WINDSOR HOUSE BURNED

Heavy Losses-Narrow Escapes

[Welland Tribune, 24 October 1884]

              The tradition that in Welland one fire is always closely followed by a second and perhaps a third is again proved good. On Monday morning between one and two o’clock, Mary Padgett, a girl employed at the Windsor House, was awakened by a noise on the window, which she at first thought was hail, but was not long in being rudely awakened to the fact that it was flames dashing against the glass, from the burning shed attached to the house. The wind was brisk, blowing the fire directly against the house, the window breaking in immediately. The girl ran, giving the alarm. The landlord’s family rooms were near by and the flames were also upon them at once, they barely escaping with their lives and without saving a particle of wearing apparel except what they had on. Mr. and Mrs. Tuckett and one child were singed in passing through the hall, which was swept by fiery current, but fortunately not seriously hurt. They at once found shelter with Mr. Coulson’s household in the court house, to whom they express their warmest thanks for kindnesses received. The wind being fair and fresh the fire swept through the house with a rush, Mr. and Mrs. Saxon and Rev. Ashley Johnson, though less hurried than the others, were forced to vacate and consider not upon the manner of their going. The fire department, though some trouble was experienced in giving the alarm, owing to the absence of a town hall, were quickly on the spot, and that they did efficient, aye noble service, the extinguishing of the fire leaving the building in its more than half burned condition and the saving of Mr. McCaw’s frame building, about three feet distant from the hotel, which was also a wooden building, is ample and undeniable evidence.

             As no ashes had been left in the shed, where the fire apparently originated, and as coal was used for fuel in the house, it would seem most probable that the fire was of incendiary origin. A drunken man, who wandered into the hotel on Sunday evening and was ejected by Mr. Tuckett, was subsequently arrested on suspicion, but proved a satisfactory alibi. Mr. Tuckett, therefore, has suspicion of no one.

             All that was saved of the furniture were the bar fixings and liquors and a few articles out of the dining room and front room. Mr. Tuckett had a very large lot of household effects and losses $3300 on which he has received an insurance of $1200 from the Citizens Co. The hotel building was owned by Brown Bros., who estimate their loss of $3000, on which they have $1700 insurance in the Lancashire and Royal, which was promptly allowed in full by the companies interested.

             Mr. Tuckett not only loses his goods, but a fine hotel which he had built up by keeping a quiet and model hotel, which many friends and patrons greatly regret.