Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-01-12
Fire Record.

In MONTPELIER. About FIVE o'clock Saturday
morning an alarm Of fire was given from the res
idence Of the late Hon. c. W. Willard on State
street. The occupants OF the house at the time
were the four children Of Mr.. Willard-Mrs. Will
lard being in Boston. Miss Mary Willard, who
occupied room on the lower floor, was awak-
ened by the cracking Of FIRE, apparently in the
parlor adjoining the room in which she was sleep
ing She Immediately aroused her brother Mr..
Ashton willard who ascertained that the fire was
in the southwestery corner Of the cellar where
was stored coal and block wood and some lighter
fuel Of a very combustible nature. Capital No.
3" first laid line Of hose from the Pavilion fire
pump to the scene Of the fire, and then placing
Its machine between the WATcHMAN office and
the court house, took water from the tank con-
nected with the wATcHMAN engine, which, hav-
ing steam up, was able to piece out the supply
from its feed-pump. Having exhausted the sup
ply of water at that point, No. 5s hose was trans
ferred to Montpelier No. A." which supplied wa
ter from the river in the rear OF the Bishop hotel
The dense smoke that pervaded every part Of the
building together with the difficulty experienced
In getting at the exact locality OF the fire, made
the work Of subduing the flames rather slow, but
this was ultimately accomplished without the
flames appearing above the first floor except at
one or two points in the parlor. The furniture,
pictures, etc, in the lower part of the house were
nearly all removed. Very fortunately the library
escaped practically without damage, though the
books were not taken out OF the house. No water
was thrown into the building except into the cell
lar and parlor, but dense steam and smoke pene-
trated to every part Of the house, efectualy ruin
ing carpets, paper, paint, curtains and everything
susceptible Of injury from those agencies The
estimate OF the amount Of the damage has not yet
been computed Mrs Willard, who has been
several weeks absent in Boston, was expected to
return to her home on Monday, and in view Of
this circumstance the disturbance in her plans is
peculiarly unfortunate. The fire evidently had
its origin around the furnace, but in precisely
what manner it originated II is difficult to ex-
plain. The members OF the fire department reg
ular and volunteer, had many a benediction for
Mr. f. h. Skinner for the hot coffee bountifully
furnished by him on the above occasion. The
time, the labors and the cold rendered such re-
membrapce especially grateful.
In CABoT.-This pleasant little village suffered
asevere loss on the morning of Wednesday, Janu-
airy 9Th, by the burning of the old Perry store
and the building north Of it, built several years
| ago by c. c. Brown for tin shop, but lately
owned by John A. Harrington. The fire started
in the latter building occupied the lower floor
by Amasa Woodcock, dealer in groceries, and by
Mrs. ]. II. Gerry, milliner. Mrs. Gerry lived in
the tenement over her shop. The tenement over
the grocery had been vacated the day before
The old Perry store was occupied by c. W. Wing,
tinmap nd Thopnaa Pot hut In
two buildings were connected by horse-shed,
while north and south OF them, separated only by
spaces twelve feet wide, were A. F. Spragues
house and the Union Block the latter huge two
and half story wooden building, occupied by
Sprague Wells on the first floor, while over.
head were offices and hall The fire engine was
promptly on hand and played upon the fire, but il
was soon seen that every effort must be put forth
to save the Union block and Sprague's house, and
both buildings were alternately played upon
The water in the reservoir gave out and the en-.
CINE was removed to the bank OF the river. The
roof and sides of Union block were frequently on
fire, and but for the Protector engine, which
has been derded and called useless, it must have
burned, and with it possibly a large portion Of
the village. The losses as far as estimated and
settled are as follows: Union block $780, insured
in Vermont Mutual Spragne Wells, damage to
goods, insured in stock companies, and settled by
A. c. Brown of Montpelier at $500; Mrs. A. II.
Gerry, $500, with no insurance. Amasa Wood
cock, goods, S25, with no insurance; J. A. Far
rington, damage to goods in grocery, $50, with nc
insurance; Harrington, the building, $1,000, in
sured for $3.50 in Vermont Mutual; Barre bank (the
Perry store), $780, insured in Union Mutual fol
$500; c. W. Wing, damage to stock insured in
Union Mutual and settled by A. c. Brown at $50