The voice of freedom. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1839-1848, 1846-01-29
From the Vergennes Vermonter.
Destructive Fire in VergenneS !!
60 Thousand Dollars DestrOyed.NarrOVv
Escape with life.

II
cord the particulars of conaAgration,
more disastrous in its results than any
which our city has ever before experlen.
ced.
At about half past 2 o'clock yester-
day morning column of flame was dis
covered issuing from the I'd story OF the
new stone Store, occupied by the Messrs.
b. g. d. G. Holcomb. which was one Of
the block OF buildings, known as "W hite's
Block" la few moments our citizens
were on the ground, en- mGSSe; but,
unfortunalel y only 10 be witnesses of the
qnick destruction of a vast amount OF prop.
erty for owing to the scarcity of water,
the disadvantages attending the procuring
of eng ines, and the unfiness ofthe engines
for rendering efficient service--their ef<
forts were comparatively Of little avail. 1t
was at once evident to all that the entire
block, with the small! buildings adjoining
were destined 10 perish. BY prompt eff,
fort, part OF the stock of goods owned by
DR.. F. Huntington was removed and the
small buildings being cleared, it became
the tiresome and painful task of The as
sembled multitude, TO stand mute witness
es of the fearful havoc of the devourng
flames, without being able 10 reader the
least service 10 the sufferers.
The MessIs HocombS were all sleep
ing in the third story OF their store at the
time, and were awakened by the smoke
and the roaring of the flames, near them.
Mr.. b: Holcomb. who awoke first rush
ed through the flames and gained the
street, without saving an article of cloth
ing, and with the conviction that his paG-
ners wond perish 10 The flames. One of
them attempted 10 follow him but was
driven back by the flames-when running
10 the door for the purpose OF throwing
himself out, he discovered the tackle rope,
ard let himself down by means of it,.
His compa Mon followed his example,
and aighted on the ground, with the flesh
torn from his hands and being somewhat
burned. So percipllate was their retreat
that scarce ap article OF clothing was saw
ed, and some taoelce thousand dollars in
cash, which had been taken from the
Bank the evening previous, which re-
mained in the countng-room below and
with which one Of the firm was expecting
10 Start for Boston on the morning oil
The calamlty,--w was consumed.
This firm was the heaviest establish
ment in our city, and when the flames
gIared upon and lit up for moment to
the view Of the beholder the rich and ele-
giant stock of goods with which the shelves
were denseIy crowded, a tremor ran
tIrn1 h rho nj, ltitnto and N
though; for a moment OF the long talked
of organization OF an efficient Fire Com.
pany.
Ia a short time the walls Of the store
fell upon the roof of the adjoining building,
occupied bs Mr.. D. G. RoIin, as a Boot
aud Shoe, Store crushing ii; and the Stone
Building on the corner, 10 which, was the
S ore of DR.. Huntington. the Law Office
of p. G. Tucker, Esq. the ?. Office and
1.-The Office of the Town Clerk were ell
veloped in flames The Post Office was
cleared, together with the Town CIerk's
Office but not an article could be remov.
ed from the Office Of Mr.. Tucker. He
lost every thing it contained-his law
library-his account books,-and nnu-
merable papers and documents " hcb bad
been collecting during-a practice of over
81 years. a loss which only lawyers
can appreciate. A part of the stock o.
goods OF F. Huntington, was removed;
nothing however was removed from the
chambers or the cellar. His loss was
very considerable.
The buildings burned belonged TO w.
Fl. White ESQ. and were valued at $40
600, His insurance is about $4,000
| He lost much other properly.
The loss OF the Holcombs is estimated
at Thirty THOUSAND DOLLARS, only
81, 900 insured.
The loss Of p. G. Tucker, Esq. from
It's nature can hardly be caIcuated; but it
is said to be between 3 and $4,000, With
but slight insurance on his Law Libra
ry.
Mr.. Huntington, was insured to the a.
mount of $4,000. 1t is 10 be hoped the
insurance will cover his loss, but it is
hardly expected that il will do so.
The morning was clear and cold and
scarcely breath of air was stirring to
which last circumstance, may be wholly
attributed the saving OF other large build
ings (which were very much endangered.
The aggregate loss will not fall far
short OF sixty thousand, if any.
TIMELY WARNING. The Skowhegan
Clarion is apprehensve, if Congress
adopts MIR Whilney's scheme for build
ing The Oregon Railroad, that British cap
itaIists will step in and get the manage
ment of the whole concern by means of
their money, and thus establish an inhu-
ence here very dangerous to our republi>
can Institutions. Wouldn't it be a good
plan TO tack on section OF all railroad,
bank and corporation charters granted in