Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1873-06-06

million and half of dollars. Though the
fire department worked with almos. super
human energy, yet it seems strange that IN
broad daylight they could not have con-
trolled the fire sooner, unless the numerous
blind alleys and rookeries which 50 abound
in Boston, make such hiding places for the
flames that they cannot be 50 easily got at
as in New York and other cities. We copy
from the AdreriiScr some Of the more in
teresting incidents of the fire.
TIE BURNING OF THE GLOBE THEATRE
BUILDING.
The Globe Theatre building took fire in
earnest about quarter to nine clock,
despite the incessant streams ofwater pour
ing on the smoking facade. Previous to
this time, and while the fire was raging on
the opposite side of the street, Encamp-
ment f. W Kinsley Post lI3, 6. a. r,
was assembling in its headquarters pre-
paratory to the observance of Decoration
Day. Most of the valuable property of the
post was saved, including portraits, regalia,
belts, books and papers. The heavy cases
containing the books and blanks of the
headquarters of the department of Massa-
|
| States could not be got out, but were forced
open. and the record books and few other
valuables removed TO Cobb store on Wash
ington street. \ large amount of valuable
books and blanks, however, were lost. In
the handsome theatre. Mr.. Cheney and
nearly all the male members of his stock
company and the other attaches were labor
inc incessantly removing the wardrobes and
the portable properties. Hose was intro
duced through the entrance on Essex street
and carried up to the windows on the
second and third balconies, where another
point of attack on the deyouring element
was established. Here the men fought
long and well, having finally TO beat re
treat a. the flames shot across the recess be-
tween the front building and the theatre /;
and then the work of destroying the mag
nificent interior began. The flames APP
peared in the third balcony through the
! right-hand window, a. viewed from the
O'Clock. The sight as seen from
| the stage was one of sublime scenic
effect Before the fire appeared
the stage was dark and drear the gas
though lit harmed low, and was subsequent
/ IL extinguished. Mr.. Cheney fearing an ex-
| plosion. GRADUALLY the lurid, Pickering
| CLEANS shot inward. reflected from point to
| point on the gildod galleries. The flames,
! of which the curling smoke was the pre-
cursor after entering seemed TO work show
/ " along till they reached the alhambra
| like arches of the galleries Then the deli
cate tinted tfacery seemed enycloped IN
| sheets of flame. whose lurid light liz up the
| entire place, Frightening up the elegant
! theatre for the last time. The members OF
/ the company non retreated TO the rooms
! in the rear that communicate directly Win
! the street. p.ucking, as they dld so, an artl-
] fetal camela or poisoning twlg from the
| homes where the " New Alqgdalen - was
! known. taken As hallowed momento.
| All this time the fire had rapidly spread
over the ceiling Of the auditorium, and a.
we stood sadly looking on, great cinders
and flashes of flames fell in all parts Of
/ the house. y minute more and there SEEM
| ed to be one storm of crimson hail-st0nes.
while the blazing sparks were flying thick
among the flies. In the midst Of this
wholesale destruction the walls Of the
| proscenium arch fell with dull -odden
| crash. This unlooSened the fastening bands
| that held the "act drop, which, rs 1t
I fell. unrolliue, revealed It's crimson folds
for the last time. and lay singularly, but
appropriately, covered with " the green
curtain, As the closing scene in the burning
tragedy was enacted. \ second later and
many OF the hies fell in strange confusion,
and falling lay manglsl amid the statues,
the gilded chains and tropical plants that
graced the charming scenes Of the " AcE
Magdalen." One lingering look was taken
by yenture>lme few whose curiosity
chained them fast. bat the cracking of
the walls and falling flies We're shut
from view hy the whirling cdlic- of
.
The place was abandoned at seven min
utes past ten, and three minutes later the
great iron roof fell in and crushed what
had already lost it, beauty. Most OF thc
more valuable furniture was saved, the
mirrors and furniture in the rear offices and
all of the wardrobe. The theatre has gone;
but a. one Of the undaunted managers said
while the theatre was yet in shape. though
doomed, The bricks won't be cold before
well begin rebuilding
cnlckERING AND sons PIANO .yAEEEoons.
The destruction of the elegant fye-story
granite front building ON the corner of
Washington street and Hayward place, oc
cupied by the extensive pianoforte manu-
featuring firm Of Chickcring and Sons,
began at about quarter of ten o'clock.
Several times the flames lGaped from the
the corniceS and window frames. only to be
swept of by the torrent of water which was
directed upon IL front; but the position of
the fremen operating here was fast bec0m-
ing intolerable as the flames enyeoped the
outer walls Of the opposite building and
radiated -c0rching heat At quarter
past ten the stream upon the front was
withdrawn and the flames made quick |
Roadway over the woodwork Of the upper |
stories Several minutes elapsed before any l
further effort was made to save this build /
ing. The next attempt was from the |
six-story building across Hayward place, a |
position being taken in the upper story, |
adording a most favorable opportunity. |
Another hose-pipe was run up Hayward |
place from the east, and vain cndeayor /
made to scale the roof of the building adj /
joining Chickering's in the rear, in order to /
gain position to battle the flames already |
wrapping the rear of the building and mo-
mentarily threatening the entire place. \
position wa obtained after a good deal of .
useless waste of time; but it was too
distant to be ofany benefit. During this
progress of the fire every eilor: was put
forth below to save portion of the elegant
stock Of pianos. The street was a scene of
confusion. At eleven O'Clock
the flames bad penetrated to the third floor
and were fast weakening tho walls. in
which the hopes of many for the salvation
Of the place were based. This hope was not
long entertained. \ portion of the front
wall fell, and was Immediately followed by /
the falling of the s)utherly portion Of the
rear wall which carried all the floors with
it. sending cut q deaiening crash and filling
the air with a smoke Of impenetrable black
ness, succeeded by torrent Of flame that
would defy an ocean Of waters. By this
time three more streams had been added
to the force at this point. Their work
was Of the best, and viii never be forgotten
By the anxious ones huddlcd together over
their few goods on the north side of Hay
ward place. But the grande>t sight was
yet to come. Nearly the entire front had
allen to the street, and the north side was
,tanding unsupported and leaning percept-
bly, outward. Thousands OF eager eyes
we're fixed on the lettering mass. shout
vent up. Slowly breaking against the
misty sky came the huge mass. 1t broke +
midway, and like lightning fell to the
arth, shaking entire blocks of buildings to
heir foundations. This wall being out of {
he way, the flames were quickly got under
OntrOl. In this building there were about
20 pianos, nearly half of which were in
tore. Their value is estimated at an av-
rage of $500 each, which would make a !
otal of Sll2 800. Thirty fine pianos were {
aved in badly damaged condition which
re estimated at 800 each, leaving a total !
)ss on stock of SOS, 500. The building. c
lhich is totally destroyed, was valued at c
bout $50 900, making a total loss of Sl7S,- 7
90. The building and stock were fully in i
ured in home and foreign Offices \ little e
IS than a year ago this building was re- r
tied in an elegant style by the proprietors,
t an expense of S25, 900. The firm lost Il
200, 900 in 1852. f
The Springfield Republican s comment on y
lie election e President and Vice President
the Central Vermont railroad is as fol- s
Tvs: =
We suppose this means a continuation of $
he old policy There will now he tbiS :