New Britain herald., 1924-10-20
Department Handicapped.

Department Handicapped.
 The New Britain engine company, upon arriving at the scene, found it. self badly handicapped on account of lack of equipment. Hose linese were stretched to the Matta bessett river and the water pumped onto the flames. A stiff breeze famed the fire and jets of flame darted from all windows, great sheet of fire finally extending to the McCrum residence, which was quickly consumed.
 Mrs. Martha McCrum and her daughter, Elsie. who were asleep in their home at the time, were awak- cned and escaped in the nick of time, only stopping to. snatch up A few articles of clothing.
 A narrow escape from cremation was experienced by two East Berlin residents, the names of whom could not be learned. They went to the roof of the house to do what they could with buckets,
 Seeing that the flames were rapid ly making inroads on the. structure these two men started to retreat, but found their way cut off. It was only after quick thinking and quicker action had been resorted to that they Succeeded in reaching the ground with the aid of q ladder shortly after the roof gave way and, amid great fountain of sparks, fell into .the cellar.
 Neighbors Save Barn
 Due ito the efforts of a hastily formed bucket brigade, barn and another house near the destroyed structures were saved from the ravages of the flames. At one time the barn was blazing, but well di- rictel showers of water put out the small fire.
 Department Congratulated
 1t is not pleasant to think of the consequences, had not the New Britain department responded so readily. Despite the difficulty en- countered when it was found that there was no water supply, the fire men worked like the Trojans of old, in order that the flames might not spread to adjoining property. The workers wero heartily congratulated, as was their chief.
 A battle with the wind resulted, sparks being scattered far and wide by the breeze. The buildings were too far gone when the apparatus arrived. tho distance from New Britain being about five miles,
 Oscar Benson, president of the Mildrum Jewel Co.,, has said that the cause of the blaze is mystery. The cause of the explosion which attracted the attention of MaIcein is also unknown although it is at- trihuted to tanks of oxygen which became heated by the flames.
 Valuable Tools Lost
 The company's loss included that of valuable tools, all special made for the workin which the firm is engaged. The firm is one of the oldest of it's kind in the country and supplies watch jewels to leading firms in the United States, They also have had a large production of sights for big guns.
 Estimate of Loss
 An estimate of the losses to the two buildings places that of the Jewel company, at about s20,0oo and that of the Mccrum home at about si5,000. This was the worst fire East Berlin has experienced since the burning of the Peck. Stow & Wilcox plant about 20 years ago.
 The sounding Of the fire bell on the apparatus as 1t sped to the fire, awakened many residents along the way and the ringing of one of the church bells in East Berlin attracted others Practically every resident of the village was at the scene of the fire and if was said that East Berlin has never seen such crowd as was present vest erday.
 It was said that one of the big losses to the firm was a shipment of agates, which had recently arrived. All the machinery used was pecu- liarly adapted to the work for which it was used. IL will cost thousands of dollars 10 replace this.
 struck By Automobile
 Leo Psjsk, 12 years old, of Ken sinEton. escaped injury on Saturday