Subscribe..
Fire at Welland
H.W. Macoomb’s New House Went up in Flames Early this Morning
Welland, April 10-H.W. Macoomb’s new house on the River Road is a wreck owing to a disastrous fire which occurred there early this morning. About 4 o’clock a.m. the fire alarm sounded. In fifteen minutes hose cart No. 1 from the old town hall was on the scene, but the fire had reached its height then and the flames were streaming through the roof. At 4.30 the second stream was put on, but in the meantime the house was nearly a wreck. About all that was left to do was to save the walls, and Contractor Ellsworth could not say this morning whether the walls would be of any use or not.
The fire was first seen by Judge Wells, and he telephoned Mr. Macoomb and the Central, which telephoned around town endeavoring to get somebody to ring the alarm. Chief Braedin got the alarm from the millers on top of Cooper’s mill, and rang the bell. Considerable delay took place in getting enough people out. The bell either did not sound loud and long enough at first, or the people were unusually sleepy. A high wind was blowing. Finally three men started out with the hose cart, and got stuck in the mud in front of the registry office, and had to wait until others arrived.
The building had been in construction several months and was practically completed. It was built of cement bricks and fitted with beautiful hard wood work. The house was unfurnished, but a large portion of the furniture was to have been installed in a day or two.
The cost of the building so far was $4000, and the insurance amounting to $2500 will not cover the loss.
The cause of the fire is not known.
The gas in the hot air furnace was probably left burning.
The night was wet or the fire would certainly have spread to Judge Wells’ house, as it was at the time covered with sparks.
Mr. Macoomb hopes to have the building reconstructed by August.
People’s Press
10 April 1906
Fire: 10 April 1906
Add A Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.