The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1883-12-19

hos soein W oo NJ nanu, OF tnCBe on tno RfOuno
lacked the presence of mind to use them.
There were several steam pumps In the build
ing and some hose, but they were unavailable
for extinguishipg fire. Men In the immediate
vicinity finally gathered pals, but the asmes
had gained substantial foothold by that time,
and being above the reach OF mans power TO
throw a pail Of water effectively the efforts In
this direction were OF little avail. The Seth
Warner engine company arrived promptly on
the ground, took position by the brook and laid
Its hose, but the nozzle was missing. This was
found after the loss Of many golden moments.
Meantime the pumps Of the machine refused to
respond to the action Of the brakes At length,
under the application Of hot water, these were
soaked and a stream was obtained after the
lapse Of nearly half an hour. Meantime the
flames had not been idle They we're bursting
through the roof of the elevator and leach
house and extending to other parts Of tho
building, and had got absolutely beyond control.
All efforts we're directed to saving stock 10 the
building and to protecting the several hundred
cords Of bark piled hard by In the yard The
building was about one hundred and twenty FIVE
feet long and had an average width of about
sixty feet. There were four lofts and each, es-
pecially the upper one, was heavily stocked
with leather in the various stages of manufac-
ture. There were large quantities OF oil and
talow in barrels stored in the building, much
of which was removed Some hides and
leather were rescued, but the bulk Of a. very
large stock was abandoned to the flames,
which, once getting a taste Of the oil and COM
bustibe material in the finishing and storage
lofts, swept through the building with fiightful
rapidity and terrible fierceness. A slight breeze
from the northeast prevailed and long stream
ers Of white fl ,mes were blown from the burn
ing mass, filling the air with an unmistaksble
odor OF burning leather. The spectacle when
the entire establishment was wrapped in fl ,mes
was rendered, by the oily condition OF the con-
tents of the great building, in the highest de-
gree magnificent. The scene was at It's height
in about an hour after the first discovery, and
in about two hours the fiery element had done
its perfect work and the establishment was
leveled mass Of flaming debris. None OF the
machinery was saved By the efforts Of the
firemen and the labors of the pail brigade the
bark in the yard was successfully defended.
A large shed at the westerly end Of the tan
merry, containing among other articles of refuse
stock large quantity OF horns was destroyed.
There were eighty watts, somewhat more than
half OF which were filled with liquor, 80 that
the vats themselves were protected and the
hides in them preserved The liquor had been
pumped out Of the remaining vats, and owing
to breakdown In the machinery they bsd
not been filled again, 80 that these and
their contents we're seriously damaged, II not
entirely ruined. The wind greatly favored the
surrounding property. very slight change
northerly would have been fatal to the SeabuIy
grist-mill, on the opposite side OF the stream.
The old Cataract engine WAS taken up and
placed in position to protect this property,
which was at one time in some danger from
the great heat. portion Of the stock was re-
moved. Mr.. Warren estimates his loss at from
S35, 600 to $40 600. against which he has an in
surance Of $4,000 His net loss he is not able
to give with exactness at this time, but appar-
emily it cannot be less than Sl5 600, with no
reference to delay in business and damage to
trade His machinery and appliances were all
of the latest and best construction. One ma.
chine alone, nearly new, cost him 81 ,0OO, and
| another $40. He Is not fully deci led what he
will do. To rebuild now is impossible, but be-
ing man in the prms of life, full of push and
activity, and having abundant means, it is quite
likly that spring will find new and model tan
merry going up on the old site Meantime thirty
men are thrown out Of employment on the edge
OF long winter. The hardship to them and
their families is not the least OF this misfortune
to the industries Of this village.