New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1923-10-10
PROVIDENCE Loss
IS HALF MILLION
Blaze Was One Of Most Serious in
City's History

Providence, X. l.. Oct. i0.---In one
of the most spectacular and threaten
ing fires ever knewn to Providence.
which required every available Are
man 10 combat, property valued at
nearly 100000 was destroyed yes
terday. Valiant efforts hy the elty's
fre-hghting forces, augmented by
men from the Pawtyket. II. !. and
Cranston. Il. L.. departments. the abb
sence OF n strong Wind and the fact
that portion OF the area affected
faces on tho waterfront combined to
prevent the growth OF the blaze into
a confagration with possibilities Of
spreading to and enveloping the eity's
main business district, not far from
| the scene.
The fire which is said to have orig
mated on the sixth floor of the John
ID. Peck, inc, grain elevator, spread
with amazing rapidity to the pockets
OF the Providence Coal company when
the sixth and NTH floors collapsed,
II was discovered about 11:45 O'Clock
and with II minutes after the
sounding of the first alarm. three
others were sounded. With the
sounding of the third alarm. sirens
and whites at manufacturing plants
throughout the city called to duty
firemen who were enjoying time off
under the regulations of the recently
instituted two platoon system.
$50 Fircinen Work
Before the force of at lcas, $50
nremen could bring the flames unde.
control, about three hours after tue
discovery OF the fire, six buildings Of
varying types OF construction wern
destroyed and several others dam
aged. Structures completely destroyed
were: Tho six-story brick Lewis build
ing, occupied by John y. Peck. Inc,
hay and grain dealers: plant OF the
Providence Coal company, including
500 tons of coal; large wooden
structure formerly used az trolley
express station, lately occupied by
John D. Peck, Inc: a wooden build |
ing used as storehouse by the Peck
concern; four-story brick build
ing occupied by Andrews x Spell
man, salt dealers, and a building for
merly occupied by the Lamson Oil |
company, lately used by several cA-
press companies.
Buildings which were badly dam
aged included those of the Eastern
Coal company, Allen & Reed, Inc,
and second coal pocket of the
Providence Coal company.
No Loss of Lite
There was no loss Of life, either
among the occupants Of the buildings
Or among the fircmcr. hu. at least
dozen fire fighters were saved from
probable death b. the action Of Pa /
trolman r. r. Sampson. who, upon
seeing brick wall about to buckle,
blew his whistle and signaled to the
1reinen to run back. AS they needed
mis- signal the wall fell close upon
heir heels. \ few iiremen suffered
slight burns and other injuries, but
1one had to be sent to the hospital,
About 1890 O'Clock, when the fire
vas at its height. sending large sheets
# flame into tho air, Chief Frank
of The fire department
ent requests to neishborjng cities
md towns to stand in readiness to
cnt apparatus and men in case of
iced. Without being requested to do
o, the Pawtucket and Cranston de-
,artments came to tho scene and
hortly sfterward, volunteer firemen
rom Bayside and Conimicut, f. T.,
ppeared. They were able to give
Material assistance.