A BLAZE

Mr. A.E. White’s Building Partially Burned

The New Water Works System Thoroughly Tested by an Actual Fire

The Fire under Perfect Control in Six Minutes after the Alarm was Given

The first fire since the completion of the Welland new Water Works system, occurred on Tuesday night last, shortly after 12 o’clock, in the building owned by Mr. A.E. White, on West Main street, next the Hobson block and adjoining the TELEGRAPH office. The flames were issuing from the roof, towering majestically towards the sky, lighting up the whole neighborhood, and in a few moments more would have extended to adjoining buildings, but in an almost incredibly short space of time, after the hose was attached to the hydrants, they were completely squelched out. Hose Cart No 2, kept in Mr. Jeffrey’s shop, was first on the scene, and the hose was attached to the hydrant opposite Hobson’s block. In another minute or so, the hose cart from the east side of the canal came bounding along, and the hose from this cart attached to the hydrant on Bald street. Two powerful streams of water were thus brought into requisition, and the fire was under control directly the water was applied upon the burning building. There was however some difficulty in getting at the fire, as it was issuing from the south east corner, next the wall of the Hobson block, and the front being what is called a “false front” and as there are a lot of out buildings at the rear, it was anything but an easy job to get the streams directly in the locality of the fire. The task was accomplished however, and the fire soon extinguished.

The building is a frame one, and the upper flat was occupied by Mr. White as a residence. The lower flat is divided into two stores, one of which is kept as a butcher shop, by Messrs. Rossette, and the other was formerly a baker’s shop but at present unoccupied. It was from the chimney leading from the butcher’s shop that the fire originated. It was discovered by Mr. C. Clark who was out for the doctor, and who saw the flames issuing through the roof. This was about ten minutes past twelve o’clock. He at once aroused Mr. White who had retired but a short time before. The alarm was given, and the brigade was soon on hand, and had both streams playing on the burning building, estimated at from 4 to 6 minutes, after the alarm was sounded. The rooms which were on fire were used only for store rooms. Most of the furniture and wearing apparel were taken into the upper flat of Mr. Geo. Stalker’s brick block, which is also used as a residence by Mr. White. The loss on his furniture will be light, but the loss on the building will amount to $400 which is covered by insurance. Messrs. Rossette lost some meat in its removal but the amount was small. Mr. White will not likely repair the building, as it is his present intention to pull it down and rebuild.

NOTES

The firemen handled the fire well considering they have had but little experience under the present system.

A fire alarm is needed to complete our present excellent fire system.

Fortunately the night was calm otherwise the fire would have extended to the adjoining buildings.

There was 100 pounds of pressure on during the time of the fire.

Mr. Gross, the superintendent, was at his post in the pump house, just 8 minutes after the alarm was given, and set the big pump in motion, to assist the small one which was working like a charm.

The building was deluged with water in a few minutes, and such was the quantity thrown, that it kept running away from the palace, nearly all the next day.

No fire in Welland was ever drowned out so thoroughly, and in so short a space of time, as was this one.

Welland Telegraph Fire: 16 January 1889

18 January 1889