The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1875-01-16
TIE FIRES OF THURSDAY NIGHT.
ToTAl. LOSS, s9O,OOO.--INsURANCE
$4,000.
FIFTEEN FAMILIES RENDERED HOMELESS.

FIFTEEN FAMILIES RENDERED HOMELESS.
Detailed statement of the Iniivid-
uni Losses md their Insurance,
TOgcther with a Description of the
Burned Buildings, their History,
and other Items of Interest.
The excitement over the fires of Thurs-
day night has not even yet wholly died out,
and 1t Is not remarkable when we come to
consider the fearful circumstances sur
rounding the case and seriously consider
the situation of danger that we are in, as
town and as individuals. The impression
grows firmer in the minds of our citizens
that the fires, both of them, were incen-
diary, and this belief leads to still another
idea that the ncendiarics undertook to de-
stroy the entire business portion Of the
town. 1t is unnecessary, however, TO |
dwell upon this topic at present it is the |
earnest hope of all that the ncendlares. |
whoever they are, may I've found out and |
brought TO punishment.
1t was often remarked yesterday, by
those who had the best opportunity for
judging correctly, that the fires, either of
them, could have been quenched had there
been plenty of hose and good supply of
water near at hand-and that too before
but little damage was done. We believe
there is much of reason in This idea and II
is certainly fact to be dcplorel that the
village is not well supplied with hose, The
Merden block, at least could have been
saved had there been hose TO reach around
to the rear. where the fire first caught, and
might easily have been quenchcd with Il
small stream. But the hose was not long
enough and the fire ut that point had full
play The llrrnen worked like tigers all
through the terrible night, many of them
with their clothing frozcl stiff and their
bodies nearly so, staid near the fire until
broad daylight. Chief Engineer I.andon,
and Assistant Engineers billiard and Dunn,
were in the midst OF the firemen through
out the night and inspired them with words
of encouragement and by their own active
and efficient example. Had the village
been possessed Of good water privileges,
convenient and requisite in cases Of fire,
one-half the damage done Thursday night
might have been spared. 1t should teach
lesson that needs to be followed in Hut-
land
The RUINS
yesterday presented singularly gloomy
and desolate picture. The ruins of both
fires are still smoking hot. Meriden block
has part of the walls still standing, grim
and silent, while the front wall fell into the
street which is still strcwn with bricks and
debris. The ruins on Willow street arc
especially dreary in appearance and moth
ing remains except a portion of the house
, belonging to Evelyn Perpoint which is
J thoroughly blackened and very materially
damaged.
, Below we give list of losses and instr.
ance so far as could be obtained together
t with history of the burned buildings and
I other items of interest.
| THE ''OID RED SIOKE
{ is the most ancient landmark on The "depo
S ground"--or what is now considered thu
t business portion of the town. 1t was TIN
v | first building of any aooount built v tiN
part of the village erected by John Ian
: don about 1871. 1t was of wood, twt
G stories and a half high. Mr.. Landon oc
o cupied it first as a store and afterward
l. took in as partners Messrs. Graves AM
d Miner billiard, and the firm of Landon
o Graves Il billiard occupied it for som
" years. In 1853 Mr.. Chester Kingsley form
ed copartnership with Landon an
e Graves, and in 1860 Mr.. Kngsle
g. purchased the building for $3.50
le and assumed the business of gre
ceries and provisions which he has fo
is lowed there until the fire. Mr.. Kingsle
s, estimates his loss on stock at $4,000, o
t. which there was an insurance of $4,000 di
tributed as follows 81, 500 in VT Mutua
III II. w. Porter agent, and by NJ. j. Fran
as cisco, 81 900 in Hudson, 1898 in Lyon
ut ing and $500 on billiard tables in Con
lie mercial Union.
r. The building was insured for $4,000 di
tributed in the following companies 81
Id 500 with Burnham & Temple, Sl,50Q
or VT. Mutual, II. w. Porter agent.
ne A. II. Abraham loses on cigars, moulds ar
re presses, 81 ,000 Tobaccos and cigars i
sured for $500 in the Amazon, and moul'
of and presses insured for 5000 in the Quet
ot insurance company, M. j. Francis
ial agent.
NJ j. f. Smith loses on fixtures and fur
as ture in barber shop, $500; insured f
$500 with Burnham 81 Temple.
M Pat Clifford loses 500 on stock and fl
tai lures IN meat market insured for SO
est with Burnham 4 Temple.
nc THE CENTRAL HOUSE
no was built in 1854 by John Landon. 1t "
wv a wooden building, three stories high, wi
w. basement MIR. Landon intended the bio
W. for business purposes, but before linishi
JUS it he changed his mind and turned it into
'"' hotel. He run 1t as a temperance hot
'ic for about one year, when he was succeed
LOT by l.. ID. Turrill, since the well-kno'
landlord of the old Central House at 81
o. lington. Mr.. r. T. Aldrich, at present
ior landlord of the Pavilion Hotel at Mo
MY pclier, was Mr. Turrill's successor and kt
Ill it for short time, when Messrs. j.
OPP Cramton and w. c. Landon leased q
Ve- kept it until Mr.. Cramton bought out
'er- partner and run it alone. Mr.. Fred ST
Ad- son succeeded him 80 landlord for lin
when, on Jan. /, 1868 Messrs. j. w. Ora
I'm ton and j. A. Salisbury leased it for
CT years and afterwards purchased it, pay
me $4,000 In 1878, Mr.. Cramton left q
the Mai salsbprv was proprietor until
est. oor,;ol dootr,c,ion of tho bopso Ian "a