The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-01-07
(BY THE FIRE MARSHALL

QhyS, LIle IlTe ucpbI tHiChI llao bCOii
called upon to rescue children In
burning houses. Monday morning at
o'clock 1t happened at the home
of Fred Miller, 39l East Main street,
and again last night at 7:51 o'clock
1t occurred in the home of Harold
Verzier at $50 Cloves terrace. Per-
haps you don't know the location Of
Cloves terrace. Well, It's that high
way running to the right, just after
you turn into Roseland avenue, from
Willow street, at the entrance TO
Engine at the top Of the hill. And
the section was built and named
In memory of that distinguished
southener Of years ago, George II.
Cloves. Mr.. Cloves was a prominent
manufacturer here once upon a
time. How he could fight back at
his opponents.
Children Asleep
But we we're there on account Of
the fire, and not In memory Of the
good soul we mentioned above. You
see, seven bright, good looking, and
friendly children were involved.
Their good parents went of to the
theater for a night Of enjoyment,
leaving the little ones in charge Of
a grown-up young girl, relative
of Mrs. verzier, Evelyn Tewksbury,
Is. OF the children, little Kay, 8
months named we presume, after
the well-dressed movie star, Kay
Francis and Carroll, two years old,
were asleep In the upper bedroom,
south side. Donald, 3 and Robert 4,
were asleep In the bedroom on the
other side. That left William 8, Har.
old 8 and Joyce, 6, around the
house, while the young relative per-
formed the housework In the kitch-
en-. Suddenly, the lights went out,
leaving the whole house in dark
ness. It's q duplex affair, with the
apartment on the east side vacant.
The owner is Bernard A. West.
There was a short circuit In some
cord wires attached TO floor lamp,
the wires for which were plugged
in from a ceiling light. The children
at first were delighted, and then
started TO become frightened. 80
candle light was brought into play.
Shortly afterwards, Joyce, fiaxen
haired little miss, wanted some toys
In the closet Of the front room,
southeast corner. She took the light
cd candle, and entered the we'll
stocked room. Suddenly, there was
a flare, and the whole closet became
involved. The playing children cried,
but the others slept on. Young Jane
Donovan, 10, daughter of Mr.. and
Mrs. Ray Donovan OF 80 Cloves ter
race and Anna and Betty Collins,
daughters Of Mr.. and Mrs. B. A.
Collins, noticed the fire and ran
quickly TO Station No. Q, Just around
the corner on Willow street. Lieut..
Charles Bcckwith responded with
Privates James Barry, John Phelan
and Edward Flynn. In the mean.
time, Patrolman James Carey fop
lowed the children back to the house.
In the hurry TO reach the station,
the little Donovan girl, an active
member of the scout movement,
turned on her ankle, and now limps
about. But her mission was accomp-
hshed, In spite Of the pain she suf-
fered on the way TO the station.
No Insurance
Lieut.. Bockwith anr Private Barry
ran into the house and brought out
the two sleeping children from the
rear bedroom, after the maid had
gathered up two youngsters OF the
lot. Privateg Phclan and Flynn, with
hand extinguisher, had broken
In the window with the ladder.
climbed through the smoky fire, anti
doused the blaze temporarily until
chemical line was brought into
action by way Of the front stairs
Engine / under Lieut.. Michael Cav
anaugh also used booster" line
In this way the fire was kept down,
In spite OF the smoke, and the dam
age to the building will not be
heavy. The Verziers lost about 500
worth OF clothing. 1t rs q complete
loss, as no insurance was carried
Captain 8. J. Bloomfield. as the
acting deputy was In charge OF the
lnCHiCAAs AiiE Hihl 5iluI D1Atk sAAS AS',eeN'
was o credit TO the companies wht
worked at the fire.
Ncighorly Spirit
The outstanding feature Of thu
fire was the old-time neighborlI
spirit as exhibited by the yount
married couples Of the neighbor.
hood. There are some people who
say that there Is no "neighborlJ
spirit" these days, but we saw i
last night. We saw the women neigh
bors walk the floor for hours or dur
/ ing the absence Of the couple az
fected by reason Of the IRE; we saw
them tend TO the wants Of the sicl
child, Carroll: we saw them pu
the young children to bed in theil
own homes for the night, unless tn
parents claimed them afterwards.
And the whole thing made o las
impression upon us Of the fire de-
| uartment. We GaW Lieut.. BockWicii