The Rutland daily globe. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1873-1877, 1876-07-15
FIRE AT CAvENDIsH.
HDad Fosters" Buildings in Ashes.

dad Fosters" Buildings In Asnes.
In that part of Cavendish known as
"Twenty mile stream" three miles north
of Proctorsvile, has resided for some years
Francis d. Foster, better known at Rut-
land and among railroad men, by the cog
nomen of dad" Foster. Mr.. Fosters
dwelling was of stone, built but few
years since, in the most thorough and sub
stsntial manner.
An ell and wood-shed connected the
dwelling with two barns, standing directly
in rear of the house.
About o'clock n. m, Thursday last, the
entire string of buildings was totally con-
sumed by fire.
The fire was communicated to one of the
barns from the burning out of chimney
in the ell part Of the house, sparks beng
blown through crevice between the two
barns and igniting straw stored in the roof
of one of the barns. Mr.. Foster was at
home at the time, moving grass in the rear
Of his buildings. He observed that there
was superabundance of smoke drifting
around the buildings, ard went into his
house to ascertain from whence it original
ed, being aware that Mrs. F. was manag-
ing to get along without fire, on the ac-
count of the extreme heat. lie soon ascer-
tanned that the chimney was on fire, hay
ing caught from the fire used in getting
breakfast.
Telling his wife to keep an eye out for
any danger in the house and he would do
so on the outside. He went directly 20 one
of his barns, assembled two flights of stairs,
when TO his CONSERVATION he found the
loose straw spot anywhere from three
to five feet In diameter-On fire. Having
a pitchfork IN his hand he Immediately
threw large fork.ful of straw upon the
blaze and jumped upon threading it Gown
with all his might, but the straw, machine
threshed, being very light and as dry us
powder itself, his efforts were wholly un-
avaling to extinguish the flames, and he
was glad to escape with his life, the flames
having scorched his arms, all he cared to
have them. Mr. F. Immediately gave the
alarm and as the neighbors are not widely
separated in that locality plenty of help
was soon on the ground meantime Mr..
f. had run his two carriages cut, the last
one being on fire at the time. He secured
two out of three harnesses, losing the best,
II being where the fire was the hottest.
There were some five tons of last years
hay besides quantity of straw in the barns
all of which, as matter of consequence,
soon went by the board.
Leaving the burning barns, shed, etc,
Mr.. +. next went into the ell part of his
dwelling, where, among other things, was
an unopened barrel of flour, also barrel
of vinegar he tumbled these out of doors,
never thinking but what they would be Sc
cured after being put out of the building
but Immediately giving his attention 10
other property, he forgot his two barrels,
and when an attempt was made to rescue
them, the fire was so hot that it was found
an utter impossibliiy. We learn, however,
from Mr.. Foster, himself, that through the
exertions of his neighbors, the larger part
of his household furniture was saved.
Three carpets on chamber floors were lost,
as also were all his bedsteads, with but a
single exception.
So fierce and long continued was the fire,
that the very stones which constituted the
walllof the house crumbled away, and now
resemble bed of lime. The exact loss is
unknown, but will very likely exceed
twenty-five hundred dollars. Fortunately
the property was insured for some two
thousand dollars in the Connecticut River
Nut ual, at Bellows Falls.
We should have mentioned in its proper
connection that, as always is the case with
"Old Dad" he had very fine porker in
a pen standing hard by the other build
ings, and which could have been rescued
Just as well as not if it had only been
thought of; but in the whirl of excitement
it was not, and, as consequence, persisted
in the general confagratlon, "Dad" adding
the characteristic remark while relating
the circumstance that, although the hand
some piece of hogtlesh wasn't worth but
comparatively a few dollars. yet he
"would rather have lost a hundred, than to
have had it burned up"