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FIRE IN FOURTH WARD
John E. Cutler’s House Partially Burned
COUNTY CLERK COOPER SERIOUSLY INJURED
[Welland Tribune, 28 October 1892]
About seven o’clock on Tuesday evening John E. Cutler’s residence, ,corner Merritt and Shotwell streets, caught fire in the storage room, or garret, above the kitchen, and was damaged to the extent of three or four hundred dollars. The fire is supposed to have caught from the stove-pipe that passed through this attic room.
Mr. Cutler’s family were at tea at the time and the first intimation they had of the danger was the boisterous shouting of some boys outside. Mr. Cutler arose and opened the door. By this time the flames had burst through the roof, and the bright light warned him that the house was on fire. He ran to the barn for his garden hose, only to find that it had been lately put away for the winter in the very attic that was burning.
Neighbors were now on hand and the fire was vigorously attacked by the pail brigade, but the flames were too fierce for this to have much effect and had to be abandoned. In the meantime the contents of the house were being removed to adjoining house.
In quick time the hose cart No.2 was on the scene and water playing upon the fire. No. 1 cart followed, and it looked as if the fire would be soon under control.
Finally the water struck the root of the trouble, and almost instantly the fire was extinguished and the best part of the house saved. Had it been necessary to rely upon the firing up and getting there of the old fire engine, the house would have been burned to the ground.
The premises are insured sufficiently to cover all losses, and of course the place will be repaired at once.
During the progress of the fire County Clerk Cooper met with what may prove a very serious accident. The water had been shut off and the nozzle was lying on the floor, when all at once the water was turned on and the stream struck Mr. Cooper in the face with terrific force. The right eye-lid was badly bruised and the eye badly injured. Mr. Cooper was almost blinded and had to be assisted home. The physician could give no decided opinion at first, but expressed grave fears that the sight of the right eye might be permanently impaired.
