The New York herald., 1921-10-24

the firemen got there. This house had
formerly been used as a children's
home.
The Altman fire was on the night Of
July l. 1t was in the following week
that the tormented wanderer who
thought he heard voices In the air was
encountered by Constable Smith. The
constable is free to say that he thinks
that this was not the frebug, for the
mans sight was so poor that he had
to use a flashlight to guide his Stun
bling feet as he roved around at night
1t developed that he had served a term
in the Massachusetts State Reforma-
tory at Concord. Whatever he was. the
succession OF fires ended after his re-
moval to a hospital for the insane.
Nothing more until September l. The
dementcd man was still in an institu-
tion miles awey from Darien, but fire
from no identifiable origin demolished
the summer home of Charles Bates
Dana. New York lawyer, In Old Farm
road Tokeneke. Mrs. Dana first saw
flames in the front part OF the house
at o'clock in the morning. The build
ing was wooden and went fast. Moth
ing was saved but an automobile. has
'tily pulled from the garage. Mr. Dana
was severely burned while trying to
collect a few OF his more valuable pos
sessions. Among other things he lost
$3.50 In cash. The total damage was
figured at $4,000. pretty well covered
by insurance,
Blaze Starts .'Everywhere."
Some of the hremen who got to the
scene earliest say that the house seemed
to start blazing everywhere at the
same time" They have an idea that
Worn insulation of electric wires was
responsible. but, as is said of all the
Darien fires. no worthwhile evidence to
support any theory was discovered.
THE cause Of the fire is being inves-
tigated." reported the faithful Darien
Revietc, and that Is as much as anybody
knows.
The worst and latest fire. which
destroyed the home of James A. Trow-
bridge on october 90, occurred just be-
fore daybreak Mr. and Mrs. Trow-
bridge. two sons and seven servants had
no time to dress. They were taken care
of in the home OF A. III. Renshaw. near
by. The house was an old one, re-
modelled 1t was built OF stone and
wood Nothing Is left but the stone
pillars and three brick chimneys. One
OF the servants was reported TO have
lost years wages which she had
banked In her trunk.
Inc Irowprldge estate was caiieo oea
Breeze Terrace. 1t was one of the finest
on the Connecticut shore, but 1t Is said
that the insurance was only $4,000.
Darien firemen say they understand that
the first flames were seen beneath
porch. but Thomas Kelly, the Trow-
bridge houseman. says they started near
coal bin In the basement. The bin
was about sixty feet away from the
furnace and at the other end OF the
cellar, which seems to dispose of any
notion that the furnace might have been
responsible. The Trowbridge family d.
not say it was an incendiary fire. Neigh
bors of the Trowbridges saw no firebus
and arc not unduly alarmed, but are
taking precautions Among them are
DR.. John A. Harriss, New York's Special
Deputy Police Commissioner; John Nc
Cormack. the tenor. and Cyril Crimmins.
Altogether the money losses in the
Darien fires since April run up toward
$500, 900. Insurance companies have had
their Investigators at work. the State
police have been looking around and the
townspeople are interested In that $500
reward.