A SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLAR FIRE

Welland Roller Rink and Whalley Stables Burned

Other Losses-Narrow Escape from Great Disaster

             The losses:

            Welland had a destructive fire and a close call to a great disaster on Wednesday last. The fire was in the very centre of the town and, had the wind been sweeping from the west or southwest, as has been the case nearly all spring, nothing could have saved the row of frame buildings on Main street at least as far as Opera Hall, and it is entirely improbable that the conflagration would have been kept crossing the street.

             Wm. Jarvis first saw the fire. It was about 2:35 o’clock. Mr. Jarvis has a clothes pressing and cleaning establishment upstairs in the rear of the Brennan block. His windows were within a few feet of the barn and he noticed a spark drop down from the mow to the floor. He immediately rushed around the corner to the town hall and gave the alarm.

             The fire, as to be expected in a large open frame barn, leapt from mow to roof, and from side to side with lightening-like rapidity, and as soon as the alarm was given, any person looking out did not need to be directed to the scene of the conflagration. The dense clouds of black smoke pouring out from the burning hay and building indicated the scene of disaster.

            The Ward 1 hose cart, drawn by one of Minor’s busses, was on the scene in four minutes, and two minutes later, two streams of water were available, and the reels from the other wards quickly followed. Wherever the fire could be got at, was quickly drowned out, but unfortunately the heat, smoke and surrounding buildings hampered the firemen’s operations greatly, and the barn is almost a total loss, except the ground flooring and foundations. The barn was built by the late T.F. Brown, formerly proprietor of the City Hotel (now the Whalley House) and cost over $2,000 in the days of cheap building, being a very large and substantially built structure. It would take at least $3,000 to rebuild it the same now. It was insured for only $750-in the Waterloo Mutual Co.

THE RINK

            The burning of the rink was in a sense accidental. The building was metal plated top and sides. Its north end was about seven feet distant from the burned barn. Whilst that end was watched closely, fire broke out in the far south end of the building about 300 feet away, and got under good headway before alarm given. It is supposed the fire entered the rink either through the heating of the metal plates or through cracks caused by their being warped by the heat, catching on the bunting, which was strung from end to end of the building and thus carried by the bunting by the slight north breeze to the extreme southern end of the building, where it broke out fiercely. The bunting seems to have ignited the fire all along the roof, and, considering the size of the building, its open construction and all circumstances, it was impossible to save it. The roof soon commenced falling in from the south end, too, and rendered it extremely dangerous to go in or very near the walls, as sometimes the metal sheets slid off, so there was no telling where they would strike.

            The metal roofing and sheeting, however, whilst it acted a screen to keep out the water, also, shut in the flames and heat, and kept the fire from spreading. Had the rink roof been a shingle roof, it seems certain the fire would have crossed Division street, to Dr. Colbeck’s house, and thence endangered many other buildings.

            Robert Young, manager of the roller rink, says when he went inside the building, the fire had just started at the north end-the end next to the burning barn. Others came in and the fire, already having a start, made rapid headway, every time the door was opened giving it more draft. Mr. Young was going to try to put out the fire, but he saw there was no use. The bunting was ablaze and the fire swept along it with lightening rapidity to the front of the building where the flames broke out. The rink piano was just got out in time, and the 300 pairs of roller skates were saved by being thrown out the front window. There were 1700 yards of bunting in the rink, all burned.

            The rink was owned by Mr. Alex Griffiths, and had a hardwood floor for roller skating. It cost about, $5,000 dollars, and with the exception of the annex on the east side, is practically destroyed. There no insurance on the building. Besides being used as a place for amusement and games, the rink was very convenient for large gatherings, and it will be greatly missed; as we understand it will not likely be rebuilt.

BUILDERS L & S CO.

            The annex on the east side of the rink; also, owned by Mr. Griffiths, was saved. It was occupied by the Welland Lumber and Supply Company (Messrs. Hickey and Lavellee) as an office and wareroom, and contained a large stock of paints, sash and other building materials. None of this stock was burned, but the loss by water and removal will, it is estimated, amount to over $1,000. Insured in the Guardian and Phoenix companies.

VALUABLE HORSE BURNED

            A valuable LeVerau Hackney belonging to Harve Dawdy was burned in the stable. Several attempts to rescue the animal were made, but all in vain. The smoke was too dense, and the horse too much frightened of the flames. Mr. Dawdy bought the horse from Dr. Hutton last summer for $200. It was a very fine animal and he had refused $250 for it the day before the fire.

            A horse belonging to George Stouth of Crowland was in the barn when the fire broke out. Whether it was loosened by someone or not, is not known, but it ran out and down the street, with a light rig attached. It was temporarily caught at the bridge, but after quite a circus performance tore loose, from bridle and rig and made for home. It was uninjured, but the bridle was broken.

