The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1873-09-16


their slumbers a little before eleven
O'Clock last evening by the cry Of fire and
the ringing Of bells. Much excitement
prevailed. 1t was soon learned that the
buildings burning were the pillow and pill.
box factory, foundry and office, belonging
to and used by Geo II. Bartlett 4 Bro
one nile east of the village. on the
road leading from Bristol village to Lin
coin.
The main building was erected on the
bank OF the river, was G2x32 feet, two
stories in front and three or four stories
in the rear or river side. This building
was used in the manufacture Of pill.
boxes, wood and ironing plows The
pill-box department consisted of ten
lathes, circular saws, etc.
The plow department contained ma.
chinery Of various kinds, besides the gen-
eral apparatus required for the manu-
iacture Of plows, cultivators, road SCRAP
crs and machinists' work. The most val
liable article destroyed in this department
was lathe for turning iron, valued at
500
The foundry stood about sixty feet
from the factory, there being n drive
way between. /, was low building one
story in height, and 60x30 feet On the
ground. This building contained about
the same lixings that foundries usually do.
The Office is the third and last build
lug burned, standing short distance
from the foundry and near the factory.
The Office was nearly new, about lSx22
leet, containing the books Of tho plow
manufacturing interest, and Il large guam.
tlty OF castings ready to ship, and numer.
Gus patterns.
Other buildings endangered by the
burning Of those already mentioned were
the dry house, in which was stored a
large quantity of stock for pillboxes,
etc. This building, though near, was
saved by the efforts Of those present, as
wGs also the house occupied BY Mr.. j.
5. Averill. Carpets were spread on the
sides and roof of this house, and thor.
oughly wet. Numerous trees, apple and
maple, were standing between the house
and burning buildings, which served as u
sort Of protection, and We saw what we
never before beheld, baked apples still
hanging to the trees, two Of which We
plucked on the stem The third build.
ing endangered was the house occupied
by Charles McGee, as were the barns
and other buildings near Mr.. Axeriil's
house. The residence Of the firm. O
beautiful building. was some little dis.
lance from the fire, yet in line, as the
wind carried large quantities Of cinderi
toward it, and it was only by vigilance
that they were saved.
1t is definitely known that the build
Jugs are burned, and desolation mark.
every step you take, yet just how the fire
originated is as yet yelled in mystery YET
no incendiarism is surmised. The proba
bility is that it took FIRE from natura
causes. In the basement Of the building
is room for bonding pillow handles, auC
called the steaming room. During thu
day there was fire in this room to gel
up steam, but after the work was dou'
the fire was put out and wet down a
usual. Care has been taken to rende
this secure and safe, but most likely By
some means it was not all extinguished
and in due course Of time made itsel
manifest. Three conclusions are draw
from two facts: First. that when discov
, cred the most Of the fire was in the base
ment, and, second, that some men il
passing the building saw Il light in thi
same room, and supposed the hands wer
, at work on tours. These two cireum
stances form the only clue now known a
to the origin Of tie fire.
There was a ventilator extending frou
the basement 10 the attic and the window
of the attic being open an effective draf
5 was formed, which with the combustibl
material which would naturally accumu
, late from the manufacture Of pill boxes
! made the whole building a finder DO
ready for destruction The front door
5 were burst open, from which issued he
$ air and smoke to such an extent that en-
trance was impossible. No sooner wa
the air admitted thaa the whole middl
c portion of the building was in a sheet G
5 flame which soon was carried to the iouu
r dry and office, and in the short space c
0 one half or three iourths Of an hour a
f. were in ashes.
y The property burned consisted of til
T three buildings above mentioned, 500
a worth Of pill boxes packed aud ready fc
I shipment, some forty plows finished an
g others in process Of completion, pillow haI
0 dies, &c the machinery entire for I'll
e manufacture OF plows, cultivators, roa
y scrapers, &c, the machinery entire ft
c the manufacture Of Pill boxes, lathes,sav