Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1874-12-25
MORN ING
The Burning Of the Ieform School.


the building of the Vermont Reform School
The fire originated in the gas works oil
the institution. They were what Is de,
nom mated Buffers Patent Resin and vi
Gas Generator" Some repairs had become
necessary, and had been made by Wliliam
Carr, from Burlington, and two assistants
For the purpose of allowing air to NIX
with the gas, the top of the gasometer hau
been raised by heavy weights acting upon
pully. One Of these weights weighing one
hundred and fifty pounds, became detach-
cd. causing the top 10 fall. The connection
between the gasometer and the retort
having been cut off, the gas was forced OUT
into the room. and, coming in contact with
the lights. became ignited, causing dense
smoke and an almost irsufferable odor, when
almost instartaneously permeGted every
room in the institution. The alarm was
quickly given but it is exceedingly doubtful
whether any human agency at tins point
could have succeeded in queliing the hames'
and saving the building. no
Waterbury's crack engine, the seth
| Warner" fully manned, was quickly upon
the ground, but the supply OF water was
soon exhausted, and it became apparent
that the entire building must be consumed.
The boys, numbering about $50. were
asleep in their dormitory, in the second
story At the alarm, they arose, dressed,
and were marched by the officers IN charge
down to the gymnasium. Inls was soon
uniphabitable, and thsy were taken to the
hack ward. Arriving here, their teacher
and the assistant superintendent. Mr.. NJ. C..
Healey, told them he should expect them to
act like men, and not to run away; that he
must put them on their honor, for he must
20 back into the building. The boys said,
I'VE Il stick to you. Mr.. Healey. and they
kent their word. lie soon found 1t useless
to attempt entering the building, and tnen
formed the boys On parade and marched
them three quarters of mile to the Water
bury Hotel Not one Of the boys attempted
to run away.
The principal difficulty in saving prop
/ erty from the institution was occasiOned BY
the terrible smoke which filled the entire
! building. Before the fire had reached be-
VOID the basement, dense, black cloud OF
| smoke could be seen pouring out OF every
/ window in the attic, and 1t Is wonderful
| that all the inmates escaped with their
I lives. The stock OF coal Tor the winter had
/ been recently put in, and will probably be
all consumed. There was also large
stock OF provisions which had been land IN
for winter store. and large quantity OF
clothing for the boys all of which was con-
sumei. Nearly every officer and teacher
connected with the school, lost heavily.
! Mr Bu~s, the Overseer. with his wife and
child, were driven out of the house by the
flames in their night-cl0thcs. and had to 20
some distance, to a neishbOr's, before they
could find shelter and additional clothing.
Mr.. ). \. Healey, wife OF tine Assistant
Superintendent, was taken out helpless
IRON suti0catiOn. Miss Ellen Morse. over
seer OF the boys dining-roOm, in the smoke
and darkne,s. CROPPED her way into the hos
pital, On the second floor above the boiler
room, aad wa- about giving up all hopes Of
escaping, when She accidentally placed her
hand on q SICK boys head, which re-assur-
ed hcr. and they managed to get out
together Two OF Mr.. Fairbanks children
were also taken out nearly dead with suffO-
cation.
Mr. and Mrs. Ileaiey lost everything. and
among the articles belonging to them which
were destroyed, was a very valuable watch
and chain, a presenttO hun. Mr.. and Mrs
Fdrblnk lose heavily. Including piano,
sowing machine and other furniture, and,
indeed. all the teachers and superintend-
eut- lose nearly everything.
The most exciting escape. perhaps, was
tia, oi hoy from Burlington, named
Daniels lie was IN one OF she rejecting
Rooms, 80 ca-!cl-ru 1ns for solitary con-
fncmcut-wherc be had been put. to cure
him Of habit OF running away. On being
awakened 10y the gaseous smoke which
came up through the venti!at0rs he took
Sat from his bed, priet out the bars Of the
door, went into the outer room, broke the
window n the Northwestern corner Of the
bCiiing ana wcat down the projecting
bricks forming huttrc-S on the corner,