毁灭性的火灾在西哈特菲尔德

毁灭性的火灾在西哈特菲尔德

On the morning of June 3 the village of West Hatfield, Mass., was visited with a fire that caused nearly $100,000 damage, partially insured. Five dwelling houses were totally destroyed and nearly 20 other buildings, including several large barns, tobacco sheds and warehouses, with their contents, were wiped out. All were of wood and their destruction was very rapid; in about an hour and a half they were all swept away. The blaze started at 8 :45 a. m., and was probably caused by a farm hand who was burning caterpillar nests in the rear of one of the burned buildings, a hayloft. As soon as it was discovered, horses hauled hose wagon No. 3 to the scene, and at the same time assistance was telegraphed for from the other hose companies in the town and from Northampton. By the time the first hose wagon reached the burning ham the flames, aided by a strong northwest wind, had made such great headway as to prevent access to a hydrant immediately in front of the blaze, on which a wet blanket was thrown over a man who, thus covered, crawled to the hydrant and made the desired connection. A heavy stream was thrown from the hydrant, hut the sparks and burning brands were carried in showers by the wind to adjoining buildings. Meanwhile the other companies came up, as well as a combination truck and steamer, with 30 men, front Northampton. A strong stand was made for some time against the flames, but to no purpose. The fire-fighting force was then divided and tlie steamer, with 15 Northampton firemen, was dispatched to Running Gutter brook, front which an auxiliary stream was pumped. The flames were almost touching several large sheds and a dwelling house and the heat was intense. The men, however, stood steadily where they were posted and prevented these buildings from being destroyed, and saved the eastern part of the village. At the same time, however, southeast of the railroad tracks sparks had set fire to a dwelling house and group of other buildings, and farther away several sheds on the east side of the Boston & Maine railroad, about 200 yards south oi the station, had caught and were burned before a stand could be made. The tight was then centered at the tracks, which divided the eastern am! western parts of the village. The railroad station, freight house and some coal sheds went ablaze, but each individual fire was handled by a separate squad of firemen, t he station and treight house flames were extinguished, but not those in the coal sheds. The blaze spread from these to houses across the track, but was overcome by the firemen. About 11 o’clock the fire was got under control, and by noon all danger was over. The firemen did very tine work and undoubtedly saved the village from total destruction. Many oi them were overcome by the heat, but all returned to the fight after having been revived. The same section of the village was devastated by the disastrous hurricane of last April, when If buildings were destroyed.

On the morning of June 3 the village of West Hatfield, Mass., was visited with a fire that caused nearly $100,000 damage, partially insured. Five dwelling houses were totally destroyed and nearly 20 other buildings, including several large barns, tobacco sheds and warehouses, with their contents, were wiped out. All were of wood and their destruction was very rapid; in about an hour and a half they were all swept away. The blaze started at 8 :45 a. m., and was probably caused by a farm hand who was burning caterpillar nests in the rear of one of the burned buildings, a hayloft. As soon as it was discovered, horses hauled hose wagon No. 3 to the scene, and at the same time assistance was telegraphed for from the other hose companies in the town and from Northampton. By the time the first hose wagon reached the burning ham the flames, aided by a strong northwest wind, had made such great headway as to prevent access to a hydrant immediately in front of the blaze, on which a wet blanket was thrown over a man who, thus covered, crawled to the hydrant and made the desired connection. A heavy stream was thrown from the hydrant, hut the sparks and burning brands were carried in showers by the wind to adjoining buildings. Meanwhile the other companies came up, as well as a combination truck and steamer, with 30 men, front Northampton. A strong stand was made for some time against the flames, but to no purpose. The fire-fighting force was then divided and tlie steamer, with 15 Northampton firemen, was dispatched to Running Gutter brook, front which an auxiliary stream was pumped. The flames were almost touching several large sheds and a dwelling house and the heat was intense. The men, however, stood steadily where they were posted and prevented these buildings from being destroyed, and saved the eastern part of the village. At the same time, however, southeast of the railroad tracks sparks had set fire to a dwelling house and group of other buildings, and farther away several sheds on the east side of the Boston & Maine railroad, about 200 yards south oi the station, had caught and were burned before a stand could be made. The tight was then centered at the tracks, which divided the eastern am! western parts of the village. The railroad station, freight house and some coal sheds went ablaze, but each individual fire was handled by a separate squad of firemen, t he station and treight house flames were extinguished, but not those in the coal sheds. The blaze spread from these to houses across the track, but was overcome by the firemen. About 11 o’clock the fire was got under control, and by noon all danger was over. The firemen did very tine work and undoubtedly saved the village from total destruction. Many oi them were overcome by the heat, but all returned to the fight after having been revived. The same section of the village was devastated by the disastrous hurricane of last April, when If buildings were destroyed.