The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-05-23
a CONFEDERATION.
THE OLD VILLAGE HALL BURNED.
Some Fiery reimbursement.

THE OLD VILLAGE HALL BURNED.
Some Fiery "Reminiscences.
TIE FIRE.
Sleeping people were reused Saturday
night Or Sunday morning by the cry of
"Fire!" Sleepy heads were presented at
windows. Some persons in the street were
running, Others walking, and others stand
ing about This seemed rather cool for
fire, and the sleepy lookers-on went to bed
resolved to complain of the police through
the newspapers for tolerating noisy sounds
in the street alarmingly like the cry of fire.
Then there was a yell of "Fi-er!' which
was probably some more larking, for sleepy
eyes again at the window could not per-
ceive that the person who originated this
sound was doing anything about it. After
awhile there was the rattle of the hose car
riage bells, and the hose carriage paused
in the street opposite the Bardwcll House,
and pondered long time, as if in doubt
whether there was a fire or not. Somebody
said it was the old house on the corner of
Merchants Row and Washington Street,
opposite the Bardwell House. Still the
Y lose carriage stood and pondcred. Then
he steamer arrived and paused and smoked
aid pondercd. The old house grew red in
tie windows and smoked After awhile
tie steamer started leisurely up the street,
shoking and bordering, and travelling with
the alacrity of hearse. Two men stood
by the burning house like the boy who
stood on the burning deck" One leant
against the door and the other had his
hands in his pockets. They convcrsco
fiji fine flames began to burst out at the
roof and through the windows, when they
retired. and at the same time the hose car
rage, which had disappeared in the gloom,
following off the engine, returned, unwind
ing its coils, and began to play on the
house. Bat soon the building was scanned
from tor to bottom with fiery gaps like
blazing crochet work. 1t was made up of
compound of flames and glowing Goals,
tracing the architecture with white and red
hues, while flames, sparks and smoke rose
in volumes high in the air, and spread as
gently as they could in the still air towards
the Bardwell House. 1t was too late tc
save the old village hall, whose roof in 6
short time began to fall in, but DIR. Gold
smiths office had taken fire, and a power
full stream was turned on it. Another hose
was brought, which overdid itself ant
burst The locomotives screamed long ant
loudly as if they felt personal interest il
the matter.
A crowd began to gather, which gradual
" became large, and afforded the firemen {
chance to give them sprinkling, at which
the dry ones laughed, and the wet ones scat
tered and hypocritically pretended to enjo,
the joke The fence took fire, but thu
flames were stopped by pulling away sec
ton. Then the whole house staggered ant
fell, sending up great gush of flames anC
heat, followed by an explosion like small
quantity of powder among the ruins.
Three or four trains came in and CAV
their passengers chance to enjoy tn
spectacle of the brilliant lighting up o
near objects and the fading of the NOR
distant into dimness and obscurity.
While the flames were consuming tn
roof of the Doctors office two men cam
out at the door apparently through tn
midst of the fire. They brought the pigeo
holes of desk. They returned an
\ emerged with the balance of the desk
Then another darted in and came out. A
some personal peril he had rescued broom
The doctors valuable library was mex
brought forth. Then the flames were &C
under, hut burst out again, and though til
firemen fought nobly, none of the DIR
wooden structure was saved.
Of course it is easy for a man sitting
hotel window, to criticise other people {
work. He naturally wants to hurry then
What seems to him half an hour may /
but three minutes. Time flies very rapid
when house is on fire. The fircme
worked well and marched close up to IL
fire when they had once got the hose turn
ed upon it,
When the Doctors Office finally g
thoroughly afre 1t burned very bright
and with good deal of cracking, an
was much longer in consuming than Il
village hall. The brightness of the displa
was little interfered with by the streams (
water, which seemed to go everywhe
else, though of course an idle looker-on
, not expected to comprehend all that
done by the active workers. When Il
| fierceness of the flames had subsidized, Il
, standing parts were knocked down, an
l the show was over.
, We have three fire engines; No. l,
: hand engine, which did not come out; N
5 Q. another hand engine, which had be-
a taken to pieces and was being painted al
4 No. 8. a steamer, which brought out h
old leather, leaky hose, doubtless being II
willing to soil her white new rubber no
< with the putting out of burning nj
0 sance'