Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1880-02-06
FIRE.
Burning Of Portion Of the Pioneer Shops

Burning Of Portion Of the Pioneer Shops.
T.. Nj. CLAP AND }. T.. BOOTH THE HEAVIEST
LOSERS.
The first fire that has occurred in this city
the present wear and the most extensive one
that we have been called upon to chronicle
for many months happened Tuesday morn
ing in the lower of the buildings known as the
Pioneer shops under the following circum-
stances: The first story Of the building in
question ia occupied by J. Il. Booth, Sue
SCISSOR TO the late +. W. Chase, for getting
out the material used for the manufacture of
doors. Shortly after six O'Clock one Cum
mings, an employe of Booths. was standing
on ladder, lantern in hand, oiling a shaft,
when he lost lis footing, fell to the floor,
and, the lantern breaking, a pile of shavings
near by was at once set on fire. Cummings
Immediately got out the hose belonging TO
the building, but the man who went TO the
hydrant was SO excited that he was unable
10 turn on the water. and the fire attained
considerable headwav. The steam whistle
was then sounded and the fire alarms were
ettuel.. llut for c" lrinr iimo and nltoreihor
50 inadequately that hut few people realized
that there was really a fire and the firemen
generally We're at II total loss rs Ia its where
abouts. With 50 inadequate al alarm and the
consequent delay, had there been even mod
crate breeze probably all the manufacturing
concerns in that vicinity would have
been swept away and the loss would have
been immense. As it was, the air was
very still, and the damage, though inirin-
scally large, is far less than it might have
been under other circumstances. The SUIT
ton hose boys were first on hand and got on
the first stream. The Barnes came next,
and were quickly followed by the other com
panies Of the fire department. From the pc
cuar situation Of the buildings, all of them
being hudd!ed together, and the interior To-
cation Of the fire, the boys had u hard task
to extinguish the flames, although, as on
former occasions, they fought right gallant
". The discomiorts of the weather were by
no means light, for the firemen's clothes,
after being saturated with water, were frozen
stiff: and the gallaniry and efficiency the
fire laddies displayed were something Of
which our people have right TO be proud.
After several hours work the flames were
practically 90. Under control, but they con-
tinued TO shoulder for a long time, and il was
not till afternoon that they were finally cN-
tinguished The walls and floors are prac-
/ IL i... I,.int
confined to the contents of the building.
At the moment Of writing it is impossible
10 obtain anything like an accurate state
mcni of the losses, but they may be approx
matcly stated as follows: In Booths shop,
where the fire broke out, there were two
moulding machines, a number of saws, guam
tiics of shaiting. etc, and considerable
stock in process Of manufacture. Mr.. Booths
loss on machinery is estimated at -. 800 and
on stock at 81 900. His business is a very
extensive one, occupying several buildings
and tine only insurance on this shop that can
he ascertaincd is 3 800 in Col. T. :. Pcck's
agency In the second story of the shop was
located II. NJ. Clapp's extensive curtain
roller factory Mr.. Clapp had been doing
an immense business and had orders ahead
for several months. In his factory was valrI-
able machinery of his own invention, stock,
etc, the damage on which can not yet be
computed with accuracy. Mr. Clapp's esti-
mate of his loss is not to exceed 5000 lie
was insured in Col. Peck agency for s., 900.
Next north of these two concerns are Wing
x Smith, lasts, on the main floor, and 5. C..
| kimball, doors, over them, both of whom
are fortunate enough 10 escape with but slight
loss The latter had TO remove his stock,
and the loss TO machinery, etc, by hire
and water he estimates at about Sl00
Mr. Kimball carried $1,000 insurance
and Wing Il Smith 81 ,000-b both in Colonel
Pcck's agency. The building is owned by
DR. l.. s Nichols, who carries on The entire
property insurance Of SCI, 900 $50, 900 in
Griswold n Frisselrs agency and the balance
in Col Peck's. The proportion allowed to the
burned building will probably cover the loss
/ closer examination will perhaps consider
ably modify the figures of loss and perhaps
disclose additional insurance but the loot
ings given above are as accurate AS arc at
present obiainHhiC-
The prrs:.D! fire recalls the disastrous CON
Migration ia the same vicinity twenty-five
years aao The old Pioneer shops consisted
of a stately brick building 800 feet long and
four stories in height, and cost $50, 1000,
Henry T.. IIickok, Esq, being the owner
On the 2nd of April, 1853, the structure
caught fire and burned to the ground, burn
ing out the Ten manufacturing concerns who
occupied it and causing total loss of sl25,
600. while tie entire insurance was only
S17 900