New Britain herald., 1928-01-06
FIRE LOSS S0,OO0
 AT PUTNAM SCHOOL
(Continued From First Page)

man Peter Pac and Lieutenant John Souney had been placed at the top of ladder with line of hose keep ing a stream into hole in the roof. . Pac was handling the nozzle while Lieutenant Souney was below him on the ladder with both arms around Pac's body gripping the hose to steady it. Another stream was being played through a window on the blazing furnace inside.
 It was as light as day with the flames leaping high into the air and pillows Of smoke rolling out of the building through the. apertures in the roof. The slate slabs were popping like myriads of machine guns in a bullet-barrage across no mans land while the hreraen stuck 10 their grim task of trying to beat back the. fire.
 The water had little effect on the roaring blaze Where Fireman Pac and Lieutenant Souney were sta toned, the heat became intense. Pac gripped the hose nozzle tighter, hitched himself up on the ice-coated ladder and with his legs curved on the ladder top, he bent over on the roof directing the hose. Souney kept his position.
 Bremen Believed Lost
 With no warning the roof fell in. The entire side of the building was smothered in smoke. The flames that a moment before had lit the scene. were momentarily plotted out. The fremen on the ground made a concerted rush for tho walls but . as-impelled rush of smoke drove them back. Again they bucked the heat believing their "buddies" were burning in the building.
 It seemed almost impossible for Fac to avoid falling head first into the center of the blaze. Souney's position was equally as precarious. A full minute passed while onlook- CTS gasped.
 Then the flames spurted up again and there against the crimson re- nection were silhouetted two dark forms at the top of the wall. Souney had gripped Pac by the waist and had held him from toppling with the ruins. In few more moments helping hands pulled the man back from the danger point into safety.
 On the south side, a minute before the crash came, a squad of men with hose writhins under the pres sure from bumper had been driven from the roof top because the heat was blistering their rubber boots They had only reached the ground and were pulling the ladder when the roof went in.
 Two Report Explosion
 That the blaze. when it first broke out. bore the indications of an ex- plosion. due probably to the &C., cumulated gases in the attic. is borne ont by statements of Henry F.. Ra- kowski of 155 Osgood avenue and Raymond Poplaski of 50 Osgood avenue, both of whom turned in alarms Both men said they heard sound like an explosion and Mr. Poplaski said he saw the building shake.
 Many comments were heard on the splendid efforts of the fire fight CTS. who worked under terrific diff faculties and in the face of danger and hardships. Coffee was served to firemen by neighbors.
 Practically every offshift f,remen in the city responded. Patsy Bridget, proprietor of smoke shop on Church street. sent his private car and chauffeur 10 fire headquarters to help transport offshift firemen to the blaze. Chairman Cornelius Dehm. of the board of fire commissioners, went in person to the homes of fire men and conveyed them to the fire. Manager Frank McDonough of the New Britain roller hockey team, during game with Wallingford. stopped the play to announce that all firemen were wanted at head quarters.
 There were between 75 and 100 flremen on the job at one time. ac- cording to estimates. and about 10,- 900 feet of fire hose was used.
 Little Boys are Pleased
 A cordon of police in charge Of