St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1876-01-28

ping depot. (wlcrc all the manufactured
scales al" stored ready for shipment. }
and the sealing shnp-a three story
brick building next below. Here was
Il desperate fight. and it WAS largely
successful. The warehouse WAS saved.
and Il good share of the sealing shop.
Directly below this latter shop. was 4
small. low brick building. used as 4
magazine for hcnHlIe. Dm the roof of
this building the hnScmen stood for five,
hours. directing their streams into the
iIre and di>pnting its progress inch hv
inch. apparently, though not really.
unconscious of the great danger they
were in.
TIE FIRE UNDER CONTROL
by ten o'clock it WAS evident that
the lII" was getting under control. al
though 1t burned iicrcclN AN hour or
two longer. and streams of water were.
Kept playing upon il all nI.ht. Before
midnight tn" great crowd of people
which had gathered to help save prop
"rtN and witness the grand spectacle,
were nearly all Dispersed. leaving only
those VIII" were able and willing to re-
main to watch the SLOWLY diving flames.
BUILDINGS BURNED.
The buildings consumed we've a three
story brick shop. H. feet long hN 10
feet wide. IN the basement of which the
liz" started. This building WAS used
MAINLY t"r packing portable scales.
sealing and packing small scales. seal
ing hay scales. ornamental painting
and some wood work. From this shop
the tire communicated To another three
STORY brick shop connected on the south.
juNl0. which joined it on the west.
The tw" former buildings were con
summed with their contents The seal
ing shop is badly damaged, but the
ti>t floor and contents were partially
preserved. The Company estimate
their loss about S4O.OOO: we'll insured.
notwithstanding the shops consumed
were iaIgc. fine buildings. there WAS
little machinery in them. and of all the
shops III the works. can Ice the best
spared. and with the least inconN emienct
and interruption Ia the business.
ACCIDENTS AND INCIDENTS.
Very fortunately we might say prov
rlcntially there was no serious acct
dent. 1t WAS Il pclilous place to work
the battle WAS long contnued the
smoke WAS sitting the cold freezing
Tw" or three men received severe
bruises from falls: one ladder with the
hoSemen on it, fell to the hard ground
II few got into the river. and quite a
number were wet and chilled through.
and frost bitten, and so exhausted that
they had to he carried home and work
ed over through the night Yet So far
as we learn, there were none perma-
nently or seriously injured.
Men never worked better. 1t was a
trying ordeal To many but they did not
finch; and when hoscmeu, through
heat or cold. exhaustion or Sitting
smoke, We're obliged to be relieved,
there were volunteers to take their
places.
We might fill this paper with won
derfnl stories and hair breadth escapes.
which are current on the streets. but of
which there is hardly grain of truth. |
The thin benzinc paint in which the
lighted match WAS dropped, flashed up
80 suddenly, and so soon filled the
hnilding with Il suffocating pas and
smoke, that workmen III the second and
third stories barely escaped with their
lives. all of them leaving their fools. |
and some abandoning their coats. |
watches and money to he dcyoured. .
The last man down stairs. fell in the
back doorway. overcome, and WAS
dragged ont 10y companions. Two
Others escaped 10y the roof little later.
The fire occurring ut such an bour.
left no opportunity for the men to get
anything to eat and during the eve