Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1875-05-05

the roof of the barn was on fire Mr. Charles c, |
Ramsdel, the foreman Of this paper, and Mr.. =.
X Dawiey, who room together in Iiubbard's
block saw substantially the same thing. Henry |
Kclion young man in the employ OF John Adj
ans slept In the corner OF the barn over the Office
and adjoining the stairs. lie arose at the first |
alarm, and did not undress, lying down again af-
ter taking of his coat and boots. lie said he had |
sunk into a doze, and his attention attracted |
by flashes Of light on the window. lie jumped |
up, looked out, and saw that the stairway was
burning. 1t was then a few minutes before mid
night. lie ran down stairs, Embossed the horses,
and let them into the street.
This Is "a accurate an account Of the origin Of
the fire reporter get. We have been |
particular to inquire into this matter because Of
the suspicion Of incendarism which has been |
raised. II Mrs Bruce really did hear man leave
the spot, as she describes 1t would certainly look
as II the fire had been set but everyone knows the
sounds nervous and excited person will hear,
and with 40 much inhammable material packed |
together an accidental breaking out would be no
wonderful matter. A tramp may have gone In |
there to sleep, with pipe in his mouth the straw |
ignited he have walked up and found II abnze, |
and It once away. Incendiarlsm is 50 mon
strous that the mind naturally looks Tor acct |
dental causes, and accepts them where 1t can.
TUE CONFLICT RACES
Mrs. Bruces cries at the window were heard by |
several young men In Dawley's billiard hall, and,
running into the street, Fred Butterfly proceeded |
to Bethany church, and Joined by Clarence Whit
tier, soon sounded an alarm. The others went to |
the livery stable, and helped save the horses, In
less than ten minutes after the alarm, Capitol |
was stationed on the east bank OF the Branch, be-
hind the livery stable, and under the energetic |
direction OF her foreman, "Tgc" Seabury, was |
pumping two streams-one on the two livery sta |
BILE barns which, In that short time, were all on
fire and the other on the two-story wooden dwell |
ing-house occupied by Mrs. Frederick Marsh, stu
ated ON the east side Of Main street, opposite
Bruces, the roof Of which was even then on fire
In several places. Montpelier, No. 4, came as
soon as possible afterwards, and was stationed be-
side Five. more unfavorable night for fighting
fire could rarely be found at this season Of tho
year There had been no rain for several days,
and every thing was unusually dry; astrung south
wind was blowing, which very soon changed to
the west, and, augmented by the FIRE itself, blew
perfect gale.
Meanwhile the flames were spreading with fear
full rpidity spurred on by the southerly wind,
they leapod the gap between Bruce's and DarrOws
& Pecks building half consumed by the late fire,
and in a few minutes nothing but the foundations
were left Rruce'. building being Of thick brick
vail. resisted more strongly and mart Of It's wills
still remain General Perey ?. Pitkn Chief En-
gineer had now arrived upon the ground aud as
, snmed active command While the Barruws &
Peck building was burning a change seemed to
take place in the direction OF the wind, the fire
ceased spreading northwardly and began To shoot
across the street, thus endangering the wooden
building in which Philip Preston had his grocery.
and at almost the same time the large aud new
: block owned by James G. French, and occupied by
. Putnam & Marvin and n p Brooks and divided
into two tenements above stairs The livery
. stable WAS now enveloued in flames. and all hopes
. Of saving any OF the buildings which had caught
were given up; the great thing was u prevent its
spreading with this view. General Pitkin or.
. dered MIR. Alexander Jangraw, the foreman, To
!, transfer No A to a spot further down the Branch
Although the heat was tremendous. and the
: street was filled with SHARKS, this was done with u
e rush The machine was pulled between the borp-
ng buildings on To Main street and thence to he
e river side near the Wells River railroad bridge
: and her gallant men at once went 10 work with
e will The bows engine. No. 3. was stationed be
side her la less time than il took 10 describe the
transfer Of No. a. French's block was in the EN-
ID iA'e u '''o '''"sN' anu 's Nv "''
m ,,,e ".' -, ~, -. ~
1t '',s S'"" 49, o.. 81,
Re VII" '"' O"'''' anu ''' ''''f
ID PLANS OF RESISTANCE
D. Things were now getting very not lnneed- Tue
fiery element was raging with terrible iofce' and
T. it became evident to the General and all that II
lie the town was TO be saved certain points must ne
&c selected Tor the confinement OF the hre' +" "hch
ID II might be SAID mus lar shat thou CO. ana no
in farther To attempt to save any OF the build
ings ON fire. or in near proximity to those burn
ing, would be fruitless task and would only ex'
10 haust the men without accomplishing any good
20 Messengers were sent To Nor'hheid' waterbury
id and Barre for aid, and plan OF battle was per
er iected Immediately
es On the west side oil Main street 'he h'e' having
es consumed the Barro"s reek building seemed
We Inclined TO "nsnish and no danger was "ppre'