New Britain herald., 1928-02-20
Il0-AARM FIRE
 THREATENS BLOCK
Den,9s ol Si1,oW Caased in
 llin Strot Bhle

A spectacular fire did damage es- timated between $1o,o0o and 315.o0O Saturday night to the Hanna block, 43l-44o Main street, directly oppo- site East Main street, and might have caused conflagration had it broken out few hours later when the wind was strong and the possi- bility of discovery less likely. Robert Smith. driver for Chief w. J. Noble, was overcome by smoke and when found and carried out of the build ing by Lieutenant William J. Hart nett and Richard Collins, who also drives the chiefs car. he was uncon- scious and appeared to be i'll bad . condition, but at New Britain Gen. eral hospital today it was said he was resting comfortably and would be able to resume duty shortly If there were no developments. Fireman Ed ward J. Stauff of Co. No. ?, injured his wrist while working at the fire and is off duty.
 The blaze appeared to have start ed near the top floor and when Su- pernumerary Officer James Kelly rang the alarm at $40 o'clock from Box 42 at Main and East Main streets. flames were roaring Ill the southwest corner Great volumes of thick. black smoke rolled out of the windows, enveloping, the adjacent buildings and giving the appearance of . threatened business district to the surrounding structures. Making their way into the attic. the flames licked the rafters and came out Ill several places. snapping high into the air as firemen from Companies |, ?. 3, and 4 and No. 1 truck com- pany hastened to raise ladders 10 the ton of the building and fight the fire from above it.
 Ffrcmen Smash in Windows
 Four minutes after the first alarm was sounded, a second alarm was rung and No. truck company and Companies and $ responded, the latter filling in at the central station. Breaking in the windows. the hre- men found that they had a stiff fight on their hands, but the advantage was theirs in that they were able to see the flames and reach the source. Water was poured in from every pos s,ble point and in short while the flames died away and only the heavy smoke remained.
 The entire building was damaged by fire, smoke and water. On the ground floor are the kaplan cloth ing store, Georges jewelry store and the Fashion Shoe store, the latter having recently closed its doors. On the second floor are furnished rooms in charge of Mrs. Nellie G. Wells, and offices, while q restaurant and meeting halls arc on the third floor The third floor was practically burned out. The other floors were soaked by water ands damaged by smoke, but the fire itself found It's way out through an upward course. Estimates were being made today of the damage to the merchandise in the ground floor stores.
 Traffic waS blocked during the fire and numerous automobiles and hun dreds of Saturday night shoppers as- scmbled in the vicinity to watch the tremen do battle. The immediate vicinity of the fire was kept clear to as great an extent as possible, and a steady stream of traffic went through Myrtle and Lafayette. streets under police direction. In the 'opin- ion of those who examined the prenl- jses and observed the course of the blaze. the fire department made what is known in fire fighting circles as "a good stop"
 Goldilsl. Happy, as Usual
 The fire was not without ifs anus ing angles. In the restaurant was observed a bowl of goldfish sur rounded by blackened debris. yet the fish were swimming screnely about despite the dropping Of chunks of plaster and burned wood into the water every few seconds. A woman who was in dentists char Tn the building when the fire broke out. made such q hasty exit the dentist did not have time to remove thc napkin from about her neck. and she did not even wait to don her hat and coat There was great eA- element because of the central To- cation of the scene of the fire. the sncctacular burst of flames into the air and the ringing of the second alarm.
 At o:lc o'clock, while the light was .,t ;ts hcirbt a call was received that there was a fire in house at 'a camp street. owned by Herman E' Levine, and Co. No. 6 was sent out