Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1870-12-29
Washington Letter.
The BURNING OF CENTRAL MARKET
VERMONT IN THE SUPREME COURT
RUTLAND MARBLE CASE.
WASHINGTON. D. G.. Z

W SahSh1A>oloANS ~ ~ DSS' f~S'
Editor Rattla7ad Herald On Sunday
morning about one o'clock, our citizens
were startled by the ringing of bells and
the cry of fire, and in a few moments the
whole edifce known as Central Market
was in seas of flame. The fire was COM
paratively slight when first discovered,
but spread with such rapidity as to leave
no room for doubt that it was the work of
an incendiary, who had taken ample pre-
caution that such stimulants should be
given to the fire as to render extinction
impossible until the complete oonsump-
tion of the whole building should leave
nothing more TO be accomplished by fire.
After the fire had subsidized it was found
that at the junction of the branches and
the main gas pipe in several places the
coupling was unsevered. The fact seems
evident that before striking the fatal
light, the incendiaries-for doubtless
more than one were in it-disconnected
these pipes, thus letting on heavy flow
of gas by which means the flames would
spread with electrical rapidity.
THE BUILDING
was one of the ancient landmarks of
Washington for over a half century the
people of this city had gathered here tri-
weekly for the suhstantials of life Here
Daniel Webster used to wander at an ear
ly hour for the double purpose of gaining
an appetite, and the means of it's satiation
and many os.Ainoat men or his day, IN
cluding Presidents, found it either pleas
ant or prudent-perhsps both-to superin-
tend the supplying Of thsir larders in
person.
Generations past have come and gone,
in every stage from the cradle to the
grave, in every condition of life have
figured within these walls aud arches,
which so much resembled in architecture
some ancient Inquisltion or Bsstile.
Father and sou have, from infancy to old
age, piled their daily calling here and
finally going hence, left the old market
still yeuug in strength, testifying to the
good faith of it's builders, 1t had already
been condemned. A new Market Com
pany" has been contemplating the erection
of new uilding-sonething more con-
sistent with our present municipal good
looks. Between the new comprny and the
old stall holders there has been much
wrangle in settling the questions of
possession, good will, etc, with various
other queries which would puzzle any
lawyer that Philadelphia may be able to
boas of to determine.
The work for the new bujlding had
been commenced, excavations for foun-
datiops, etc. Owing to its oircumscribed
condition pew sheds had recently been
erected upon ono os the eq~I"x-o
upon which the market stood. These
were fortunately saved and are row the
only accommodations upon the ground,
with the exception of one or two tempor-
ary shanties, thrown up in moment as
it were, upon the fire bed, coal, ciAders,
and general debris not yet removed. By
this act of incendiarism property esti
mated at nearly $150,000 was destroyed,
but this of small Importance in COM
parison to the fact that two men
perished in the flames. One q /
young man who worked in the market,
and another who had been faithful sol
dier in the army, and vas the support of
an aged mother, went into feed atore 10 !
assist a friend in removing the property
from the burning building, and while
thus engaged the building fell in upon
them. A policeman barely escaped the
same fate. The engines centered their
efforts upon this spot, and succeeded in
extinguishing the fire SO as to admit of
removing the bodies, after they were
by falling timbers and burned
past recognition, They were placed in
the station house near by, and could not
be identified until the afternoon of the
following day. Their absence from home
raised the alarm of friends, who, repairing
to the spot, were enabled by certain per-
sonsl defects and peculiarities, to identify
them.
The eager public were excluded from
the house they were placed in, but hun
drs1s hung around the door. By virtue
Of being a member of the Press, I gained
admission TO the room, and while there
man came in, at the request of the father
Of one of the victims. Though full blood
I'd and weighing fully two hundred
pounds, he shrank from approaching the
hQrrid crisp, which was just before live
we'll man. He said the missing man had
4 black tooth a policeman held lighted
match, and no one else offering to assist,
your correspondent pried open the crisped
remains of what was once lips, and there
discovered the awful evidence which
would no longer hold the sgonized parent
n suspense, but assured him of horrid
reality.
CONGRESS
By resolution to-day constituted the
Chairman of the House and Senate Com
nittees on Public Buildings and Grounds,
md Mayor Emery, commissioners 70 in
5estigste the entire matter and to provide
immediate market conyenienoes and to
urther the erection of the already con-
new building.
To-day Mr.. Butler called up the gene
al amnesty bill in the House. Mr.. Bing-
lam offered an amendment and delivered
most scathing criticism upon the whole
ill, in very eloquent and able manner.
Members crowded around him as if to
,atch every word. Mr.. Butler stood
" during the whole time, but did not
eply. He will not fail to remember all
aid by Mr.. B., and will make the best
use of it possible. His general amnesty
ill is severely criticized. For one class
t is too liberal, for another too disorimi-
,ating, for third it is too unoonstituiion-
i. Others who are doubtless spO0ntes
.hink it not generally good looking