Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1880-05-26
Fire in Montpelier a.!
Destruction of Washington County
Court House

WIN air from some Small NlnuOWH IN tnc ghOle
end the flames kinded rapidly and from the vol
umes Of smoke that poured from the beliry the
seat of the fire was evidently In that locality. En-
gine Company, No. ., took position on the river in
the rear of Bishop Hotel, and soon carried line
OF hose into the burning building through the
front window on the second floor. Pressing up
the stairway to the befry the buttmeu directed
their stream of water on the burning mass above
them, but owing to the intense heat and the
shower OF scaldlng water which fell back upon
them from the region of the fire. they were COM
PEELED to beat retreat. The bursting Of a length
of hose, and the insuilicency Of their stream Of
water in consequence, added to the impossibility
Of the firemen maintaining their position under
the belfry. Meantime Engine Company No. 4
had taken position on the branch in the rear Of
Langdon's building. The Hook and Ladder Com
pany raised the new extension ladder against the
rear Of the building, and No. 4 attempted to play
through the windows in the gable end upon the
flames which were extending through the attic.
The heat at this point rendered their efforts as
fruitess IA were those OF No. at the other end
Of the building. Both lines of hose were taken
iuto the courtroom and an effort made to reach
the flames from that locality, as openings began
TO appear in various places in the ceiling overhead
This attempt was soon abandoned. An un-
successful effort was made to cut hole through
the woodwork of the belfry through which a
stream Of water could be trained on the flames.
Fire then began TO appear externally in the jet
on the side next to the WATCHMAN office. No. b
carried its butt up the ladder, and through the
opening made by the flames sent a well-directed
stream of water into the fiery mass within. At n
little past four o'clock the flames burst from the
befry with fury which showed that the interior
of the upper portion was red hot mass, and that
the building was doomed to certain destruction.
The roof Of the WAToHMAS building seemed to
offer the most advantageous position for playing
upon the fire, and accordingly the hose of No. 4
was taken up, and soon after that of No. o. As
No. was playing through two lines, one from
the ground on the east side of the building,
the stream from the roof of the WATERMAN
building was called down and replaced by n line
of hose brought from the force pump in T. W.
Bailey Co.'S grist mill. These three lines Of
hose thus disposed served to coniine the fire to
the court house, aud to afford ample protection
to the WATcuMAS building. A strong west wind
prevailing, the flames from the burning befry
were blown directly away from the WATcHMAN
building, and after the falling in of the befry all
danger to our office was practically averted. The
roof fell in at about five o'clock and the subse-
quent efforts of the firemen were confined to
deadenng the flames, the water for which was
furnished through the night by the tireless
muscles OF Mr. Theron o. Baiey's Pavilion fire
pump. During the progress OF the fire the pail
brigade was vigorously at work inside the WATCH.
MAN building, passing water to the roof by means
Of which, together with the efforts Of the fremen
and the favoring wind we escaped with a slight
bsterng of the paint along the jet which was ex-
posed to the intense heat When it is considered
that our building is barely twenty feet from the
court house and is entirely Of wood, our escape
from destructive fire was quite miraculous. Not
a type nor an article of stock was disturbed. We
here wish to express our deep appreciation of the
services of the firemen who worked with I'M
tagging energy amid the intense heat. They did
all that men could do under the circumstances.
Owing to the inaccessible location of the fire. it
was a simple impossibility to play n stream of
water directly upon it at the outset. They could
not save the court house, but they confined
the ravages of the fire to that locality, and
that was honor enough for one day. All the
movable furniture and fixtures OF the court house
were removed. The records OF the court and Of
the town were removed from their respective Of
fees as well as the probate records for the last
| thirty years; the remainder were consigned tc
the fire proof vaults and passed the ordeal in
perfect safety. In regard to the origin of the fire
no satisfactory explanation can be given. The
theory that it originated from sparks from the
su'oke st''ch Vi 'he "ArciiNAN engine Is renio'eiy
nossihle but exceedi oil w imnrobahle Jndividnals
P,ss'o'e o"' eNoeeu"S'y i'propaoie inuNiuui''
,ha, 81. .,,o tie, So
,,a 60
.'. -, ~. ~. .,, -. =, "a,
,'.. pao,,,,,,,a ,,,o ~
the flames Mt this pont there were no create,
indications Of fire in that mart Of the bndinp than
in anv other more remote mart The dense vol.
ume Of smoke and the evident heat about the base
of the belfry showed concusiveiy that the center
of the fire was there and from this point radi.
ated to other parts Of the building How it orig.
mated will doubtless always remain n mystery
Three distinct and startling explosions occurred in
the progress OF the fire, which were supposed to
have been caused by a loaded gun, pistol ano
ilask oil powder which were used In the Carr muir
der trial, and stored In an upper room by the ON
GERS OF the court The building was enlarged and
thoroughly remodeIed last summer AT cost ol
ABOUT So,Vo' Inc entire loss Is estimateu al
., ooo VA ~ s.', s aaoo "' A. -
No., ~ ,,,,s ,,r,,a.o
"iNoh iSoiphNis'
| pNh Oh Inc MOST grathSihg features vi .h's hr'
was tne eh''re apsehce Oh Signs Oh ih'oA'c'uon
winch Is ~ "p' " 10 o"ensNe'y p'oin'neh' on
such occasions
DURING the fire lermon T. Slayton, photo
graphic ar''s' ana ue"ier III s.ereoScop'c views
was sngn'iy suhs'ruch "hiie ehuca'of'hg W pro
'ec' Ellis pui'uihg'
The foreman of No. 4, Charles +. Collins, heart
lily thanks those young boys who so materially
assisted in the working OF the machine by bring
ing water with which to keep the valves covered
FILES of the county NEWSPAPERS which were
stored in the loft where the fire originated were de-
stroyed The roofs of several buildings AZ fa,
| distant as Main street took fire from burnins
o;,ao.. ,,,. -, ,.,,,ao.o ZOO. a.,
'inueis' ou' no seiious ua'haso was uone'
| SCARCELY had the alarm been given and tn,
so.;, a. 81, III, ,,,sh 49,. e..
s'','"' ""'",o Vi 'ho 'a'A WV" ""'0n ou' hioihe'
mad To grapple comprehended, when the ladies ap
| peared on the scene with generous pailfuls O
| coffee lemopade and other refreshing drinks
'0'0 ""' N""
| anu they won many DlesslnB from their appre
ciative beneficiaries.
A.. ...,,..4
ihh Walls Oh the ouliulhs remain stahulhB ahe
apparently are uniniured. The fire hardly pene