The Waterbury Democrat., 1938-04-20
BY THE FIRE MARSHAL

The Garden building at 162-176 East Main street had another fire early this morning. Quick witted action on the part of an alert pa- troIman, Walter Hayes, of Old Burnt Hill, brought the fire department early, and thereby saved the his- toric four story structure from seri- ous damage. Walter, change beat policeman, out in the sunlight one day, and then observed on a night post, was shifting from one back door to another in his conscientious rounds of the business places under his patrol when an autoist drove Up, and informed him that he had ob- served smoke coming from the upper floors of the Garden theater. Wal ter jumped on the running board of the mans car. and pulled up to Box 173 in front of the State theater and sounded the alarm.
 Companies Respond
 The call brought Engine Company 10 from headquarters under Lieut.. James J. Cavanaugh, and Truck Company, No. 1, with Captain Jo- seph J. Kelley in command. Engine 3 of East Main street responded under Acting Lieut.. Mike" Hanlon, and right behind his company came Truck with Lieut.. John J. Crean in charge. Engine 4 came down from the old Abrigador, with Capt. Phil Kelley, native of that section, and about the same time, Engine of the so-called Cracker Hill" district arrived, piloted by the quiet and unassuming Capt. John F. Ahearn. Of course in the meantime, the department head, Chief Thomas F.. Cavanaugh and his deputy, Captain Martin J. Campion had arrived. Smoke poured in volumes out of the front northwest corner. The two chief officers had the building sur rounded on all sides, with loaded lines ready for any emergency. Neither the chief nor his deputy will take a chance in this particular section of the city. They wanted to ascertain the real seat of the fire before any companies were with drawn. The smoke in front hallway choked the privates of the depart ment and really the men who ac- tually do the brunt of the work in all fires. They must because they are in numbers, and fire, as a rule requires much man-poWer before 1t can be stopped. But as smoky and as disagreeable as the task was, up climbed these young and athletic firemen, with their officers, and right into the little room, formerly well known bar in prohibition days. The Truck Company members did their part by entering the same floor with the ladcrs placed in front of the building, an essential move on the part of all truck companies in fires of this kind and in such buildings.
 In Side Room
 The fire of itself was confined ac- tually to it's place of origin, a side room off the main assembly room, third floor west side, occupied by Local Machinists' Union, No. 1885, of which Henry Brcdeur is the rec ognized head. Captain Kelley and his men and Lieut.. Crean and his crew opened up part of the main stairway running from the third to the fourth floor; the Engine No. 10 outfit threw heavy line directly into the opening, and right at the fire. Engine had its line running in from the assembly hall entrance. There was no chance for the fire to get away, except to go down. ward, which it did through the meshed ceiling and studding, but waiting for it was another line, cas- fly reached when the Truck Com pany members tore an opening in the ceiling of the Garden theater gallery hallway.
 The fire, as we have said, was of early morn, and few witnessed it, or saw the firemen actually as they were. But we did, as unit sep arate of the fire fighting forces of itself. We know our place, which is to observe, and say nothing. And that is just what we try to do. Our particular function comes with a determination of the cause, and what leads up to the reason for it all. That is why we must be on hand to secure and gather together such information and data as is pos sible, under any and all circum- stances. We must report hurriedly to the state fire marshal, so that he cannot find fault with our appar- ent negligence, in case we are late in sending in our message. And furthermore the law says we shall be present, and our aim, of course, i is to be observe just what the stat ute requires in each and every in- stance.
 Worthy Lot
 Our firemen are worthy lot; the Nttla falInuy is inst aS imOOrtant AG