New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1925-11-20
Occupants Of Claren-
don Routed in Night
Clothes, One Being
Carried To Safety
Down Ladder.
Several Town Firemen
Hurt Fighting Blaze
New Britain Department
Responds to Appeal for
Help.

tcpecldI 10 tHe t1eThIQ.)
Plainville, Nov. 20--The most
dangerous and most spectacular fire
in many months. and the second
blaze in the same place within a
few weeks, forced the occupants of
he Clarendon block on Central
square to flee In their nightclothes
Early this morning and did damage
TO the building estimated at well
over $4,000.
Three alarms were blown, and, de-
spite determined work which brought
injuries to more than half of the
local fire department, the blaze as
5umed such proportions that outside
help had to be called from New
Britain. To Chief William j. No
Ole OF New Britain and his men is
given the credit for subdung the
danes and preventing them from
destroying the neighboring buildings,
md Chief Edward P. Prior of the
local company is unstinted in his
lraise of the work of the Hardware
Nity men.
The fire apparently started in the
;itChen of the Clarendon restaurant.
Though the cause is not known, and
,pread rapidly. 1t is thought to
nave burned for some time before
it was discovered at AIS o'clock by
:}"rnard Stanley, who sent In an
..larm. The flames were also seen
W the crew of passing freight
rain. and the engine whistle was
.lown until the steam exhausted.
."cond alarm was blown by the
rrumbull Electric Mfg. Co. whistle
at 4:45 o'clock and a third one 20
.dinutes later.
Uses Gun To Awaken Sleepers
Chief Prior and his men responded
IN almost record time, but the flames
ere bursting through the roof when
tney arrived. Mr.. Stanley tried TO
a"ouse the sleeping occupants OF the
npcr floors by shouting and throw
stones at the window. and finally
equity Sheriff Z. w. Furrey emp
,,d his revolver to awaken thefh'
he halls we're filled with dense
,nolin and the whole lower floor was
Ircady ablaze, giving the alarmed
tceidents no time to dress and forc-
.l. them 10 dash through the smoke
~ the street. Even then one man
rs trapped, and the tlremcn had
D., raise a ladder by which he could
cape.
Game Fight To Check Flames
The full hose supplysof the local
,oDartmcnt was brought into use ana
very fireman in the company set 10
.ork with a daring which thrilled
,,c large crowd of onlookers. Chop-
ing their way through the ROOF al
,,. rear of the building and attack
ug II also with streams from front
ma side, the men fought with flames
IN about them in utter disregard
# the injuries which they constant
= received from falling cmbers ana
.,lass
IN snite of their utmost efforts the
i,,ainville frcmcn could not handle .
-,a fire, which broke through the
.oof and walls In so many places
nat the hose and manpower were
.usufficicnt. Chief Prior sent hur-
~ call TO New Britain, and Chiet NO
lie and No. . truck responded. From !
,hot time the fire had no chance |
.ndcr the direction of the New Brit /
aiu chief. the newcomers and the 10
cal men attacked the flames IN a
more efficient way and gradually !
.,hcckcd and extinguished them
Block Complete Ruin
The clarendon block is practically !
., total ruin. The rear portions are /
totally burned out; the stock ROOM /
nitrhen. and restaurant proper are !
wrecked practically beyond repair; !
=; vacant store in the block was pad /
" damaged; and tho Palace OF
.twects suffered heavily from water |
md fire and smoke. At one time 1t /
lppcarcd that the flames would |
reach across and carry tho Nerl !
alock with the Clarendon, hut the !
3r,,yal of the New Britain company /
prevented this.
chief Prior and half of his men a..
uttered injuries during their battle |
18th the flames. The chief received /.
% bad decoration on the hand and
barely escaped more serious injury
hen a large plate glass window
-rashed down right at his feet.
All credit is given by Chief Prior
ed his men to Chief Noble. With
..,.t him We couldn't have stopped
ne flames" the local chief said to-
lay. "and we can't praise them
enough" While the Plainville fire
mcn fought hard. they could not, he
said have been successful had 1t not
l"rn for the able direction given by
chief Noble whose experience at
large fires proved the deciding fac
tor in the battle with the flames.
The loss is estimated at well over
$50, ,0O0, part of which is covered by
insurance. 4 fire similar in origin
iadN damaged the restaurant about
Two months sEo.
IRISH BOYCOTT VOTED
Dublin Nov. 90 up - The Sim