Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1877-02-16
Destructive Fire In SwantOn.


oNE-IHIRD OF THE BUSINESS PART OF SWAN
TON IN AsHEs-LosS ESTIMATED AT FIFTY
THOUSAND DOLLARS.
The thriving little village of Swanton
with its 5000 inhabitants, has, the second
time this New Year, been visited by fire ;
this time destroying one-third Of the BUSH
ness portion of the town, burning out seven
firms, two family tenements. one lawyers,
and one dentists Office, the postofhce, and the
Masonic hall. comprising six blocks. besides
damaging several stocks of goods BY re-
moyal from buildings that were threatened
but did not burn; the street for blocks be-
ing literally strewn with household effects.
and merchandise of every description. The
fire was discovered at 1870, Friday morn
ing, in the two story wooden structure OF
the old MARVIN Block" which was occu-
pied by D. E. Brundago as q provision
store. Probably the first to see the fire was
Mr.. Thomas Nevins, the druggist, who &C.
cupies, with his family. the second story OF
the next building south, separated by an
alley-way, four feet in width. When Mr..
Nevins awoke the flames were bursting out
from the roof and sides with an ominous
roar. Gathering hastily few pieces oil
wearing apparel the family fed to the
street, saving only tho little clothing car
ried by them in their flight. The build
ing soon ienited and succumbed to
the flames it was occupied below
by o. d. Mason. as harness shop.
The next to go was two story wooden
block occupied by W H. Blake, hardware.
Hogle's large. three story brick block stood
next and contained large stock OF dry
goods, groceries. etc, belonging to K ID.
Marvin. In the second story were two
families, and the law office OF A. Burt
Son, who lost valuable law library in the
previous fire. In three hours from the
commencement OF the fire. not brick OF
| this fine block was left standing, as IN the
midst of the flames the walls fell with
great crash Barnes provision store was
next counted OUT" and the postothce de-
partment which was removed here after the
previous fire. was once more bull-dozsd by
the fire fend. A family by the name OF
| Skinner, the pater q shoe maker, also
moved out by force of circumstances over
which the Svantou fire bucket brigade had
no control The flames to the south were
arrested by the citizens pulling down a
small store house. On the north, Is. b.
Blako's dry goods store succumbed, in the
second story of which DR.. Munseil, dentist
had rooms. This was wooden building, as
was also the rext one occupied by L. A.
Adams, books and stationery, at which
point a barricade OF boards was made
against the millinery store Of Morey's, and
by concentrated Efforts and the streams
of several fire extinguishers the tide OF de-
struction was turned. The stocks Of goods
of the frns burnt out were mostly saved {.
except that belonging to D. E. Brundage,
where the fire originated which was total
loss with no'insurance. A defective stove
is supposed to have caused the fire.
Swsnton men who were present when
the fire was first seen, say that no effort was
made to get out the fire engine, although 1t
| is a good one, until the flames had extended
half the length of the Row. The engine was
not in good order, and the old fashion
leather hose, of which there was not
| enough, burst more or less. 1t was the
opinion Of many that one good fire com-
pany, with suitable apparatus, would have
been able to stay the fire at Masonic block.
and thus have prevented half or more Of the
loss. The st. Adams Fire Department re-
sending the Crescent and Frontier compa-
MES. but they failed to reach the scene of
the fire in time to be Of much service.
THE LOSSES. INSURANCE, ETC.
d. E. Brundsge fruit. crockery and res
taurant) saved his books, and that was
abou. all stock, $4,000; no insurance.
c. {. Longs building. loss $1,000; insur-
ance 81 200. W. II. Munsell, dentist. had
Just fitted up rooms on the second floor
loss 500; DO insurance. W. Ii. Blake.
ID, hardware and tin shop, stock Sl4 900,
stock in storehouse l,5O0, value of store
S., 900 insurance on store. storehouse and
stock Sll 200 he saved good deal. but
in damaged condition. .. d. Msson's
building, value $1,000 insurance 81 900;
stock saved. Timothy Neville. household
goods. loss $500; lost all no insurance.
But little was saved from Masonic Hall.
K. d. Marvin's stock, $4,000; insurance
1000 loss about $1,000. From Ii. A.
Burt i Sons Office nearly everything was
saved except two stoves, some furniture and
coal John Skinner, loss $500; no insur-
auce. Mrs. l.. A. Cutler saved yearly all
her household goods; loss $50; no insur-
ance. Ii. A. Burt, Jr., lost some house.
hold furniture in this block. Mrs. Charles
S. Hogle owned good share of Masonic
block below the hall; insured for $4,000.
John Ilogle, Of Pennsylvania. owned the
rest and was insured for $4,000. Masonic
hall insurance 81 200. The building oc-
cupied by b. b. Blake was owned by
Martha Barney and Mrs. Chas. ii. Rey-
nolds; loss 81 900; insurance $4,000. b.
B. Blake's stock $4,000; insurance So
$50 about half of the stock saved. Adams
bookstore building was owned by Ii. W.
Farrar, and well insured s. A. Adams,
printing Office and bookstore, nearly all of
stock saved but in a damaged condition.
IT ia mt tho fact that VIM NJ Evarts has