the alarm had rung fron
 box 2s there was a telephone call for
 chimney fire at No. 251 Laurel Hi
 avenue. occupied by Nicholas Browr
 Tie, auto bumper was sent from tf
 hotel fire to the Laurel Hill fire an Chief H. l.. Stanton also responded i his car. The chimney blaze wa
 quickly extinguished. The Falls com pany, which also responded to tn Laurel Hill call. was met by the ch:e
 on the way back and sent to the Rail
 road avenue fire.