Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1875-08-27

THE FLAMING MILL OF SHEPARD, DAVIS co.
ABLAZE-THE FLAMES FINALLY EXrINCulsAED
AND THE BUILDING SAVED.

THE FLAMING MILL OF SHEPARD, DAVIS co.
ABLAzE-THE FLAMES FINALLY ExrINGuIsnED
AND THE BUILDING SAVED.
Our city has been singularly free from
fires, of late, and in this respect has enjoy
ed an immunity unknown to almost all
the cities of an equal size in New England
The last fire was the burning Of DR.. f. j.
Hendee's residence, last spring, ant. since
then our iremen have had an opportunity
to rest on their laurels until Thursday. But
We are now called upon to chronicle fire
which only an excellent water system and
the gallantry of the firemen prevented from
assuming the proportions of disastrous
conhigration.
At clock Thursday a. m, fire broke out
at the north end of the large planning mill
of Shepard, Davis Il Co. where the lon.;
mill which holds the planners joins the brick
engine house. But few moments before
it was discovered "a workman passed through
the room, observed no signs OF fire, and its
origin has not as yet been ascertained. \
general alarm was at once sounded and the
sprinkler, force-puDp anu hyirants of the
mill were at once pouring water upon the lire.
The fire ladies promptly turned out, the
Ethans gaining the honor Of the first arrival
and soon having two streams playing.
From the planning mill the flames quickly
spread to the large room filed with shay
ings. and to the engine room AID 0ther
rooms in the brick building, making. from
the nature of the case, fire extremely dill
feult to cope with That efficient organi-
zation, the Hooks, however, were on hand
with their ladders. these were raised to the
| different windows and soon several streams
were pouring IN.
In the meantime the flames swept with
fearful rapiiity through tie long mill. and
poured from the numerous windows OF the
d" monitor roof" in immense volumes. For
time it seemed as though the whole IN
mense establishment was doomed. But the
mill. By the wise forethought of its owners,
| Is well protected with sprinklers, an ar
raugement of perforated water pipes, by
1 which the building can be filled with spray.
/ besides force pumps and hydrants and the
streams from these, together with those Of
the Hose companies. soon gained the mas
terry. Ia half an hour the FIRE was practic-
ally under control, and thirty minutes
later the flames were finally extinguished.
Seldom has there been a more efficient test
of the value Of our water works, or more
thorough trial of the material of our Fire
Depart naut and certainly - the boys ac-
quilted themselves well. They deserve uni
versa thanks for their courage and faith
fumes
The mill j. the largest planning mill in
this country. it not in the world, and there
is no one establishment in Burlington, the
destruction OF which would be a greater
public disaster. The damage done by this
fire has not been fully estimated but 1t
includes the destruction Of the Eain belt,
worth 81 100; of some $4,000 worth Of
other betting Of large number of WIN
dows, and serious injury to the woodwork
of the mil engine room. &c. Such items
foot up pretty rapidly, and the loss will
probably range somewhere from $l2 600 to
$50 coo \, the company keep some So
eco Of insurance on the mill, it is Of course
fully covered by the Insurance.
The FIRE 1;l not materially injure the en-
gine--- uu.css possibly the large fly wheel,
which Is not tested yet. The damage will
be largely On machinery. tools and fixtures,
and The inside work of the mill. Tie main
bclt VIII be ordered Immediately. " ork
has already been commenced---c!eaning up
and putting in order such machinery a. Is
not testreyei---lnd it i, expected By the
p:cprietors that the one hundred hands. or
more, employed about the mill will not lido
idle many days.
At one time no less than ten streams Of
water we're pouring upon the building
from hose and force pumps, and probably
not la-- than > coo streams from the sPrink
Ter
\ story j. told Of an employe OF the firm,
at work in tae planning mil, who while the
flames were making strong Roadway over
his head. quietly continued his labors. in
biisslul unconscious of anything IN
dsGa. At length the alarm was sounded
and he rushed out OF doors, inquiring of the
by-s;anders where the fire was His curl
0sity. it Is needless 10 say, was speedily
satisfied. lie can take his place in history
as the peer Of the now celebrated sleeper
of the steaner Champlain