New Britain herald., 1927-01-10
FORCED TO
 FLEE INTO COLD
Mrs. Vincent Bettua, Ill, Driven
 Out by Fire
BLAZE KEPT IN CELLAR
Plan Monthly Baby Conferences "1" Defeats Mapping - Mrs.
 Martha Dalton Dics-EIrc Or Panic Impossible in New Thcater.

AN dhtH'u by lllc pISStnCt Ol dense smoke in their bedrooms and forced to flee into the bitter cold and a snowstorm at o'clock this morning when fire started in the basement, Vincent Bcttua and fam fly of 100 West Main street were barely able to assist Mrs. Bettua, who Is ill, to escape. Mrs. Bttua had been confined to her bed for several days and was hardly able to walk from her room to the home of Dr. Lawrence H. Frost next door. Today she was forced to return to bed again but is not believed to be any worse for her experience.
 The fire started in some unknown manner in the front of the cellar. It was some distance from the heater and there are not thought to have been any hot ashes nearby; spon- taneous combustion may have caused the blaze. It gained rapid headway, the smoke rolling through the house and filling every room before the family was awakened and burning through the electric light and tele- phone wires so that an alarm could not be sent in from the house.
 The family rushed out and across the snow to the home of pr. Frost, from where an alarm was sent in. The location of the fire was given to the operator as the corner of Broad and Canal streets, whereas it was actually at West Main and Canal. James R. Boswell, driver of the standard truck. turned the latter corner and started up Canal street, being halted by shouts from the win dows.
 Three lines of hose were laid but only two were needed. Water was poured into the cellar by a window which was luckily right at the point where the fire was worst. but it was about an hour and half before the last vestiges of sparks and smoke had been put out. Smoke hampered the work of the tiremen, but the proximity of the window allowed them to get at it and conffne the flames 10 the cellar, damage on the upper floors being limited to that done by smoke. The loss is not ex pected 10 exceed s100 and was GOV cred fully by insurance.
 Much amusement was caused even Nf George Crowley, young stcp-son of -hr. Bettua. Just as the firemcn ar rived, George flung his clothes out Of a window and then ran out into the yard. where he dressed himself in the cold and snow.
 A chimney fire about 5:3O o'clock Saturday afternoon brought the fire department to the home of Ruben Day on North Washington street Damage was slight.
 PiainyiIle ~" Wins
 The Plainville Y. NJ. C. A. basket ball team trirmphed over difficulties Saturday night and defeated the Mapping "Y" team, 27-16, in Wap- ping. The game was played on small floor, the surface of which was rough and dangerous. and the play or The home team was rough. Plain vile could not accustom itself to these conditions ill the first half and found itself on the short end of 16- l2 count. During the second half however. Plainville cut loose with fast passing and worked the ball around the home quintet for score after score, while the wonderful of Miller and Morrell held without single point dur ing the entire half.
 Captain Martin Bergen sprained an ankle severely during the game and will probably be unable to play for two weeks. Wesley Cookie" Schwab was hit in the eye and knocked cold; he vas out for two minutes but resumed play and went all the better. Bog Sharp. leader of the Mapping team. swung on Ray Schwabs jaw and was ciccted in a hurry. Despite this. the referee was lax and called only six fouls. Plain vile did not rctaliate in kind. find. ing it could do much better by stick ing to basketball than by turning it's hand to football. Doug Martin and Ray Schwab shone on the of fcnse. with Miller and Morrcll put ting up q magnificent defense. Rose was best for Mapping. The sum mary:
 PIainyillc Y. VI. C. !.
 Ed. Fl. TtL Martin. If ..,... | c 10