The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1872-04-23
Destructive Fire.

! About I O'Clock on cdnesday even
inglthe whistle of the papermil in this VII
hge sounded the alarm OF fire, and the citi.
zeDs rushed to the scene and found that
building in flames. Washington engine No.
l was promptly on hand and doing yeo-
mans service, while citizens with pals
ard other appliances lent their aid to
quell the fiery element and protect the
surrounding buildings. All efforts to
check the flames in the burning building
were fruitless and it was rapidly consum-
ed to the foundation and it was by the
hardest that all the surrounding building,
were not also burned The fire commun.
Gated to the dry house Of Swiney 4 Bur-
rows door factory, on the west, which
was full OF doors and lumber and that
too was burned to the ground. About
nine o'clock the whole front Of Swiney d
Burrows door factory bazed up and every
one supposed that its speedy destruction
was certain. but the prompt and efficient
action Of the fire company throwing the
whole force of the engine through the
hose bearing upon that point, effected
wonders, and saved the building. If the
roof had been Of infammable materials,it
must have been burned. But it had just
been covered with the Mlddlebury Roof
ing Company's roofing, and the material
which they recommended so highly, GER
tanly stood the test in this terrible bap.
tism of fire. On the east and in close
proximity to the burning buildings, was
Lane g. Clay's Block of stores, in which
were Clay, Wilcox & Hyde's Hardware
store, Negus' Tailoring establishment and
Clothing store. Clay's Millinery store,
Case & Riders Drug store, Munger
Jewelry and Fancy Goods store, Mcleod
and Sturtevant's Law Offices, DIR. Turrll's
Dental Rooms and Mrs Martins Dress
making Rooms. This block took fire
several times and nearly all the goods
were removed to places of safety. The
salcsroom of the Middlebury Wooden
Company was also in imminent danger
for some time, and once took fire. The
goods and furniture were removed in an
ticipation of its destruction.
Tickpor & Goodrich's FIGURING Estab-
lishment was saved from the devouring
element only with the greatest difficulty.
1t took fire five or six times, but prompt
and persevering effort saved it. If this
building had burned the fire must have
swept up the street toward Valette' 5
store. If Lane 4 Clay's Block had
burned it is impossible to conjecture
where the destruction would have ended.
1t must have swept across the street, and
across the river, licking up in its course
almost the whole business portion of the
town. A wind in this direction would
have caused this supposition to become O
terrible reality.
About ten o'clock Washington Engine
Company No. 2 from Rutland arrived
and lent efficient aid in extinguishing thu
flames.
The fire caught, it seems in the shaw
ings room, over the boiler room Of tn
Papermll, and the building being com
posed of nfammable materials, the entir
structure was soon a mass of flames. |
had nearly all fallen at midnight thougl
the fire is still smouldering in the ruins
Everyone says that great credit is du
+ the Middlebury Fire Company, wit
didn't cease their work until nearly
o'clock, and the Rutland Company VIII,
worked until nearly 2 O'Clock, as well a
many citizens and ladies who WORKED
most nobly in passing water, and saw
, ing goods, until late into the night Som
of the ladies were very efficient and theil
action ought to shame some of the glove
gentlemen who stood back, and saw tn
fire, or spent their time in Airtatons at
safe distance away.
The losses amount to above $4,000
The papermill was total loss of $40,
900 on which there was $4,000 insur
ance. The Middlebury Wooden Com
8 pany lost in damages to the building an
t by the removal Of goods about $500
: Swiney & Burrows losses are estimate
: at $4,000 on lumber insurance 81 500
E. R. Clay, loss $4,000, covered. G. D
Lane $4,000, covered. Earl x Cha
$1,000, fully insured. Case & Ridel
: $500, fully insured. j. L. Negus $1,000
7 fully insured. +. d. Munger, $500, fu
ly insured.
! Among the lessons Of this fire, is on
= for the village that we should have
: supply Of hose sufficient to attach to Il
: the force pumps that are in operatio
> now, or that may hereafter De put in Of
: GRAFTON, by any Of the manufacturing C.
y Establishments, to, reach AIRY buildin
. through the business portion of the tow
', in addition to what is needed for ii
!, engine.
.