Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1883-09-07
INCENDIARY FIRE,
Destruction of tho OutbutldinEs os Ill q
Mary Fletcher Hospital.

Mary Fletcher Hospital.
About half-past o'clock Friday morning
Mr.. Matthew Conner, who resides on Col
chester avenue, near the Mary Fletcher Hos
pital, discovered smoke and flames issuin!
from the south end Of the barn. He sent
boy at once up to the Hospital to alarm Thu
inmates. Captain James Truman, the stew
ard, was ono of the first out and discovered
the barn fully in flames and fire well undel
way in the laundry, which is in another
building, entirely separate from the barn. lie
telephoned to the city, and soon after an alarm
was sounded by Mr.. Conner from the box al
the convent. The frcmen at once responded
but about an hour elapsed, after the first discov-
cry of the fire, before they could reach the spot
The Volunteers arrived first, and attached
their hose to the hydrant on Colchester ave-
nue., near the entrance of the hospital.
They were soon followed by the Stars,
who were second on the ground. But
the head Of water was found to be INSULT
cicnt to force stream upon the burning
buildings. The Ethans' engine was then
sent for, and stationed part way up the hill
and, taking water from the hydrant,a stream
was III luSl RDl uIDl VIM ny tlllS tlillc WAS u
mass of smoking ruins. This was the
only stream obtained. The morning for
tunatcly was perfectly still, and though the
flames had everything their own way,
they were confined to the buildings In
which they were set. These were
the barn, 30x40, with carriage house
attached, and long wooden building
some rs feet long by 20 wide, containing
the laundry, drying room, carpenter shop
and dead house," containing the rooms in
which post-mortem examinations are con-
ducted. In the barn were a horse, valued at
$50, two wagons, hay rake and other
and tools, and about go tons of
hay. In the laundry was an unusually large
wash of clothes, including the linen of DR.,
Leth, the house-surgeon, and of most of the
nurses and PATIENTS and large quantity of
bed clothing, surgical towels, etc. Not
thing was saved from the barn, laundry or
shop. From the post mortem house, by the
exertions of Capt. Truman, DR.. Leth ana
others, the furniture. chairs marble slab,
ETC., were removed. About two rods South
Of the barn, is a new barn, just erected and
approaching completion. This fortunately
did not take fire, though it had narrow es-
cape. A strong South wind would probably
have entaled the destruction OF the clinical
AMI corridor, and perhaps Of
Inc main Hospital building, as the means for
fire there, are shown by this
disaster, to be wholly insufficient. So the
ire was not as bad as it might have been.
AS it was it entails on the Hospital
oss of $1,000, of which $500 is COW
red by insurance, in companies repre-
ented by Gen. r. S. Peck-,hc German
American $3.50 and Lancaster $3.50.
The fire was beyond question an incendiary
)ne, set in both the barn and laundry, as
10Th were in flames before the shops and
icad-house, between them, we're on fire. No
ioubt exists that it was the work of dis
charged patient and laborer, one Isaiah Ian
"a. Lanya was taken to the hospital few
weeks ago. with broken collar bone, occa-
Toned by fall from hay wagon. After
lis recovery he was employed few days by
he steward, in light labor. In settling |
With him on Thursday, small sum was de- |
lucted from his wages in part payment for |
lis board and treatment as patient. To |
his he objected, aud left in high dul-
con. lie went to two or three |
awyers Thursday to get them to bring
nit against the Hospital, and, as VIC learn, to |
me of them, who declined to bring the suit |
or him, he threatened that he would "makc |
hot for 'em, any way" Lanyais French |
nan, aud was sentenced to the States prison |
n 1876, for eight years, for manslaughtcr,
or shooting man in Alburgh. After his re-
ease from States prison, last spring, he " as
efore the United States, court for selling liq- |
or without United States license He is a |
ad fellow, of low intellect and malicious |
emper. The officers are searching FOR him,
ut it is feared that be may have made his |
way to Canada.