The Rutland weekly globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1873-05-23
THE RUTLAND WEEKLY GLOBE FRID4YdoRNNG MAY % 1873
village hall, which burned first,

%Ct ~
,n 4 village hall, which burned Rrst,
nneSld by disputed title. 1t Ind been
aft by the village on railroad ground, with IS
4 contract to move it after years notice
About three years ago the Rutland Railroad
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 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 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 firemen working, it was saved, but was |
so charred inside as to leave mere shell, |
hardly good enough for kindling wood, |
when the nails are taken into considcra- |
ton.
The little building adj joining, 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
conflagration 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 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 n 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 turpentine.
OUR FIREMEN.
The firemen are not to be judged by their
apparent indifference to the burning of
these nuisances, especially as they had been
scolded for putting out the Village Hall
last fall. There are no better firemen in
the country. If any thing worth saving
should get afire it would doubtless be 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 a preparation for taking the denomna-
ton from Il bank note so clean as to leave
no trace He said he had been offered
$3.50, 600 for it. lie 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 100000, and all his forged paper
picked up after him. Bankers were not
honest enough to prosecute him. They
took part of the money back and gave him
the balance and the evidence of his
forgerics But he found sterner virtue in
Vermont. He went through the Rutland
County bank for seven or eight thousand
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 was
brought here, tried and sent to the State
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. A
letter was picked up in the street announc-
ing that fire would occur every ninety
unys I'm lac r-ioased. Ito kept his
promise about a year and then began to do
more than he agreed. A fire took place
every Saturday night for forty-siX weeks.
At one time fires were started simultane-
ously in three different parts of the village,
and merchants instead of aiding in putting
them out, rushed to their own stores, not
, knowing where the next fire would appear.
Peddlers grew afraid to stop here, and
made point of passing on to West Rut-
land. The village became widely noted
, for its fires.
Citizens formed patrols with quasi
military commander for each ward, who
, had roster with the names of property
| owners, and it was quite common to see q
governor on his regular beat. Men slept
= by their boots and other raiment, moi
, knowing when they might be called to at
tend fire In spite of all efforts and pre-
cautions, many buildings were reduced tC
l ashes.
A Boston detective was sent for. During
tnf
Butterfly family He ate with them, play
ed poker with them, schcmed with them
He got all their plans. 1t had been ar
/, ranged to set fire to the Central House, OF
q Saturday night, and they were to be caught
in the act when the incendiaries would
| doubtless have been hanged on the spot 10y
| the populace; but during game of poke
| few nights previous, the detective incau
tiously allowed his shield to he seen. Tit
e old woman of the gang said he must b'
e killed, and, bringing quilt, threw it owe
f his head, while the rest pounded him, mean
G ing to kill him but he crawled out, go
into his sleigh, which was standing at tn
c door, and drove to the Bardwell house.
G Clark had offered the disreputable But
e terfiies $500 to set the town on fire. Iii
n go-between was boy named Peter Marry
d employed by the jailor to work about til
!. Jail. There were ten of the incendiaries
t eight of whom were sent to the pcniter
/. tiary.
t WORD OF CAUTION.
1t We revive these "reminiscences for tn
e purpose of cautioning the people of Ru
y land to be on their guard against incendiar
fires, and to resume something of their pas