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

bic, many Of the incidents connected Win H.
The alarm was sounded At twelve, mid
NIGHT. and al three O'Clock, A. ~, the hre
was ended. In three hours il had destroyed
nearly forty buildings, including blocks OF
stores, dwelling houses, barns and sheds IL
had swept over space OF about TWO
acres. despoled thiry-fve families OF their
homes. and two score men Of their places
of business. The scene, while depressing
and terrible was fearfully sublime. Aud
when at three o'clock the black clouds OF
smoke which oyerhung the fire swept slowly
and marestically off TO the northeast, the
quiet stars looked down upon as perfect a
destruction as could be made by the deyour-
ing element. But the outward desolation
was not greater to the eye, than was the
desolation of many hearts as they looked
upon the ashes Of their homes 10 lately oc-
cupied, and filled with happiness and peace.
But men were not made 10 be crushed by
disaster. There were losses, it is true, that
time cannot repair; losses Of homes and
homesteads, household heir-looms, dear with
many associations, which cannot be replaced.
Some lost all their furniture and effects, and
escaped with merely their clothing and a
handful Of what domestic or personal stuff
came readiest 10 their grasp. Some removed
little out Of their stores, only to have IL fall
into the hands Of robbers and plunderers,
quite as heartless and cruel as the fire it.
self. Very few saved much, and none saved
all. Many saved nothing. All there is left
to the owners is the land and the insurance
The insurance will cover more than half the
loss, and the land, in many cases, is worth
rs much now as when the buildings were on
it, and in other cases, much less But, Mt
any rate, the loss is not total. Families
which lost nearly or quite all that they had
of household goods, have got life and health
and strength left. The fire did not burn up
their trades, or professions, or capacity to
work. The great capital which most Of
them had, and which consisted OF the power
to labor, they find 10 be unc onsumed and I'M
impaired. Those families which, perhaps,
constituted the majority of the sufferers, are
thrown, for a little while, into great straits.
They have need Of the things which were
burned-need Of clothes, of useful articles
of housekeeping, with which they may be
gin their domestic life again in some other
place A little helpful kindness now from
those among us who have not suffered at
all, would DO Of great service 10 them, put
them on their feet, give them courage
and hope TO enter into tho battle Of life
again with confidence OF success. Their
real capital is undiminished. 1t consisted
of strong hearts and willing hands, aud
power of work. The income from that is,
therefore, not cut of, but its constant stream
will flow steadily into their houses again.
few families, whose capital largely con-
sisted in their dwellings or buildings, will
suffer serious loss. II may prevent some
of them from rebuilding, and cripple them
for some time 10 come. But in such cases,
the insurance will partially cover their loss,
and the avails of their real estate, should it
be thrown into the market, will still further
compensate them. 1t cannot give them
back their old homes, but it will give them
new homes in some other portion of the vii
lage, better fitted for residences, where the
lots are less costly. In a little while, they
too, will retrieve large part Of their disas
tiers, and, meanwhile, the energy requisite Il
repair their losses will infuse new life int
them and brighten their respondent faces.
Other families there are to whom the DIES
4. r 4. 1 =.
ish the comforts or the enjoyments OF life
A momentary invasion of their peace and es
tablished order has come, an overturn Of
their daily routine OF domestic security and
comfort, without any serious crippling Of
their resources. Dslodged from their ancient
nests, it will be a short labor for them u
find or build new ones, where the old lif'
will resume its sway, and the old joys anc
comforts come back again to drive the pres
ent calamity out of their thoughts Tn
world will smile brightly on them ono
more, and the great blessings which are lef
to them will inspirit and cheer them.
The business houses and firms which ar
injured by this calamity will doubtless Zee
the blow for some time. Most OF them ar
insured so that their losses will not fatal
harm them. Some Of them are well insured
and will be able to resume their business a
once. They have got their customers lef
their "run Of trade" their "good will" TIL
fire not only did not consume that, but vii
be likely to benefit it in the case of ever
bue;,ass man vvho oh . n raxurna b;s hus aas
Some Of them are already at work in provid
ing temporary places for their business, an
in making arrangements for the future. w
do not know Of single instance in which tn
business that was injured in this FIRE can
dispensed with. The hardware. tin, marbl
shops are all a prime necessity. The stors
of miscellaneous wares were all demande'
We do not see how any of them can be spare'
There can be no doubt that they will be ,
once rebuilt.
The burnt district was one OF the olde'
in town. With few exceptions the bull,
ings in it were both ancient and woodei
They were erected at time when II was N,
deemed necessary 10 build OF indestructib
materials. There has been no time, In u
last thirty years, when there has not bee
frequent expression to fear Of the vel
calamity that has now occurred. The bull,
ings, with their barns and sheds attached, a
occupied, and some OF them devoted to US,
that increased the risk of FIRE, always SUI
gested the possibility and danger Of a RAP
and widespread conflagration The spac