New Britain herald., 1930-03-11

In the V, 6: P. market was large electric refrigerator with the gen. eratins apparatus in the cellar. Am monia fumes from this apparatus filled the burning structure and made fire fighting much more diff fcult. Smoke nozzles, batterlng rams and gas helmets were used by fremon in trying to get at the flames.
 The fire started in the cellar un- derneath the market and ate it's way through the floor and walls. The entire rear of the market floor col lapsed during the course of the blaze, piling up canned goods, fruit groceries and merchandise in a con- elomerate mass, along with shat tered show cases and shelves which followed the collapsed floor into the cellar.
 At one time smoke oozed out through the brick walls over the top of a lunch car operated by AL fred J. Hills adjoining thesrallroad tracks. Axes and a battering ram were used to break through the wall As the firemen crashed through the brick, flames shot several feet out over the lunch car.
 A few feet away on the ground level another group of firemen again used the battering ram 10 break their way through the brick wall permitting them to get a stream Of water into the cellar.
 Bremen fighting the blaze from the front of the V. < P. market were unable to penetrate very far into the store because of the dense fumes Of smoke and ammonia. At several points in the store. holes were chopped through the floor in order to facilitate the fire fighting.
 The flames spread through the walls to the hallway. burning off a number of steps in the front stairs. It was down these stairs that Cap tain Porter of Engine Co. No. 2 later fell, sustaining slight injuries.
 Nine Lines of Hose Used
 Fire crept through to the second floors, where slight damage was done by flames but considerable by smoke and water. At one time nlne lines Of hose were playing on the blaze at various points.
 So thick were the fumes that po- lice were forced to rope off the street from the opposite sidewalk beginning at a point about 20 feet south of the railroad tracks and cX- tending almost to Commercial street. Hundreds of persons lined the rail- road tracks and the sidewalks on Main street and Washington place watching the fight,
 Try to Keep Fire in Store
 Bremen made every effort to keep the flames as much as possible within the V. S5 P. market. Water was poured in through the holes bat tered through the brick walls, line of hose was taken through the front door. several lines went through the cellar and one line was taken through the plate glass window on the railroad side. X hole was chopped through the floor from above and a stream of water sent down from over head. Several lines were taken around to the rear and streams sent into pile of boxes blazing in the cellar until there were several feet Of water in the base ment.
 Smoke spread through the walls to the Askins store next door and from there to the Thom McAnn shoe store.
 Time after time during the four hours the iremen battled with the blaze. flrefghters were forced out by the thick fumes, Several firemen were made violently ill. A few Of them including Captain Porter were given emergency treatment by pr Samuel T.. Schupacll one of the owners of the building.
 Fire Chief William J. Noble turned on his ankle on the railroad track and today is getting around with considerable difficulty and pain
 Clothing in the Askins store was damaged by smoke. Manager s, A Tanncnbaum stated that he did not know 10 what extent but that therc probably was about s25,oQo worth of stock in the storc.
 The stock in the Y. &. P, market i' said 10 he worth about S4,Qoo ac. cording to William R. Perrotti, man .a-er. The entire stock probably vii be a total loss.
 Chief Noble said today tho loss at first said 10 be between s5o,oo' and s6o.ooo probably will not exceed &3Nogo or S22.ooo,
 Freight Trains Delayed
 Although several lines crossed the railroad tracks from the time Of the second alarm until 10;30 when Chic Noble announced that the fire was under control and dismissed the of duty nrcmrn. there was little delay to passenger trains. Edward r. Me Aloon, who carries mail from thr . Sl IID4I Ip tIt' ppHt CiitN'-' ''''4'''' that mail trans went through or time. Several freight trains Ter' dcDuycd. An Man street traffic was | stepped While tho Connectlcn company made an attempt 10 trans i fer passengers from one car to an other at the scene Of the fire tho plans were only partially successful One fire company VAS left at the sr,nc of the fire 10 prevent q future outbreak during the night. and DO 1 licemcn were left on duty all nigh and all dGy today Although tho police are Investigating the cause O ! the blaze. Chiet Noble expressed the opulon that it was started by care. 1 less smokers in the cellar, There was no furnace fire in th" cellar and according 10 Mr. Porrotti thu . cellar was seldom used.
 Exits 0. K. il January
 ually inspection reports at thc Of tice Of tho building commission il