New Britain herald., 1922-06-09
HOTEL BRONSON HAS
 S20,000 FIRE LOSS
75 Guests Driven From Beds at
 1:21 O'Clock This Morning
FLAMES BLAZED FIERCELY
Blaze Evidently Started in Bathroom, Possibly From Ctgarefte Butt Many People Lose Their Clothing Two Alarms Are Sounded.

Many People Lose Their Clothing
 Two Alarms Are Sounded.
 What threatened to be one of tho most destructive fires in this city in some time, was discovered at 1:2l o'clock this morning in the Hotel Bronson building at the corner of Main and East Main streets It was only after about two hours of hard work. that the entire fire fighting force which had been called out by a second alarm. managed to subduS the blaze after a loss estimated at \ s2o,oo0.
 The discovery of the blaze vas made by P. S. McMahon, owner of the building. He smeued smoke and heard the cracking of the flames, and on dressing hastily, he ran to the street where he shouted to Patrolman Edward kiely, who turned in an alarm from Box 42, across the street from the scene of the fire.
 Second Alarm Sounded. | As soon as Chief William J. Noble had arrived, he saw the apparent ser iousness of the situation. and ordered the second alarm sounded. At that time the flames were shooting from the roof, causing a lurid glare in tho sky. With the arrival of the nremen. eight streams of water were poured into the building. The big extenacn ladders were used, and protective methods were employed to prevent the spread of the flames to the Shur- berg property adjoining. Chief Noble had three lines of hose playing from the East Main street side of the building. -.5t
 This morning Chief Noble estimated the loss at s2o,ooo.
 Fire Starts In Bathroom.
 The blaze started in a bathroom on the third floor in the south wing of tH building. It was caused, 1t ts thought, by someone who took . bath there early in the evening, leaving . lighted cigarette butt in the placa which ignited the woodwork. >. The bathroom windows face onto large airshaft, and the blaze burst out into this in a. roaring mass of f1ameA
 There are about 3ss windoRs facing onto this airshaft which starts at the second floor. The flames burned through these wir1dows into the rccniS beyond. burning the window cases, bedding and walls. The whole three upper floors were practically ruined by the intense heat, -.. S
 When the ire department arrived, the flames were shooting skyward about 25 feet over the roof of the building. The entire airshaft was q blazing furnace. Every window was opened onto 1t and these served to make a terrific draft for the flames
 South Wing Gutted.
 Most of the damage was done to the south wing which is an addition to the hotel built in 1907. The rooms on this side were practically destroyed. n the flames played havoc with the wood work and furniture there Every floor with the exception of the ground floor on this side of the hotel waA by the flames and the section around the bathroom Is today . mass of charred timber.
 The fire got in under the room on the south side. and presented the most difficult spot with which the dremen had tn contend The cornice on the north side was also burned very badly and every side was charred almost to destruction.
 Boomers Get Out
 There were about 75 people in the hotel last evening and every one of hem escaped without injury. though ,ne of them received q slight cut on lis wrist caused by flying glass. Tho n aiority of the rooms facing on to the lirshaft were occupied. but fortu-. ,ately they were emptied in time to prevent any one being injured. Tho ,eds in which the people were sleep ne at the time the fire broke out we're totally destroyed and all their ,elonging were destroyed by the James.
 An idea of the intense heat which econ panied the flames can be had rom the fact that the glass in the window panes was entirely. melted A arge cathedral glass window which vas on the second floor of the build ne was entirely destroyed. It was eautiful stained glass work with fg- res on it, and was considered . val- able piece of work. ,
 Bremen Are Cmplimented
 
 hat the work done by the flremen in his mornings fire. equalled anything hat he has ever seen for efficiency nd service Hardly any time was lost Y the men between the time that ,ey arrived and the time that they ad the lines Of hose playing on tho ames He said that the first line of ose was directed into the heart of 1e fire and the effect of 1t could be zen immediately.
 He said that he discovered the fro 1is morning and thought that he ould be able to put 1t out with pails water It spread into the airshaft 70 quickly for him however, and an arm was sent in from Box %2 at the ,rner of Main and East Main streets. He stated that the loss was entirely ,vered by insurance earned by H. Hatch The damage estimated will nout to about s2s,ooo.
 Sleepers Aroused. The work of getting the tenants of e rooms awake and safely out of e building was made possible by the nely assistance of Policeman Patrick Mara of the vice squad. Joseph ,rr. Silas Lynch and James O'Keefe. lese men went into the building be- re the fire departments arrived and cked in the doors of the rooms near
 the fire. aroused the sleepera. Illed them out of bed. and showed em a way to safety.
 Several women who were in the