The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-07-29
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saved from the falling sparks. The firemen
fought the flames on the west side while
the scene along the street was indescribable.
The inhabitants on both sides of the street
tumblcd out of doors and windows beds
and bedding, tables, chairs, and all manner
children run about frantically, making des-
peratc exertions to save little of their all
from the fast-devouring flames. They had
but poor success however, as it was impos-
sble to bring wagons within square, so
great was the heat.
With the exception of a half dozen
houses on the north side of Lexington
street, there was not building from Lib
erty street to that point which was not in
flames. The English Lutheran church,
which stands on the north side of Lexington
street, about one-third of the way to
Howard street. was solid mass of fire
Very little could be saved by the panic
stricken people There were many fancy
stores on the north side of Lexington street
in which the entire stock was consumed or
destroyed by water. These were generally
owned by people of small means, and the
loss must fall with crushing weight upon
them.
no LIVES LOST.
1t is wonderful that no lives were lost in
this fast spreading fire, especially when it
is remembered that the squares burned are
intersected by numerous narrow alleys, on
which were located small brick tenements
occupied by negroes and very poor whites.
Beyond Il few trivial accidents, such as
crushed feet, and one or two broken limbs,
no harm happened TO the thousands that
must have been in imminent danger.
Aton time after the fire was pretty well
under control, quite a crowd had collected
on Saratoga street, opposite the Central
Presbyterian church which was then q tot
tering ruin. Some vcnturesome ones had
approached quite close to the main door
way, and women and children passed
to and fro ia the street when with tremen-
dous crash, a portion of the west wall of
the church fell inward. The spire and
the western tower swayed to and fro for
moment and then came down. The cloud
of dust, ashes and smoke that arose was so
thick for moment that it was impossible
| to tell whether or not the tower had fallen
| upon the crowd None however were seri-
ously injured.
| LOSSES AND INSURANCE.
1t is difficult to estimate what the total
loss will be. Well-informed persons place
it at from 100000 to $1,000 900. There
were some fine houses burned on Saratoga
st. and fine row of two story brick build
| ings on Lexington st but the greater number
destroyed were old and dilapitated. The
| Central Presbyterian church was built in
1855 by the Rev. Stuart Robinson at a cost
of 100000. The establishment of Thomas,
in which the fire originated, was valued at
cost Sl50,000. The Lutheran church was
worth probably $4,000 These were the
most valuable buildings destroyed. There
were, however, 105 houses of all kinds des-
troyed and damaged so as to be almost
worthless, save for old material. A reason
able average estimate to put the buildings
furniture, &C., is $4,000 each, which,
would bring up the grand total to over ST.
900, 900, the insurance will not aggregate it
is said, over $250,000.
A sineul.- s.st il, connection with the fire
| is that Baltimore has always rated lower I'm
price of insurance than any other city in
the country while Boston has ranked next.
|
ance companies of New York seems to be
that the fire was principally among dwell
ings, and that on this account the loss would
fall moro On local and English companies
than on any other, as most of the dwellings
were insured in such companies; while in
business portions of the town, especially
among the storage warehouses where
there are goods belonging to New York
business men, more risks were placed in
outside companies. "If," says the Vice
President of an insurance company in New
York, ''the fire should reach the business
part of the city, some thirty or forty COM
panies in this city would suffer consider
ably" Only in one Office possible loss
limited at. In the German American it is
said that. leaving out salvage, they might
lose $1,000. The Hope does no business
in Baltimore. Neither does the Long Is
land nor the Clinton. The Continental
has probably lost nothing. The Exchange
has some risks in Baltimore, but probably
no losses, The National, Brewers, and At
lantic are not touched.