            A cow was also tethered in the barn, but she was brought out by the hostler.

DANGER TO OTHER BUILDINGS

            There was very grave danger to other buildings. Dr. Weller’s barn had a narrow escape. Fortunately it was a fire-proof building. When the flames shot out over the front of the barn it got so awfully hot at the rear of the Brennan block that the fire proof shutters were closed. When the fire was raging fiercely at the front of the rink, Dr. Colbeck was standing upon the roof of his residence protecting his property with a garden hose.

NOTES

            The fire was a hard one to fight.

            The Imperial Bank used their bank hose to advantage.

            The Whalley House barn contained about $40 worth of hay and $10 worth of straw.

            So much water was used that the walk on Muir street was flooded a couple on inches deep.

            A telephone pole belonging to the Falls Power Co. caught fire and the insulation was burned off the wires.

            Firemen Will Stapf and Charles Rice and a number of others had a narrow escape from being caught by the rink roof suddenly falling in.

            The Welland Electric Co., fearing danger to their own wires, took liberty of cutting six 2200 voltage wires belong to the Falls Power Co.

            The Cordage Co.’s fire department came down, unlimbered in fine shape and rendered very acceptable service. They are a well-drilled and very efficient corps.

            There were eight streams of water playing on the fire at one time. This is the greatest ever. One line of hose was furnished by the Cordage Fire Department. East Main street was a net work of hose.

            Scores of hands assisted in removing the paints, oils, roofing, window sash, doors etc. of the Builders’ Lumber and Supply Co. from the rink building. One can of paint got too hot and burst in the hands of its rescuer. He was plastered.

            The low water pressure was criticized by some, who probably were not aware that eight streams of water were being thrown. Considering this, the pressure was very fair. Had it been necessary to reach a higher altitude with the water, some of the streams would have been discontinued, which would have given greater force to the others.

            The cause of the fire is unknown. As there were no stoves or lanterns being used in the barn at the time, and there is no reason to apprehend incendiarism, the most reasonable supposition is that fire was accidentally started by a smoker from cigar, pipe or matches, but of course this is only conjecture.

HOW THE HOSE WAS LAID

            The Welland firemen had water on the fire within five or six minutes of the time the alarm rang out. Fire Chief Stapf was telephoned to at Beatty’s immediately and got to the scene as fast as his legs could carry him. The three hose carts were already there; and the Chief attached the nozzle to one of No.61’s lines and that was the first stream playing upon the fire. Altogether there were eight streams at one time. The Welland fire company had six, the Cordage fire company had one, and the Imperial Bank boys were there with their bank hose. Two lines from No. 1 were attached to the hydrant in front of the Ross Co.’s store and were playing on the barn. No.2’s lines, attached to the Commercial House hydrant were playing one upon the barn and one on the rink. No. 3 had one line connected with Griffiths’ hydrant on Division, the water being thrown inside the rink, while the other was on Cooper’s mill hydrant, the water being directed against the barn. The Cordage line was attached to the hydrant on Division street, the water being thrown against the front of the rink. The Welland fire company had 2500 feet of hose-all that was available. The Cordage, 400 feet. Chief Stapf wishes to thank the Cordage fire company for coming to the assistance in answer to his call for aid.

ACCIDENTS

            Billy Brittin and Frank Boyle were raising some of the metal roofing of the rink so that the water could be thrown on the fire. Frank Boyle received a severe cut across three fingers of the right hand from a piece of the metal. The wound which required seven stitches was dressed by Dr. Colbeck and Garner. Brittin’s thumb was also cut.

HERB BOYLE’S ADVENTURE

            Herb Boyle, one of the firemen, had an adventure which he would not care to repeat. He came very nearly being suffocated or burned to death, and no one would have been the wiser until all was over. Immediately after the fire was discovered, those who were nearby rushed in to render first aid. Among these was Herb Boyle. The smoke and flames were increasing with every minute, when someone said there was a horse back in the barn and that he couldn’t get to it for the smoke. Herb grabbed a horse blanket and made his way to the rear of the barn. The horse was in the farthest stall. Herb reached it and got inside. The horse shied over into one corner where Herb threw the blanket over him, the horse stepped on his foot and ran to the other side of the stall. In the meantime the flames were getting fiercer and the smoke became so dense in the stall, Herb could not find the horse. Suddenly his knees gave way and he fell down. He couldn’t see the stall door, but he crawled along the wall of the stall and at last came to it. He was all right when he got out into the open air, and fought the fire to a finish. The horse was owned by Harve Dawdy and was burned in its stall.

 Welland Tribune

21 May 1909

Fire: 19 May 1909