Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1871-06-01
A Fire Among the Mountains.

Yesterday morning about ten o'clock a
fire was discovered in the woods about q
mile from the sawmill of d. NJ. White &
Co., on the mountain in Mendon, about
eight miles, sfrom Rutland. Mr.. Reuben
Ranger in charge of White 81 Co.'S mill
op being informed of the breaking out Of
the fire went with his men to endeavor to
suppress it if possible. They succeeded
in putting out the fire, as they supposed,
but on looking in another direction dis
covered another fire raging, and running
with fearful fury passing up gorge in
the direction of their mill, and that it
was not in their power to stop it, so rap
idly did it progress. They immediately
started for the mill and surrounding
buildings, b.t had scarcely reached them
before the fire overlook them. Mr.. Ranger
succeeded in saving his horses and cattle.
Mr.. Rangers house and the boarding
houses for the men, near by, were quickly
consumed together with their furniture
and contents. Mr.. Ranger lost two hogs
and one hundred hens which were burned
but succeeded in saving his cattle and
horses, although they were at one time
surrounded by the fire and were compell-
ed to travel mile and half to get them
to place of safety.
The mill and logs surrounding it were
entirely destroyea- With the exception
of some of the betting and machinery
which were secured and placed in ihe
brook near by to preserve them. There
were sufficient logs TO make a million feet
of lumber when sawed The buildings
were the saw mill of D. III. White + Co.,
Mr.. Rangers house, three boarding
houses, and three barns with their con-
tents A thousand cords of wood, which
had been prepared during the last winter,
was also destroyed. Nearly 5000 acres of
land aud forest have been burned, and
the fire at a late hour last night, was still
raging, making its way to the top of the
mountain, and unless repressed by the at
mos phere at the top of the mountain or
by the rain, must go down the east eide
to what is familiarity known as Sher-
burne Hollow, causing serious destruc-
ton to timber land. and in fact there is
no prophesizing where it will STOP. 1t is
most fearful 10 it's volume and the rapidi-
ty with which it travels.
The fire originated not far from the
mill of J. L. Eddy & Co., and run north,
taking everything in its course. 1t is
described as relentless in its ravages, trav-
cling at fearful rate, go that men upon
the double quick were scarcely able to
keep in advance of it, as will be readily
seen from the fact that with thirty or for
ty men they were unable to save even the
furniture of the houses or anything
scarcely from the mill.
The loss at the present writing it is
difficult to estimate, but it is generally
conceded will reach fully $4,000. The
personal loss to Mr.. Ranger is from $6,
600 to $1,000. The mill was cutting
some 5000 feet of lumber per day, and
the contingentloss on contracts, and incon-
venience if included will swell the estim-
ate. The mills, houses and wood are
said to be insured, but the logs aud lum-
ber are not. The loss of Messrs White
& Co., is large, much of which we learn
falls upon our energetic and enterprising
townsman Frederic Chaffee, E-q.