New Britain herald., 1928-02-13
FIRE LOSS tl5Q,00O
 AT SOUTH CHURCH
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 were installed, burned almost like paper. Lumber. wooden partitions and several feather. beds stored iR the cellar blazed up and sent, out clouds of smoke ]; as the flames moved upward. filling the auditori- um with, black fumes. Reaching The ceiling they sped along the attic 10 the rear where they broke out through the echo organ.
 Motion Picture Machines saved
 Water soaked plaster, water, smoke, soot and other debris worked its way into the motion picture booths. filling the machine with an accumulation of dirt and rubbish and rendering them temporarily use less. The machines later were re- moved by William Bomba who is in charge of that work. and were stored in the library. which was un- damaged. No further damage was noticeable to the machines, although Mr. Bomba said it was impossible to tell whether the heat had done any harm until he had chance to test them. \ large fireproof metal box containing the film "'Thc Country Doctor" which was to have been shown last evening at the regular Sunday evening motion picture serv- fec. was removed by Mr. Bomba, who worked his way through smoke filled railways and stairways to get 1t out r
 Although nrcmen made almost Superhuman efforts to get the flames under control, and their efforts pro- vo>ed many complimentary re- marks mace later to Chief Noble. in the interior of the organ they had little chance. The organ had more than 5000 pipes beside an open stairway, each of which acted as q separate flue. Streams of water were poured into the instrument from all sides until water ran down the aisles of the church in brooklcts.
 Recall sounded at 1923
 It was 1924 o'clock before the re- call announced that the fire was definitely out. Smoke and smolder- ing woodwork in almost inaccessible places made the work extremely diff ficult for the tiremen. The necessity for placing 70 foot extension ladders in the interior of the church up against the high ceiling also added to the. hazards.
 The fire was fought from the Arch street side. from the yard on the -l |, men poured water into the base ment windows. shot streams through the auditorium windows and at the same time deluged the burning em- bers through the apertures formerly covered by valuable stained glass circular panes in the skylights.
 In order to fight the fire crawling across the ceiling it was necessaryto to climb up on the side of the church and cut holes through the ceiling. At the same time firemen on the Arch street side chopped through the roof X number of firemen and policemen narrowly missed serious injury when stream of water from 8 high pressure hose sent slate fly ing from the roof to the ground.
 g Ceiling Expected to Fall
 :. Glass, chandeliers on the ceiling end side walls were broken by the beat and dropped to the floor, and walls and ceilings were so saturated that | was necessary for police to warn church officials who later in- spected the property not to enter the hisles because of danger from falling plaster .A large portion of the front. containing the ruins of the organ: and the pulpit was roped off later.
 Fireman Lowered From Perch
 Two firemen were injured. Chief Noble. sustained a painfully injured knee When he struck 1t against the corner of a pew. Fireman Joe Ver- anti of Engine Company No. 6, was overcome by smoke and gas while on the roof of the Arch street side. He was placed in a special harness provided for the purpose. and used for the first time. and lowered to the ground by tiremen. He regained consciousness at New Britain Gen eral hospital an hour later. Both fircmen were treated by Dr. Frank Zwick
 Because of the central location of sthe fire it was necessary to keep Main street open for traffic, and q squad of traffic policemen in charge of Sergeant John J. King maintained a traffic lane and kept cars moving without congestion. Motor vehicles not having business in the fire zone were turned off at intersecting streets wherever possible. Buses were kept moving with no delay ex- cept that occasioned by the traffic lights. The Arch street buses were routed via Glen street.
 In the church other policemen a number of them in plain clothes. with Sergeant John C. Stadler and Lieutenant Matthias Rival. helped handle tho persons who for one req son or another had business indoors or on the church grounds. Boy Scouts of Troop ?. in charge of : Ecoutmaster Harry I. Bonney, were
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