The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1843-09-19
Moral and Religious.
The Fire at Fall River,
yyopubiished Particulars--A lesson for Men Of
Business.

yr,Dubiished F'articulars--A lesson for Men Of
Business.
All hive read of the terrible confagration at Fall
River and of the consequent suffering and loss OIL
property Il has also been stated that this terrioe
calamity was occasioned by boys playing win gun
powder ON the Sabbath; but there are other crcum-
stances connected with the event, as we learned
from gentleman living in the vicinity, which, tho
thew have been widely known, have not, TO our
knowledge, been publicly stated. Regard Tor tho
feelings of the sufferers while their calamity was
fresh upon them, may, perhaps, have prevented the
facts from being given at the time Dut us inc "e"i'
ness of the suffering is passed. and as the commun'-
ty may be benefited by the facts, it seems desirable
that they should be published.
Fall River is the outlet to two large ponds of 10
miles in length, and at the village, which bears lis
name, it falls, in about half mile, from one basin to
another, 22O feet These falls are lined with iacto-
RIGS, while the stores and public houses were gener
ally on the eastern side.
At the head OF the falls or at the upper basn had
been large bydrant constructed, by means oil winch
a large wheel being set in motion, water could be
forced upon the buildings in any part of the village
in almost any quantity, at the shortest notice
In case of fire, the quantity of water used was so
great MS often to the complaint that the water
did more damage than the fire. and so entire was the
reliance on this means of extinguishng fire that the
ordinary one, fire engines, almost wholly negec'
ted.
In the progress of business, however, it became
desirable to put new hume into one of the basins
TO furnish water factory; but in orderto do
this, the water from the upper pond, basin, must
,I,,,t Al, L., in nG N
the flume might be blasted. If this done on
week days. all the factories on the falls must stop
The SUSPENSION of so much business would occasion
considerable loss to the propretors TO avoid this
loss, il was concluded, though with reluctance, to
draw off the Saturday night, and blast the
rocks on the Sabbath This process, we understand,
had been going on one two Sabbahs before the
fire happened and in progress during the one on
which the calamity occurred. We know not what
induced the boys fire their cannon on that Sabbath,
by which the fire is said to have been kndled; but
it would be very natural for them to initiate older
people who were using powder so freely upon the
rocks. The was fred among the shaVings
ont side cabinet shop; the fire communicated with
those under the shop, and in lew moments the
building in flames.
The alarm of fire was given, tho people rushed
from their churches and dwellings and assembled in
crowds, but the great basin was empty; the great
wheel could not be set in motion; the hydrant was
useless; its extended hose consumed; 9TH
er means of safety had not been provided; the wind
blowing fresh carried the flames into the business
part Of the village; and for an hour and half or
more, until engines could come from other places,
the inhabitants could do little more than stand by
and witness the destruction. The only means by
which the flames could be arrested was the blowing
up of large number Of buildings Thus in few
short hours half million of property was swallow
ed up, 1000 people turned homeless into the street,
many of them stripped Of their all. And whye We
will not answer the inquiry; but we doubt not that
voice issuing from those raging fires, those shoulder
ing ruins that empty basin, and especially from that
blasted LEDGE has spoken to many hearts, and said,
"Remember The Sa66aM day to Keep ii holy" DO
not, do no for the sake of gain, violate the Sabbath
We wish the voice might be heard throughout our
land and reach the hearts Of all.
We have disposition to dwell on this terrible
calamty-to call it special providence judg-
ment from heaven: would rather muse in silence
on the sad event; for when God thus speaks it be-
cometh man TO be silent, but TO open his ear to in
structon. Chronicle.