New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1929-02-07
PainuiM Me.ps
.SH.EC7MFN REFUSE
TO GUST BOSWELL
@arSS Against Fire Commits
sionT Deemed insufficient
TOWN FLOODED BY STORM

Roads and Fields Under Water
Autos Used - Fcsries-C. Of c.
Meets Tonigl,t-Child Dies-Whitc
favors Proposed Change-Isriefs.
AT q regular meeting OF the board
OF selectmen held last night the
charges against Fire Commissioner
James f. Boswell were heard and.
after consideration. were found to be
without enough foundation to war;
rant his dismissal"
Such was the text OF statement
which was issued by the selectmen
this morning and which exonerated
Com missioner Boswell from the
charges made against him by %
members OF the fire company who
had petitioned the selectmen to re-
move him "for the good of the de-
partment."
Mr.. Boswell. who Is driver Of the
departments largest truck, was eie-
waited to the rank Of commissioner
year ago Recently dissension
broke out in the department. it being
claimed by the members Of the COM
pany that the commissioner failed TO
cooperate with them and that he as
sumed too much authority, particu-
larly In going to small fires alone.
MIR. Bosweil's defense was that it
| would be a needless waste OF money
to call out the whole department for
! these little blazes.
Members OF the department pc
| titioned the selectmen to remove the
commissioner and. at meeting FRI
| day night. appointed a committee of
six to present their case. Yesterday
the selectmen spent practically the
whole day in conferences with the
two sides in an effort to arrive at a
fair solution OF the problem.
At the regular selectmen's meet
ing last night formal hearing was
granted to the committee, which was
chairmaned by Foreman William
Cooke. and to Mr.. Boswell At its
termination the seiectmen weighed
the evidence and found it insufficient
, to warrant the commissioners dis
missal.
Storm Dpwns Town
The most torrential rain storm in
several years descended upon Plain
vile during the night and morning
and practically drowned the town
under water which in places rose TO
Il depth Of several feet. Nchicular
traffic was greatly hampered and
automobiles with soaked batteries
were stretched in long lines along
the roads and highways about the
town, while many persons were >i:-
tualIy imprisoned in their homes by
the rose of waters in the yards.
Many of the entrances to the
storm sewers we're blocked with
snow aud ice, and the water failed to
drain OF properly. forming great
pools which extended across East
and Broad streets and rose to the
doorsteps of the houses in many
places. The lawns along East street
while the road lay under water for
blocks. Automobiles we're called into
service az ferries and made many
trips to carry people from their
houses to the nearest dry land or to
take high school pupils from shore
to school across the intervening
stretches of water. At one time
nearly rs cars were stalled along this
street. Toward thin line OF road
in the center OF the street ap-
pearcd above the waters as the flood
receded.
Roth sides Of Broad street lay
deep under the surface, while the
waters covered the southern ends Of
| Pierce and Canal streets and
hemmed in houses and the Methodist
and Catholic churches. A group Of
men engaged In freeing the storm
sewers were called upon to act as
emergency pail bearers at a funeral
held from the latter church.
blossoms corner was inundated.
as were numerous stretches of the
New Britain road The worst place
on that highway was along the hill
east Of Cooke street. where the water
swept down TIE grade with consid-
cradle depth and force. The pom is