New Britain herald., 1930-10-25
s25,OO0 FIRE DAMAGE
 A7L. .. SMITH SCHOOL
(Continued From First rage)

boy, Flo ADDale or Ill kdSI street, who was sent out by a woman living near the school who had seen bright light in the basement window of the school before she thought there might be a fire there. This de- lay by the woman caused a heavy loss. which might have been cut to a few hundred dollars had the alarm been given when she first saw the glare in the basement window. The name of the woman is not known
 Souney Orders Second Alarm
 Assistant Chief Michael T. Souney realized that the fremen had ser icus fire to fight. and he immediate ly sounded the box for a second alarm, bringing nearly all fire fight ing apparatus 10 the scene Six lines Of hose were laid, and streames Of water directed into the building. Three lines were directed into the basement. where the fire started. on' hne into the first floor and two lines into the second floor and later into the third floor into which the fire had worked. despite efforts to con- fine it to the basement and first floor.
 The fire was one Of the smokiest he fremcn have fought in more than a year, the pine finish ceilings and walls being soaked with varnish which made a cutting smoke that acted like acid on the eyes and | come, but many were ill after re- turning to their fire houses.
 The building is not fireproof and the hallway made a natural vent tor draft which gave the flames a full sweep from the basement to the roof. The hallway was burned through and the walls of the rooms in the old section to the north of the Kelsey street part were so badly burned that practically all wood work down to the outside brick walls will have to be ripped out and replaced.
 Cause of Fire Unknown
 There is COT .derable doubt con- corning the origin of the fire. It started in the store room in the northeast corner of the basement, and worked through the basement to the stairways, and up through the first, second and third floors.
 The janitor of the school. Andrew II. Muusman. was attending q lodge meeting in Bristol last night. the 1,n l,. being at ? o'clock in the afternoon, when the fires were banked for the weekend. He learned Of the fire when he returned from Bristol about Il o'clock. He could throw no light upon the origin of the blaze.
 T cannot conceive what could have started the fire" lie said to q Herald reporter, during the time of the fire. There was no fire except in the boiler, which is located in . the front end of the new building. and this was banked. There was ] tve-gallon can of kerosene oil on a bench in the private store room between the general store room and coal bunkers in the basement, but the door to this little room was al ways kept lockgd except when l was in there after working tools. I be- lieve that electric wires caused the fire, yet l do not see where this could have happened
 Police Investigating
 The police began an investigation about midnight to trace down ! story that a boy whose name was said 10 be Basile living at 37 Shef- field street, a short distance from the school, was reported to have told Mrs. Muusman. wife of the janitor, about o'clock last night. that he saw three men in the school yard and heard one of them say, We can get in there easy"
 Bremen are said to have heard three young men deride them as they were fighting the fire, the trio being at a safe distance. The three were believed to have been intoxi- cated, but their language used in making fun of the firemen and thelr efforts to fight the fire incensed some
  cident after returning to fire head quarters.
 Mayor George A. Quiglcy was an early arrival at the fire and he stood with several other city officials at the northwest corner of the school yard watching the work of the fire men. They did 8 mighty fine job" was his comment when the fire had been brought under control about midnight.
 All Bremen in City Respond
 Upon the sounding Of the second alarm, every man off duty was call ed and told to go immediately 10 the fire. By 1l:i5 o'clock every fire man in the city was on the job, in cluding Chief William J. Noble and Assistant Chief Eugene F. Barne~, both of whom were off duty for the night. Assistant Chief Souney was in charge until Chief Noble arrivcI ] and after Chief Noble had left for home, about midnight All compa- njcs were sent back to quarters by l2:30 except Engine Co. No. !. which was kept on duty until $ o'clock this morning.
 Goldfish tnharmed
 One of the incidents that amused the frcmen was that a bit gold fish tank in the school room that was most seriously damaged by fire was not harmed and the gold fish were swimming about after the fire Was out as though nothing had happen ed. The clock in this room also continued to keep going and appar- ently did not lose a second, despi', the terrific heat which scorched tho woodwork in the room and burneu the ceiling,
 Chief Noble today complimentoI the young women operators at the telephone exchange on Court street for their cooperation in assisting