The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1874-09-26
TERRIBLE EXPLOSION AND FIRE
AT TICONDEROGA.
TWO MEN FRIGHTFULLY BURNED.
The Old McHurd Machine Shop and
Tenement House Destroyed.
No lnsurance-FuiiP Particulars.

The Ticonderoga Sentinel sends us an
extra giving the particulars of terrible
calamity that befell that place on Thurs
day afternoon last, and we give the same
entire as follows:
1t was but few days ago that our citi-
zens were called out in MONDAY by the
dread cry of 'Fire"-an enemy that Ticon-
deroga is as little prepared to battle with
as the most rural and uncivilzed commu-
nifty, we will venture to say, in the world.
A half-dozen buckets and two ladders
make but sickly show with which 10 bat
lie with the breath of hell.
About half-past three Thursday after
noon our citizens were again startled by
that unwelcome cry of "Fire fire !" Two
buildings have crumbled to ashes, and for
a time the buildings on the north side of
Exchange street were in great danger of
being swept away. A small hand-engine
or single stream from hydrant would
have saved one of them and perhaps part
of the other. After the fire of few weeks
ago we urged upon our citizens the neces-
sity of procuring ssme means of protec-
ton against fire aud the danger of delay.
But no move was made, and we presume
that only when the whole town is in ashes
little spark of public spirit may be
aroused, enough perhaps to provide a
''sluirt-gun."
he saddest of this calamity is the burn
ing in frightful manner of Chas. Orkins
and Chas. Gillett, and at this writing, Or
| kins lies in great pain and in a critical con-
dition, and his recovery is doubtful. He
is young man, and was married only two
weeks ago. Two poor families, too, are
thrown out of house and home, losing all
their furniture and household goods, and
we understand, without means with which
to make home
THE FIRE ORIGINATED
in the old mill located at the foot of Ex
change street and known as the McIIurd
machine shop, belonging to the Roger es-
tate. 1t was used last winter by Partridge
for saving out spool stock and during the
past summer by parties engaged in the
manufacture of giant powder. 1t has been
| the report for some time that the powder
was made in the building, and we are in
formed some of the citizens living in that
vicinity, have made complaints to the au-
thorities, and to parties having charge of
| the property several times.
TIE CAUSE.
From George Blanchard, boy that had
| been at work in the building on the day of
the fire, and who left it but few moments
before the fire broke out, we learn that
Charles Gillett was drying saltpetre over a
| fire, and Orkins was up stairs putting up
packages ready to be shipped to the factory
at Black Point, where glycerinc is mixed,
making the explosive known as giant
powder. He says that Gilett in order to
make the fire burn better, threw handfuls
of the preparation under the dryer which
caused flash, something like that of COM
mon powder. He also says that he had
| just entered his house, which was adioln-
ing the mill when he saw smoke and
flames suddenly pour out of the windows,
and directly Gillett running up the street
| with his clothes on fire. Orkins was then
seen, enveloped in flames, to jump through
the second story window to the ground,
the shock being such as to throw him
| down, he recovered and went staggering
to the creek, few rods distant, where he
jumped in, but not till his clothes were
nearly stripped from his body. Orkns
was taken from the water by Dr. Moore
and Others and carried to Mrs. Stewards,
and all the assistance possible rendered.
He is in a critical condition, his head, face,
neck and arms burnt in a frightful manner.
Gillett went into the drug store where DIR.
Amidon was called TO attend. Gillett's
condition, though not as bad as Orklns, is
bad enough, he being terribly scorched
about the head and face.
PROGRESS OF THE FIRE
was very rapid, though it was raining hard
at the time. The mill being of wood, to-
gether with the combustble nature of its
contents, caused it to burn rapidly, and all
knew it must go. The tenement house adj
joining, also belonging to the Roger estates
was soon in flames and burning like finder.
1t was occupied by Il. j. Randall and A.
D. blanchard, the former having a family
of three children and the latter six. These
families lost their all, having no time to
move their goods. No insurance. By the
time the tenement house was ready to fall.
the furniture and household effects began
to come out from half dozen dwelling
houses that were in line of the fire, and the
streets presented quite spectacle, las every
thing was pitched into the road. Separated
from the tenement house only by few
feet was house occupied by W. Carr and
j. Lisburn and owned by Geo. Stott and
Mrs. Marshall. All this time the excite
ment was intense, and no one seeming to
know what to do. A few of the level
headed citizens seeing the danger of the en-
tire street, procured ladders and mounted
the building with water. They began the
work of fighting the enemy. BY pluck and
almost superhuman efforts the course of
the fire was stopped.
We are sorry to say that many placed
themselves safe distance from the fire
and looked. But the brave men that COW
cred the building, and stubbornly disputed
every inch with the fire fiend, are deserv-
ing the thanks of the entire community,
and to them is due the safety of the
thousands of dollars worth of property,