The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-02-28
THE BURNING OF RUTLAND.
Progross Of tho Work.

During the two months since the centen-
nial year set in five incendary fires have
occurred in Rutland, not to mention the
unsuccessful attempts to burn buildings.
The last one was the large barns of Mr.
Gershom Cheney, situated on the corner OF
Main street and jackson avenue. The
alarm was given at 40 a. IN. Saturday,
Just after The GLOBE had gono TO press
AT this time the flames already had com
plete possession of the upper part of The
buildings, throughout their whole extent, a
distance of 1876 feet, from the south CT d
around to the cast end. liurrying TO the
scene, our reporter found Mr.. Cheney, MIR.
Epgrem and two or three other persons
tr, ing to rescue a horse In the stable on the
east end. The terrified animal was paving
and kicking In an agony of fear. From
above the solid mass of flames we're work
ing down and had cut Fl all access to the
doors one of which was fastened on the
inside and the ether locked. With ell The
energy and excitement which compassion
tor the unfortunate animal could arouse,
the men struggled to tear oil the board
from the outside, but when two or ihr,e
were pulled off the Il .mes rushed under
aud in q few moments the faithful and
liable animal was silenced by dreadlul
death. At that moment, could the incen-
diary have been laid hold OF, it is possible
that he would have been cast In to share
his fate.
BY this time members OF the fire depart
ment began to arrive. The fire warden for
this ward, Mr.. J II. Dyer, was on hand,
and assisted to draw out the large lumber
wagon from the building. Mr. ;Cheney
ran in aud caught hold OF another wagon
and burned bis hand severely, the bystsud
ers calling him to come out The want OF
a hook WAS here fit, bu, the Hook and
L4dder did not come out. With hook
the wagon and considerable property
might have been saved.
The hose was now laid with Nickwackett
engine al Madison street. Two hosemen
held the M zzle and patiently waited for
the water. The nozzle was well held it
Was aimed to a nicely. II was no fault of
the host men--ss tsbleau they were sue
c-ss-but the nozzle, like quaker gun,
would not 80 Off. Finally water came,
but the supply to the engine was INSULT
ccni, and the stream was largely Of air.
1t appears that the village in tho vicinity
of Main, Madison and Green streets is not
sufficiently provided with water for fire
purposes. Therefore, as the ire depart
ment can not do much without water, after
frizzling awhile, the order was given TO
Timber up" snd--ihey limbered up.
These barns were in two buildings, one
IS feet by 20 feet. the other 80 feet by 80
fiet and placed so as to form M ell The
posts were 16 feet high and the buildings,
formerly built by Josiah Huntoon, were
substantial franc structures with slate
roofs There was burned in the barns If
teen tons of hay, one or two tons of straw,
80 bushels of oats, "a moving machine, two
wagons, two new harnesses, horse rake,
culdvators, and quite 3 stock OF farming
implements, aud the horse, an excellent
seven year old, worth $3.50 10 $500. Mr..
Chentys loss is fully $1,000, ana the iu-
surance will not be mole than $3.50 in the
Vermont Mutual, II. W. Porttrs agency
Tue horse and farming implements were
not insured. OF
The fire was doubtless lighted on the
south side, when the hay cropped ont be-
meath the stills of the barn, and of course
spread with great rapidity over the hay and
straw. Sir. and Mrs. L. w. Ackery, of
Shrewsbury, had been to the wedding re-
ception of Chas. Leonard, on the Meadow
road, and drove past the barn after two
o'clock in the morning, when nothing of
fire was visible. When mile further on,
they turned off Main street to go east on
the Shrewsbury road, the Sire was in full
progress.
MIR. Cheney has been very unfortunate in
losing by incendiary fires without being ad-
equately insured. A few years ago, when
proprietor Of the Franklin house, he was
burned out just after policy Of $50 900
had expired, and thus met with the ruinous
loss of many years Of patient and hard Ia
Dor at the time OF life when most men
would shrink fro n. recommending the
struggle.