Norwich bulletin., 1922-11-25
WILLIMANTIC u. .,oP
 TOTAL LOSS BY FIRE
Especial to The Bulletin.

NEpeCldl Jp 1HS
 wilIimantic, Nov. 24. - One of the i fiercest fires ever witnessed in this city l occurred Friday night and caused the total destruction of the large lumber shop off Valley street, conducted by Ed ward E. Latham and Charles l.. Crane, known as the Latham and Crane Lum- Der contractors. The loss is estimated at $S0,O00.
 An alarm was rung iil about S.1a O. clock from Box 24 and Engine Company No. 1 gave quick response. Other alarms were immediately rung in for the call men and every fire company in the city was soon at the scene. Up to a late hour the origin of the fire had not been determined. but it was stated by a Close resident that when the alarm was sent coming from the roof in the vicinity of the boiler room.
 l In few seconds after the alarm had been given, the whole structure was a ! mass of raging flames. The fire got into 1 the shavings and lumber and it was seen | that the wooden structure was doomed. | The firemen then directed their atten- tion to saving the surrounding buildings,
 some of the nearer ones being threat ened by the heat of the fire and others 1 ty sparks which were taken up oy the |
 a mile.
 l When the fire reacHed the cans of paint and oil which were stored in one
 section of the building the resulting ex-
 plosions sounded like the crack of fire 'i arms and served in spreading the fam es. A nearby house on Spring street I owned by Walter Bates and occupied by
 his family on the first floor and by ! Charles Holbrook on the second floor
 was saved only by the earnest endeaFnrs and good work of the firemen. Another
 house situated on North street two blocks away and owned ty James Johnson caught fire from the sparks and a hose 1 from the Holland Silk mills which are near at hand was turned on the blaze. The families of Arthur Ashton and Will 1 jam Smith were forced to move their fur niture from the house occupied by them which was close to the burning build ing. The recall was sounded about 1920. The Latham and Crane. shop. stood at a point about half way between Valley l and Spring streets and just opposite tBank street. Latham and Crane have conducted the shop since 1SS6 and car ried their own insurance which covers only part of the loss. The owners could not give an estimate of the value of the building and stock on hand at the time of 1 the fire. Besides the structure itself there were large quantities of lumber paint and machinery which is a total
 loss. EZadreds of spectators turned out to see the blaze which made both hor-
 rible and beautiful sight, the flames burning in various colors and the sparks soaring off with the wind. No amount of Icredit is great enough to he given to the local firemen for their work in saving the surrounding buildings from damage
 Every house was closely watched and ladders were put up against some az a ;precaution for those in the greatest dang CT. I While the Latham and Crane fire was taking place silent alarm was sent in to Engine Co. No. l. The Reo truck started out to find the blaze and went
 up into the ,Hili section where the re- fection of a fire could be seen. Upon reaching the top of the Chestnut street
 hill it was seen that the reflection came from a fire 9 long distance from the city. The fire proved to be in the new
 home and store of James C. Greene oi Eaglevillc, which was burned to the !. ground.