Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1872-04-18
LATEST NEWS.
BY TELEGRAPH.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE IN MID
DLEBUHY.
Less, $4,000.
BURNING OF THE PAPER MILL.

| ~'AAODA>-obAAf L. u pm IL"
The most destructive fire that ever
visited Middlebury, both as to the ex-
tent of the pecuniary loss and the inter
ruption of its manufacturing interests,
occurred this evening. The loss will ex-
coed $50, ZOO.
The fire was first discovered about
seven o'clock in the evening, from i'm
mense black clouds of smoke rising from
the ventilator above the main building
of Hammond's Paper Mill, and shortly
thereafter sheets of flame appeared
spreading out to great distance on all
sides The building was three stories
high and situated on an alley, leading
west from the main street, just north of
the bridge which spans Otter Creek, in
the very heart of the village. The fire
originated in the shavings room, from
unknown cause, but probably careless
ness, and soon the entire structure was
a mass of flames. The building being
of wood and filled with infammable
material rapidly succumbed and soon
nothing remained but smouldering ruins.
Some of the stock was removed; some
of it in damaged condition and some
was burned after its removal. Mr.
Hammond estimates, we understand,
the entire loss at $4,000, on which
there is an insurance of $1S, 500 in COM
panies represented in Rutland, by NJ J.
Francisco.
From the paper mill the fire spread to
the west and enveloped in flames the
! dry-hOuse connected with Swiney &
Burrows door factory, and large and
valuable pile of pine lumber, between
these buildings, both of which were des-
troyed. The loss, at the hour of writ
ing this dispatch, has not been ascer-
tanned, but it is understood to be cover
ed by insurance. The entire front of
the door factory of Swiney & Burrows,
forty feet in length, north and in the
rear of the paper mill was entirely wrap
ped in flames, but by the almost super
human exertions of the Middlebury fire
men and citizens, the fire was extin-
guished and the building saved
The factory of the Middlebury Wool
en- Company to the west, and their store
room to the north, and in front of the
fire, were also endangered, both being
on fire at different times. The damage
to the former was slight, while the lat
ter suffered considerably in blistered
paint and broken windows. Their goods
in the store room, were removed to
place of safety, and their entire loss is
covered by insurance.
To the east, and but a few feet dis
tant from the paper mill, was block of
wooden stores fronting on Main street,
owned by Messrs. c. D. Lane, E. r.
Clay and Case & Rider. The stores were
occupied by Clay, Wilcox & Hyde, hard
ware J. E. Negus, clothing Munger,
books, fancy goods and jewelry E. r.
Clay, millinery, and Case 81 Rider,
drugs The upper rooms being occu-
pied for offices, etc This building was
in imminent danger and was saved only
as if by miracle, and is badly scorched
and blistcrcd The occupants removed
their goods and, of course, sufferedmore
or less loss, which, as well as that on
the building, is covered by insurance.
Rutland was tclcgraphed for aid, and
in response thereto, Washington Engine
Company, No .. with about 80 men M
der command of X. K IIannum, 2d as
sstant foreman. with Chief Engineer
Walter c. Landon, arrive ed here 10y spc-
cial train, and were soon at work doing
yeomen's service in quenching the re-
mains of the fire CIV.