Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1881-01-12
Great Fire at the STAFFORD New Hamp
shIre) County Farm.
MAIN BUILDING TOTALLY DEsTRoyED-TwELvK
OF THE INMATES CONSUMED IN THE FLAMES
VALUE OF HOUSE, sEvRsTy-FrvE THOU
SAND DoLLARs-JSsURED FOR ONLY srxrEEN
THOUSAND DoLIARs--A TOTAL LOSS


VALUE OF HOUSE, sEvRNTy-FrvE THOU
SAND DoLLARs-JssURED FOR ONLY sIxTFEN
THOUSAND DoLIARs-A TOTAL LOSS
At four o'clock Friday morning, January 9TH, n
fire suddenly broke ont in the kitchen OF the main
building at the STAFFORD county poor house, and
before assistance could be rendered or any efiec-
tive efforts put forth to stay the progress Of the
rapidly spreading flames, the whole interior OF
the immense three-story structure with its entire
household contents, including twelve OF the one
hundred and sixty-four unfortunate inmates, was
one indescribabe, indistinguishabe mass OF
smouldering, smoking, blackened and charred
debris. Everything was done that could be,
under the circumstances, to remove the decrepid
and aged inmates 10 place of safety, but owing
to the central location OF the fire, there was but
one egress that could be used, the main entrance
being rendered entirely useless by its close prox.
Unity to the fire, which, in a few moments after
Its discovery, spread with lightnng-ike rapidity
throughout the whole building, causing those Of
the able-bodied men and women to beat a hasty
retreat through the windows OF the rooms in the
wing, to which they all rushed in their frantic
efforts to escape. Few Of them were afforded
time to snatch, in their haste, even a garment to
cover their almost nude forms, and the panic
stricken men and women fed from the building
out into the cold, deep snow in state Of abiect
bewiderment painful to behold, and impossible
at the time to overcome. Some Of the victims
ran long distances until they fell exhausted upon
the snow.covered roadside, to be subsequently
picked up and removed to either the Trickey or
Smell houses near by, into the rooms Of which
they were crowded, along with other poor crea-
lures already rescued.
Among those known or supposed to have per-
ished in the flames we have obtained the follow
ing names, the first four occupying rooms in the
attic, rendered their destruction certain, as It was
impossible for succor to reach them: Frank Jones,
aged eighty-fve, OF Great Falls; Asa Hall, aged,
forty, of Darlington; Porter Sargent aged fifty,
OF Great Falls; Burnham Mute aged sixty-five,
OF Pennington; jeff Holland aged seventy, Of
New Durham Joseph Cook, aged forty, of Dover;
Tommy McDermott aged seventy-fve, of Dover;
Women consumed were: Martha Jewell, aged
sixty-fve Of Great Falls; Lizzie Wilson. aged
sixty Of Lee; Clara Scates, aged forty, of Milton.
The children burned TO death were a bright.
pretty boy, named Charlie Riley aged four years,
from Comic, and little girl, Sadie Abbott, seven
years old, hailing from Rollinsford. The two
children were with the old persons above men,
TONED, asleep In one Of the attic apartments.
The insane asylum, containing thirty inmates,
men and women, owing to its nearness to the
burning building, stood in imminent danger at
one time OF sharing similar fate, though every
precauton was used to prevent 1t from catching
on fire. Mr.. johnson, the overseer Of the depart
ment for the insane, stood manfully at his post,
and succeeded to great extent in preserving
order among his patients and preventing sudden
panic. At one time the long fiery tongues of
flame seemed to lick the sides and caves Of the
building in which he stood, and he called his
wife to guard the front entrance, while he stepped
outside, with AK In hand, to cut away board
partition which connected the main building with
the latter. While engaged in destroying this
dangerous connection, the excited inmates of the
asylum pushed aside Mrs Johnson and escaped
into the darkness yelling, moaning and chatter
ing; some calling for help, others cursing their
fate, and all rushing wildly about in every direc-
ton, bewildered, frantic with fright, seeking no
place of shelter but held by sort Of indescriba-
BILE fascination within certain circuit, never
getting out OF sight OF the cracking, fiercely
burning confagration, which, in its work Of de-
structon, seemed to blend with the distraction
and confusion OF their excited and already weak
ened faculties
The above graphic account of this great disaster
is from the pen Of George F. Richards, the local
editor Of the Dover Daily Republican. Mr.. Rich
ards in visiting the ruins the following day adds:
All the apartments at the farm were visited this
morning, and the most of the occupants inter-
viewed and the one sentiment expressed by all
was OF devout thanks that affairs were no WORSE
and that they were no further removed from the
bountiful charities OF Dover and surrounding
towns. As was sensibly remarked by the vener-
able Eliza Twomby one Of the demented ones
who was re-captgred yesterday at Comic, whence
she had fled barefooted through the snow: Obi
young man, the Great God has afflicted Ms, but he
will also care for u.s. in him trust and to him
shall some time CO. where shall always remain
cared for and loved This sublime thought came
from the brain Of one who was, to all personal
appearance, a hopeless imbecile, as she sat
doubled up on the floor warming her attenuated
frame before the asylum heater. 1t was spoken
in such re-assuring tone Of calmness, amid the
din OF shreks and rawlings of the confined and
excited madmen and women that 1t came to the
writer's heart as a voice from the spirit world
We invountarily rebuked ourself for our want OF
faith, and wished, oh! how earnestly for that
element OF character which rendered that Door
creature the peer OF many who possessed other
blessings Of a less immortal and sustaining char
acter."