Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-01-28
Burning of two of the Scale Shops.

The fire fend which has SO long lodged
around St Johnsbury, and came within seven
miles on Thursday night last week, jumped
into town last Friday evening At twenty
minutes of six O'Clock the steam gong at the
shops started the irightiul alarm which was
soon caught up by the church bells and hui
man voices. Still the people were SO accus-
toned to false alarms in the six years alb
sence of the fiery stranger that they were
slow to believe there was really fire. The
second alarm, however, walked them up 30
that there was hardly standing room in
short time around the burning buildings.
The Ere originated 10 the lower story Of
the scale shop which people first enter in
making an inspection of the works aud is
known as No l. A largo vat of japan had
been prepared for japanning some work that
evening. A workman was about to light
gas jet over the vat by means Of stick
dipped in oil aud lighted. A burning drop
Of oil fell into the japan which ignited as
quickly as powder, and in a second, almost,
filled the whole building with a Dense suffo-
eating smoke, so that the workmen in the
upper stories had to run for their lives hold
ing their breaths and finding egress through
total darkness, some of them through the
windows and down the fire ladders on the
outside. In some cases the escape was very
narrow. Happening Just before six o'clock
the workmen were on the spot at once to
apply water. Hose was attached to seven
hydrants, two steam pumps aud two hand
engines, one OF them throwing two streams.
The large steam pump which threw the
most powerful stream for the FIRST time re-
fused for several minutes, to go, AID was
largely responsible for the Roadway made
by the FIRE at the start. The hames fed by
the japan and oil, quickly went through to
the roof so that nothing whatever Of all the
large amount of scales in all stages of finish,
and the tools which had been years in accu-
muating, could be saved. The weather was
cold and the wind at times blowing gale
from the north so that it seemed for awhile
as though all the buildings on the east side
of the river must 60, but withal there were
circumstances very favorable. The build.
ings are all brick on tie outside, and the
heat and fury of the FIRE inside was largely
spent before the walls would fall and expose
adjoining buildings. This fact, with the
lulling Of the wind about 81 o'clock, the
untiring perseverance of the fremen, and
the abundance OF water, was too much fol-
the fire which was stopped at the passage
way to the bridge, and just before it reached
the brick FIRE wall between No 2 and the
wood shop. Even wing of No l, known
as the paint shop, was mostly saved. The
, end of this wing left open by the fire was
boarded up in day or two and the work o.
sealing scales proceeded in it,
The company gave orders the next day
for timber for new bulldogs, which will b,
erected 10 a course Of month, and some o
it arrived early this week. Workmen com
meucsd Monday morning in removing tn,
rubbish and preparing for the new buildings
No serious accidents happened during tn,
fire, though some of tho fremeu got badl,
chilled and two or three we're slight,
bruised. Col Franklin Fairbanks, who tool
charge of the siege, went home with fever
ish attack, but is out again.
The loss is estimated at from $4,000 /
500, 900; the insurance which was eifecte
through Bowman x Hopkins's agency
from $4,000 to $4,000 Mr. Shaw wa
in New York at the time of the fire arranp
ing an increase Of insurance, but was Gale
home when the fire broke out.
Several circumstances connected with tn
FIRE we're peculiarly favorable. 1t happene
at time Of year when tho stock was tn
lowest and business could bear detention tn
best at a favorable time of day, and in
section of the works where FIRE would col
sumo the least machinery, and do the lea'
damage 10 detention Of work.
The buildings burned were known as III
finishing department, where the scales al
put together, painted, sealed and boIe,
These operations have been set going
other parts of the works and the manuia'
ture Of scales is going on as usual, thong
with little Inconvenience.
Among the incidents Of the FIRE may |
mentioned the fact that barrel of oil wi
found under the ruins on Monday, the STAY,
nearly burned through. The oil was saw,
by pumping it out Some fremen WEI
holding hose on the roof of No 2 as II