The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-05-19

The old village hall, which burned first,
was held by disputed title. 1t had been
built by the village on railroad ground, with
n contract TO move it after n years notice.
About three years ago the Rutland Railroad
Company gave the required notice, but the
village neglected to take the building away,
since which time the railroad has claimed
it, and would not allow it to be torn down
or moved. 1t has long been regarded as a
nuisance. 1t caught fire from a steamers
sparks once, and like to have burned up.
This was when the lower part of the
building was used for an engine house.
Last fall during a Grant procession it was
set on fire, whether by the Grant men for
bonfire or by the Greeley men to break up
the procession, has never been definitely
settled between the two parties There
being about ten thousand men present, and
the ircmen working, IL was saved, but was
so charrcd inside as to leave a mere shell,
| hardly good enough for kindlng wood,
when the nails are taken into considera-
| ton.
The little building adjoining also on rail
road ground, was erected by DIR. Allen for
an Office and was latterly occupied by DIR.
| Goldsmith, who came to the scene of the
coniiagraton Saturday night with that de-
liberation and philosophical resignation
which marked the movements of all con-
cerned on that occasion.
Adjoining the doctors office, under the
same roof, was n tool house of the railroad
company, from which bedding, &c, were
rescued early in the progress of the fire.
Near to this was railroad building of
some value, and lot of lumber. The fire
men saved most of the lumber, and allowed
the fire to make no mark on the railroad
building beyond drawing to the surface a
good deal of turpcntine.
orE FIREMEN
The liicmcn are not to be judged by their
apparent indifference to the burning of
these nuisanccs, especially as they had been
scoldcd for putting out the Village Hall
last fall. There are no better fircmcn in
the country. II any thing worth saving
should get alirc it would doubtless he seen
that their work would be done as calamity
as when they saved the Central House last
January
OTHER FIRES.
About eight years ago there came into
this village fine looking man named Piper
but who called himself O. b. Clark. lie
had Il preparation for taking the denomina
ton from a bank note so clean as to leave
10 trace. He said he had been Offered
$150,000 for it. He was exceedingly sharp
but not smart enough to take the money
and keep out of the penitentiary. lie
had made the tour of Pennsylvania, bring
Ing away $50, coo, and all his forged papel
picked up after him. Bankers were no
honest enough to prosecute him. They
took part of the money back and gave hin
the balance and the evidence of hi
forgcries. But he found sterncr virtue il
Vermont. lie went through the RUTLAND
County bank for seven or eight Thousand
2 dollars, besides taking in every bank from
Burlington to Bellows Falls. The Yer
mont bankers had him arrested in Wisconsin
| about three years afterward. He wa
, brought here, tried and sent to the Stat,
prison at Windsor, where he is now spend
ing ten years.
While Clark was in Jail awaiting trial
, fires began to break out in the village.
letter was picked up in the street announc
: ing that Il fire would occur every ninet,
days till he was released. He kept hi
promise about year and then began to d'
, more than he agreed. A fire took plac,
every Saturday night for forty-siX weeks
At one time fires were started simultanc
ously in three different parts of the village
and merchants instead of aiding in putin!
them out, rushed to their own stores, no
, knowing where the next fire would appear
f Peddlers grew afraid to stop here, AM
made a point of passing on to West Rut
| land The village became widely note,
2 for its fires.
Citizens formed patrols with quasi
$ military commander for each ward, VIII,
} had roster with the names of propert,
1 owners, and it was quite common to see
= governor on his regular beat. Men slep
: by their boots and other raiment, no
e knowing when they might be called to at
| tend fire. In spite of all efforts and pre-
| cautions, many buildings were reduced t.
l ashes.
A Boston detective was sent for. Durini
three months he staid with a suspccte
Butterfly family. He ate with them, play
ell poker with them, schemed with them
lie got all their plans. 1t had been al
, ranged 80 set fire to the Central House, o.
a Saturday night, and they were to be caugh
in the act, when the incendiaries wou
! doubtless have been hanged on the spot b.
! the populace; but during a game of poke
! a few nights previous, the detective incau
tiously allowed his shield to be seen. TIL
q old woman of The gang said he must
q killed, and, bringing quilt, threw it owe
f his head, while the rest pounded him, mean
q ing TO kill him but he crawled out, 60
into his sleigh, which was standing at tn
q door, and drove to the Bardwcll house
g Clark had offered the disreputable But
o teliics SO, 800 to set the town on fire. Hi
\ go-betwcen was a boy named Peter Marry
! employed by the jailor to work about til
Jail There were ten of the incendiaries
{ eight of whom were sent to the peniten
tiary.
{ WORD OF CAUTION.
/ We revive these "reminiscences for til
c purpose of cautioning the people of Rui
y land to be on their guard against inccndiar
fires, and to resume something of their pas
y watchfulness There is no doubt that til
t fire of Saturday night was case of incer
1inrism nc thp villapa haIl had mot hoo