Putnam patriot. [volume] (Putnam, Conn.) 1872-1962, 1920-01-16


old landmarks of Putnam. was de-
stroyed by fire at an early hour
Thursday morning, causing an esti-
mated loss of. $50. 900.
How the fire started is not known
II was at first thought that it origin.
ated in the New Chickering restaur
ant, for it was about in that quarter
that the fire was first discovered
Charles E. Miner. cook in the restaur
ant, states that there was no fire In
the range or on the premises. He
says that the floors were washed
about 10 O'Clock and that when the
restaurant was locked up for the night
there was no fire Of any kind there.
Just under the restaurant Is the
heating apparatus. Some. Of those
who first saw the fire said it was com.
ing up through the floor Of the res
taurant. James Woods, who has
charge of the boiler, says he banked
the fire for the night about 10 o'clock
There were several narrow escapes
from death. Most all of the twenty
or more people were asleep. Some
were awakened by the suffocatine
smoke. others by the locomotive whis-
ties. and still others by the noise and
by people pounding on the room
doorY.
Miss Zslma Lapoint was one who
aroused several Of the sleepers, In
Guiding Landlord James Lucey and
his wife, who aroused numbersof the
other dodgers.
Shortly after the fire started a
voice was heard in the third story
room on the Front street corner call
ing for help. Several minutes elapsed
before an extension ladder could be
raised. As the voice called those be-
low warned the man not to jump, that
help would soon reach him.
When the ladder was finally raised
Foreman Henry Welch Of the Hook
g. Ladder Company went mp and the
man followed him down. He
was Louis Equi of Boston, who came
to Putnam Tuesday to work for the
Wales Lines Company. He descended
the ladder clothed only in his under
clothes, and was barefooted. When
he reached the ground he was picked
up bodily by two firemen and was car
ried to the Putnam Inn. In telling OF
his experience Thursday morning Mr..
Equi said he never expected to get
out alive. The dense smoke in the
hallway cut of his escape and it was
some time before he could make him
self heard by those below He lost all
Of his effects, including bank book.
showing a deposit of over $a00 and
5000 in Liberty bonds. He left for
Boston on the 1890 train TO make his
loss known to the bank. Equi's left
hand and arm were somewhat burned
showing that the flames had reached
the third story before help reached
him.
Peter Carroll was another man who
had q close call. He climbed down a
rope Gre scape. When ten to fifteen
feet from the ground he lost his hold
and dropped to the Sidewalk. He
went to the Putnam Inn clad In . suit,
shoes and no stockings. He s.so lost
a bank book and Liberty bonds.
II is believed that railroad men
were the first to see the fire. They
began to blow locomotive whistles be-
fore the alarm rang. Patrolman
Chandler was on Union Square and
was one Of the first to the scene. He
said early Thursday morning that the
fire was near the ladies' entrance to
the hotel when he first arrived. This
is Just north Of the restaurant. The
engineer and fireman of the yard
switch engine blew alarms, the en-
gineer opening the throttle Of another
engine that had full steam up and the
fireman pulling the switch engine
Hose No. was out before the first
alarm stopped ringing. Henry Du-
bois was driving. Soon line Of hose
was on and several more followed. II
looked as If the fire would be quickly
extinguished and about ] o'clock, %
minutes after the alarm sounded, II
was thought from outside o5serv
ance that the fire was nearly out.
Suddenly it blazei up and appearea
to be getting the best Of the depart