The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-15
TERRIBLE CONFEDERATION ,
Two Disastrous Fires Last Night

Destruction of the Central House,
the " Old He'd store" Nichols
Block, Meriden Block and other
Buildings.
Last night was one long to be remem-
bered in Rutland, exceeded only by the
memorable nights in 1867 -s when fire trans
formed the town into a pandemonlum
of fear and terror And those of our citl-
zens who were here at that time had cause
to recall 1t in all its terrible vividness.
For not only was the alarm taken up on
Merchants Row, but ii was soon re-echoed
on Center street, and two destructive fires
were in progress at one and the same time.
We can at this late hour but simply chroni-
Gle the fact and give what few details pos
sible under the circumstance.
At about half-past 10 o'clock the first
alarm was sounded This was easily seen
to he caused by fire issuing from Chester
Kingsleys grocery -familiarly known
as the ''Old Red Store'-on Merchants
Row, as the smoke was rapidly filling
the street in that locality. The particular
| location of the fire was found TO be in the
rear of the cellar under the store, and was
approached through small alley way on
Evelyn street. The fire was small when
first discovered. but every second of time
added to its growth. The engines re-
spondcd quickly to the call. Hook and
Ladder company were first on the ground,
soon followed by the steamer No. 3, Wash
ington No, 9, and Nickwackett No. /.
The latter was the first to get on
stream, which they directed TO
the front of the store, from whence was
issuing dense cloud of smoke, which
was growing rapidly thicker and more
sitting The steamer stationed itself at
the corner of West street and soon had
stream playing on the Central House, next
door, which from the first seemed in inn
pending danger. Washington No. 2 was
placed in the depot park and carried their
hose round to the rear entrance where the
fire was first discoyered.
The smoke at this time was so great In
amount and so sitting in its thick, black
fumes that it was almost impossible to live
near the fire, while it also obscured the
buildings completely from sight. The
streams, which were now pouring upon the
fire, seemed to be doing some little
work, and the large crowd awaited
in anxious suspense for further develop
ments. All at once the flames, which had
been heretofore out OF sight, lcapcd forth
FROM the building and darted into full
view, winding themselves about the
doomed structure and wrapping It's front
completely in lurid sheet. The hose
men, howevcr, stood well to their work and
met the flames nobly. The steamer and the
Nick's hose were directed into the crack
ling pile and even carried boldly to the
very threshold.
Then was seen the power of alter in rn
encouraging manner for smoke now took
the place of flame, and the hopes of all
were raised, only to be summarily disap-
pointed, for it was quickly seen that the
old Central was on fire and in great dam
| ger. The streams were thrown in that
direction with. at first, excellent effect
but still the flames were not qucnched.
The grocery had in it great amount of
combustiblc material which burned despite
the showers of water which were thrown
amongst them and continued blazing, now
breaking out in front and when successful
ly fought by the iiremen would ms persist
emily leap forth from the rear portion OF
the store. And still the fremen battled
with the fiery elemcnt-themselves choked
with smoke and dripping with water-some
of them continuing to throw upon the store
and others upon the Central house. The
Hook and Ladder company with ladders
which were made useful upon the hotel and
upon which the fremen climbed
to the second story and strove to
stop the further progress o. the fire
in that direction. Despite their best efforts,
however, the fire proved too much for
them and intrenched itself upon the roof
and in the north side, next the burning
store. The wind, which blew throughout
the fire, although not especially strong, was
in the right direction and helped the fire in
booming the hotel For over an hour it
seemed almost an even match between the
Central House and the fiery element,
though at haf-past II there was some little
hope of saving the building. Fifteen MN
utes later the crowd were horror-struck a,
the cry of fire on Center street." and q
rush was speedily made in that direction
THE CENTER STREET FIRE.
The alarm was found to be real and the
people began to think of their own homes
and the town itself as being in immediate
danger. The excitement was intense
Smoke was seen lifting itself up from be
hind the.wooden block owned by Charles
w. Nichols and occupied on TIT
ground floor by Ryan Il Batcheler, hard
ware merchants, and Samuel Hayward
grocer and broker. The rear of the latte
store was already in flames and burning
blisklY. The block seemed doomed ant
! the engines were busy around the corne
and could not be spared This was tn
picture presented to property owners OF
, Center street. Five or ten minutes elapsed
, and then Nckwackett No. was spare,
and proceeded to the scene OF the secont
fire. They quickly saw that their foe wa