Brave Girls Sound Alarm

 The Register-Leader, January 12, 1907

Remaining at Their Post of Duty at the Peril of Their Lives.

Called Out the Firemen.

Who by Valiant Work Saved the Business Part of Lowell from Destructive Flames - Midnight Fire Causes Two Thousand Dollar Loss.

The business part of the town of Lowell was threatened with destruction by flames shortly after ten o'clock Friday night, and but for the heroic work of a couple of young ladies at the telephone exchange, who at the risk of their lives, awakened the town, there would have been a disastrous fire. As it was, one of the main business blocks of the town was gutted by the flames, entailing damages which will aggregate about two thousand dollars.

Shortly after ten o'clock, a man on the street discovered that the Mattern Block at the corner of Front and Walnut streets was on fire. The blaze had started on the lower floor, which is occupied by Mrs. Esther L. Newton's millinery and dress-making establishment. The blinds were down at the time, but the man was attracted by breaking glass on the inside of the building.

The young ladies on duty at the Lowell Telephone Exchange, Misses Maude Williamson and Nellie Gray, were informed of the fire, and they at once sounded the alarm. In spite of the fact that the telephone building is located alongside of the Mattern Block and was every minute threatened by the flames, the young ladies remained bravely at their post until they had awakened the entire town. When they left the building, after the firemen had arrived, the smoke was so dense in the exchange that they were barely able to find the exit and were all but overcome by the heat and fumes arising from the fire.

The town fire department did excellent work upon its arrival at the fire, and after a hard fight, succeeded in getting the flames under control. While they were able to prevent a spread of the fire, they were unable to save any of the Mattern Block or its contents, and the building was completely gutted.

The second floor of the building was occupied by Messrs. Savage & Ray, who had just opened a photograph gallery. They had fitted their quarters up in fine shape and everything that they owned was destroyed. They had no insurance whatever, and their loss will be upwards of six hundred dollars. Mrs. Newton's loss will be about eight hundred dollars, which is partially covered by insurance. The damage to the building will amount to about six hundred dollars, which is covered by insurance.

The fact that a severe storm was just coming up at the time, with heavy wind, makes it all the more remarkable that the business part of the town was not wiped out by the flames; and the thanks of the businessmen of Lowell are certainly due the young ladies who awakened the town, and the volunteer firemen who worked so valiantly after their arrival.