The Waterbury Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1917-1946, 1942-01-20
Apartment House Is
Turned Into Inferno
Continued from Page II


the net couldn't seem TO hold 1t.
Both women fell into the street
after the net slipped. Then 1t was
that they told me about my sister.
so l went TO the hospital"
Inquest at Once Opens
Even as policemen and firemen
prodded the smoking rubble Tor
more bodies, State Fire Marshal
Stephen c. Clarity opened an in
quest into the holocaust. Deputy
Fire Chief ONeil. who estimated
damage 10 the building at $40 200,
said he blaze apparently started
from a discarded cigarette in tae
rear OF the first floor. 1t had been
smoulderinC Tor sometime, he said,
when suddenly fountain OF flame
spiraled up the elevator shaft, fir
ing each floor in its path.
O'Neil said that the flames licked
at the roof supports until section
OF the roof gave way. This added
weight collapsed the fifth, fourth
and third floors in swift succession.
The general-alarm blaze caused
injuries to some % residents and
Fire Chief John Adams Of Marble
head who fell from the roof to a
fire escape several floors below. He
was unconscious when hospitalized.
Firemen from eight communities
controlled the fire after 2 1-2
hour battle. Help for the hard
pressed Lynn department came
from Boston, Revere, Marblehead,
Lynnfeld, Nahant, Swampscott and
Peabody.
Death Toll Uncertain
Authorities said it would be diff
cult to establish the complete death
toll for some time.
The third and fourth floors Of
the Compartment structure col
lapSed during the fire, and firemen,
searching for bodies, were forced
to use extreme caution in poking
Through smouldering rubble.
The injured residents were treated
at Lynn hospital for smoke inhal-
alton, burns, cuts, bruises and other
injuries. None was believed in crit
zeal condition. Fire Chief Adams
was hoepitalized at Marblehead.
Firemen were unable to estimate
how many occupants had been res
I cued.
Night Clerk Charles F.. Lennigan
I OF the nearby Hotel Edison, who
| discovered the FIRE, said he could
hear the screams Of apartment res
/ idents from The hotel.
The smoke was SO dense and
/ sitting when firemen arrived that
| they yelled warnings to residents
to stay in their rooms and shut
! their doors until rescued by way of
/ the windows
William j. Fuller, crippled by in
fantile paralysis, was one of the
first to be rescued. He threw his
clutches from window to attract
attention and then when firemen
arrived insisted they rescue his
! mother first After she was taken
| to safety, Fuller was rescued over
a ladder.
Started On First Floor
The fire apparently started on
the first floor and mushroomed
through the building until it burst
through the roof and showered
sparks on neighboring buildings.
DR.. c. L. Hit, surgeon at Lynn
hospital, said most of the injured
apparently had been hurt jumping
from windows. Nearly all had suf-
fered back injuries, he said.
One of those treated was Miss
Eva La Vesque, %, who said she was
awakened by bang on the door.
ut all happened so quickly
don't know how got out" she said.
Next thing / knew l was lying on
the street and some people were
helping me-"
1t was believed she was injured
in jumping from a window.
First firemen to arrive found
scores of persons clinging to win
dow lodges at the back of the build
ing. Some of those trapped either
jumped or were unable to hold on
any longsr and plunged to the
ground before life nets could be
spread.
Five of the known dead were
identified tentatively as Mary Dex-
ter, Bessie Parks, Betty Rachs, Ed
ward La Flamme and Elsie Thor
nell.