The Waterbury Democrat., 1945-12-26

Baldwin summoned Hickey ano state Health Commissioner stanley N. Osborn to his ofnce for a con~ ference. presumably in connection with the Are.
 Before entering ths ooTeTnors office. Hickey disclosed that a sue peFvised Ire driil had been held ai the hospital only a few weeks ago
 Hickey. who survived the disas- trous circus fire here July c. ietf. and rescued seven of his nieces and nepheEa. said that as soon as the hospitaiized patients Of the holo- caust could be interviewed. their statements would be taken and pieced together with other teSn- mony of the hearing.
 wItneGses Nanled
 Today's hearing was a oontinua- ton Of an on-tile-spot inquiry which was started early Christmas morning, even before the fire had burned itself out.
 Witnesses who appeared at to- days hearing included State Police It. Frank A. Starkwell. assistant State Fire Marshal. and Hartford Deputy Fire Chief William Sullivan, the city fire marshal
 Employes of the Telephone and Electric Light Company also were to be questioned.
 To Sift Reports
 The investigation dovetailed in- quiries by the city. county and state into the exact cause of the fire and general conditions at the hospital where a front and rear staircase were the only means of exit from the building.
 Defense of the lack of fire escapes was made by City Building Super visor William J. Ennis who said they were not required on building of that type.
 He said the place had been regu- larly inspected and that none of his inspectors had complained of un- satisfactory conditions. To Fix Responsibility
 The coroner also opened an i1- quiry to fix responsibility for the disaster, but his finding probably will be withheld until after he re- ceives a report of Commissioner Hickey.
 The Hickey probe will sift reports that some panicky person may have jerked open door, permitting the wind to sweep the flames up- stairs from first floor office where the Christmas tree had been erect ed. Two more of the aged inmates were in a critical condition and hos pital attendants did not expect them to survive their burns and shock.
 Started From Short
 The fire started from short clr- cuit in the lights on a Christmas tree which attendants had set up in the office of the home to bright en the spirits of patients who faced 8 lonely holiday.
 Only the ice-coated, blackened walls stood today of the rambling, four story, brick and wood home operated by three hospitals, Hart ford, Municipal and St. Francis, for the aged, convaleScent and chronic patients. Thirteen patients and two at tendants died in their rooms or as they were being carried to the snow-covered streets. Two more pa tients died Christmas Day in Hart ford hospitals.
 ExtinguiSher Fails Officials said preliminary queS- tioning of the survivors indicated that a woman attendant tried to extinguish the blazing Christmas tree with small, hand extinguish- CT.
 The flames, which spread to draperies, then caught in the walls, cut of the te..phone and prevented attendants from summoning imme- | diate aid.
 Officials believed that someone opened the front door and let the wind fan the flames up the stair cases and through the halls, trap ping the patients in their rooms as they prepared to retire. Die In Arms The alarm was turned in by Mrs. Mary Fitzpatrick, who saw the flames reflected in the window of her neighboring apartment. Her son, Thomas Fitzpatrick, and two other men, James Conroy and Joe Sinnott, dashed into the blazing home and began carrying out the patients. Several died in their arms. Today's hearing in the office of State Police Commissioner and Fire Inspector Edward J. Hickey, was attended by state, county and city police officials.
 Mayor Cornelius A. Moylan said the tragedy would probably lead to thorough investigation of con- valescent homes and private hospi- tals in the city.
 Handicapped By Weather ''The facts brought out in this investigation will decide what steps will be taken to avoid a repetition of the disaster" Moylan said. Bremen were handicapped by zero weather which froze the streams of water almost as soon as it left the nozzleS. Hose froze to the streets.
 The roof collapsed with shower of midnight fireworks before the flames were brought under control. AS the coroner opened an afficial inquest to fix responsibility for the holocaust, Mayor Moylan was asked to organize 8 statewide conference with the objective of establishing uniform fire laws in every com- munity.
 Wants End to Tragedies
 Richard F. Jones, Jr., Hartford realtor, in 8 telegram to the mayor, declared '1et's put an end to these tragedies"
 Jones pointed to the construction of apartment houses in the city, asserting that "the only brick about Hartfords brick apartment houses are the outside walls. Everything